Common Sense Media Review
By James Rocchi
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sci-fi thriller has more style than story; some iffy stuff.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Push
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 28 kid reviews
Kids say that the film combines action with some intense violence and themes, making it suitable only for mature tweens and teens. While some viewers enjoyed the exciting plot and special effects, many found it confusing and overly violent, with a mixture of harsh language and implied adult themes that could be unsettling for younger audiences.
- action packed
- intense violence
- confusing plot
- mature audience
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In Hong Kong, Nick (Chris Evans) lives a life of shabby exile. He's one of a number of people who are skilled psychics or have other special abilities; governments use these "genetic abnormalities" as tactical weapons, but Nick wants no part of that world. But he winds up with little choice in the matter when 13-year-old clairvoyant Cassie (Dakota Fanning) knocks on his door. She wants to enlist him in a scheme to steal $6 million -- and save her mother, who's being held by the conspiratorial agency known as "Division" ... which just happens to want to make people like Nick and Cassie into living weapons.
Is It Any Good?
Stylishly shot, PUSH is a high-tech thriller that tries to combine the run-and-gun realism of the Bourne films with the high-flying fantasy of comic-book cinema. The simplicity and restraint in the film's central idea is interesting: The "special talents" can do incredible things -- see the future, move objects with their mind, control others'' thoughts, act as psychic bloodhounds -- but they can only do one incredible thing. But director Paul McGuigan's execution is too clever by half, losing our interest (and the thread of the plot) in a tangle of convolutions and tricks, when all we want is a smart story cleanly told.
Still, it's hard to have a bad time watching Evans and Fanning, and the film looks incredible -- the neon wasteland of Hong Kong at night gleams and throbs like an electric bruise. With a cleaner script and some judicious editing, Push could have been a nice addition to the recent explorations of the street-level side of comic-book action. Unfortunately, the film as it stands feels like a bungled attempt to kick off a franchise that will never happen.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether teen drinking seems less serious in a sci-fi setting. How does the movie portray Cassie's use of alcohol? Does it seem realistic? What would the consequences be in real life?
Families can also discuss the onoing appeal of superhuman fantasies. Why are they so popular? How does this movie compare to ones like Sky High and Spider-Man?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 6, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : July 7, 2009
- Cast : Chris Evans , Dakota Fanning , Djimon Hounsou
- Director : Paul McGuigan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Summit Entertainment
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement ) , Adventures , Dystopia , Friendship , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Space , STEM , Superheroes
- Run time : 121 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate