Scarface

Movie review by David Gurney, Common Sense Media
Scarface Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

Extremely violent '80s crime classic with drugs, sex, etc.

R 1983 170 minutes
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 19 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 70 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Scarface is extremely violent from start to finish and is not recommended to anyone under the age of 17. It has developed a cultlike following, especially among teenage males. Despite the main character's death due to his violent criminal behavior, his dramatic outbursts may appeal to angsty teens. Additionally, the obscenity-filled dialogue is some of the most quotable in film history, with many lines having been incorporated into hip-hop lyrics of the past 20 years. Tony treats his wife quite poorly, verbally lashing out at her. Cocaine is a constant presence in the film.

Community Reviews

MannyReviews
MannyReviews Adult
April 29, 2021
age 17+

An amazing mobster classic with a lot of f-bombs

This film is an AMAZING film starring Al Pacino. Its about a mobsters violent rise to a prominent drug lord. The storyline is not too sexual, there is some bathroom sex but only the back is seen, and tony constantly ogles his wife. The 3 concerns are language violence, and most of all, DRUGS. The violence is about as bad as John Wick (worst seen is a closeup head shot with a magnum, brains on window) This film has the 2nd most f word in any movie, the f word is used 1 time per 30 seconds along with every cuss known to man. But Drugs oh my god. Constant snorting, injecting, smoking. There is a time in the movie where there is a huge pile of crack on tonys desk, and he sticks his face in the pile and breathes it in. Aside from these things, the storyline is great, the character himself is a bad man, but the story of him is great. Recomend to watch with your 16-17 year old.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
Carlos Q
Carlos Q Adult
December 7, 2020
age 14+

Amazing!

Classic 80's film with some decent amount of bloodshed Except lots drug scenes and not so many sexual scenes Shows a lot about loyalty! Recommendable for any age but if your kid had or is looking forward trying drugs then i recommend not playing this film,makes cocaine look like a life-cure
1 person found this helpful.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The powerful triumvirate of director Brian DePalma, screenwriter Oliver Stone, and actor Al Pacino came together to create this 1980s soaked reworking of the classic Howard Hawks gangster film, SCARFACE. It's the story of Cuban refugee, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) who climbs to the top of Miami's cocaine scene, eventually falling prey to both addiction and his own assassination. As Tony's wife Elvira, Michelle Pfeiffer plays the role drugged out and disinterested, convincingly enough to make her appeal to Tony almost unfathomable. In a holdover from the 1932 version, Tony's overbearing relationship with his sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) has tones of incestuous desire; only in this version, Gina actually confronts him about this in a shockingly violent manner.

Is It Any Good?

Al Pacino gives his first of many truly over-the-top performances with gusto in Scarface. This film's reputation stands up there with Pulp Fiction (1994) as a "must see" for hip teens (especially males) who love their violence spiked with copious amounts of darkly humorous dialogue ("Say hello to my little friend.").

Every bit of the film, from the camera moves to the set design is excessively done, like Tony's life, and in that sense, the film is imbued with a feeling of 1980s self-indulgent immorality. This film is extremely violent and is not recommended to anyone under the age of 17.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Tony's story is a rise-and-fall scenario, and how it makes the obvious point that the decadent lifestyle of a drug kingpin can crumble very easily. Does Al Pacino's character make his violent lifestyle more attractive than it really is?

  • Is the graphic and verbal violence necessary to convey the story, or is it overindulgent?

  • What can be said of Tony's troubled relationships with women? Does Tony ever even appear to be happy or content for a moment of the film? For that matter, do any of the characters?

Movie Details

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