Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Controversial, bloody 1980s WWIII film with teen heroes.
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Red Dawn (1984)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a controversial portrayal of war, effectively balancing between patriotism and the horrors of violence, with a high body count and significant action sequences. While audiences appreciate its entertainment value and messages around teamwork, many find its tone inconsistent and question its political implications, deeming it inappropriate for younger viewers due to its violence and language.
- entertaining yet controversial
- war violence prominent
- mixed emotional tone
- questionable political message
- not for children
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In RED DAWN, the former USSR and sympathetic Latin American countries launch a full-scale invasion of the United States. This Third World War is shown from the vantage of Calumet, Colorado, which is suddenly occupied by Russian paratroopers. Many captured citizens get herded into the local drive-in movie theater, now a mass internment camp and propaganda center, while the town mayor (Lane Smith) cooperates with top Communist officers to keep the community going peacefully. But a group of high school students -- including prominent players on the school football team -- have escaped into the mountains. Refusing to surrender, they form an armed resistance squad, striking back against the enemies, using their former gridiron team name, the Wolverines.
Is It Any Good?
When this overly self-important film premiered in the 1980s, U.S. critics were divided along political lines. Left-leaning ones hated Red Dawn, while the right-leaning ones (especially those whose newspapers supported President Ronald Reagan) loved it. Now, with the USSR a thing of the past, this "what if?" movie feels more like a mixed bag. On one hand, stiff action sequences make the brave high school heroes smashing the Red Army look like some kind of kiddie park ride. On the other hand, the seemingly absurd concept of 1980s American teens turned armed partisans is treated with seriousness -- no music videos, no worrying about whether Marxism will outlaw dancing at the prom -- and a scene where the Wolverines consider executing one of their own is electrifying.
Despite his sometimes clumsy filmmaking and dramatics, the conservatism of writer-director John Milius goes deeper than it seems, with the movie raising questions about sacrifice and which side has the moral high ground after all. Milius' ambiguous ending is both a frustrating cop-out and strangely appropriate.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the 1980s and the Cold War. How has Hollywood depicted the era? What has changed in the world since?
Do you think Red Dawn realistically depicts what an invasion and occupation is like?
Red Dawn was made by right-leaning filmmakers. Do you think right- and left-leaning politics are equally represented in movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 10, 1984
- On DVD or streaming : July 17, 2007
- Cast : C. Thomas Howell , Lea Thompson , Patrick Swayze , Charlie Sheen
- Director : John Milius
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Competition , Sports ( Football ) , Friendship , School ( High School ) , History ( War: Other ) , Holidays ( Independence Day )
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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