Ride or Die
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Ride or Die
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Ride or Die is an incredibly violent and sexually graphic Japanese romantic drama. Based on the Japanese manga Gunjo by Ching Nakamura, this live-action adaptation sticks to its source material pretty well. The story follows two young women reconnecting under dire circumstances. Nanae is routinely beaten and abused by her husband and asks Rei to kill him. In their Thelma and Louise-esque adventure, Rei and Nanae wrestle with their past lives, Japanese homophobia and anti-gay cultural and societal beliefs, doomed futures, and their forbidden love for one another. Expect sudden and very graphic violence, blood, and ruthlessness. There are scenes that show double eyelid surgery, a woman's nude body after being beaten and abused by her husband, and domestic violence, including a man bashing his wife's head into a wall repeatedly. Expect lots of graphic nudity, long sex scenes, and lingering shots of bare breasts. Strong language includes "f--k," "c--t," and "s--t." Adults smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. Some drunken behavior shown.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In RIDE OR DIE, Rei Nagasawa (Kiko Mizuhara) has loved Nanae Shinoda (Honami Satô) since high school. But in the years since, they each have gone their own ways. Suddenly, Rei is contacted by Nanae, and they meet up. After reconnecting, Nanae confesses that her husband routinely beats her, and because of this, she wants to die. She also wants her husband to die, and who knows how far Rei will go to protect the one she loves?
Is It Any Good?
This film is too long, and many viewers might find its heavy and gratuitous sexual content unjustified. Unfortunately, Ride or Die might simply just work better as a manga (as it was adapted from) or piece of literature. Specifically, Chin Nakamura's original scope and design of Rei and Nanae were arguably meant to be much more normative, average, and likeable as people. This way, when they end up doing the things they do, the juxtaposition is better realized, which makes for a clearer commentary on Japanese society. But in this film adaptation, Rei and Nanae, and especially Rei, come across as odd, wild, and easily motivated to kill, for example. Part of this might also have to do with the sequencing of these story elements, as the film provides little context (outside of brief high school flashbacks) into Rei and Nanae's love and relationship before the event the causes them to go on the run. Ultimately, these issues, along with general pacing and tone problems, as well as being way too long, keep Ride or Die from being enjoyable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexual content in romantic dramas. Do you think all the sexual content and nudity in Ride or Die was warranted? Why or why not?
Discuss the brutal violence in the film. Why do you think the violence was depicted so brazenly? If the film were to have muted its violence, would it be less or more successful? Why?
Do you think the love between Rei and Nanae was represented well? What would you have changed?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 15, 2021
- Cast: Kiko Mizuhara, Honami Sato, Yoko Maki, Minami Sara
- Director: Ryuichi Hiroki
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 142 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Thelma and Louise
Now-classic feminist road movie best for very mature teens.
-
Saving Face
Chinese-American mom and daughter reconnect.
-
Disobedience
Intimate, mature relationship between two complex women.
-
Summerland
Moving, relatable WWII drama about grief and lost love.
For kids who love foreign films
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