Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stylish '90s British action crime drama has language, drugs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Shopping
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SHOPPING follows a gang of thieves -- including Billy (Jude Law) and Jo (Sadie Frost) -- who cause mayhem after Billy is released from prison.
Is It Any Good?
A low-budget but slick ode to self-destructive teens, this early 1990s crime drama brings together a collection of emerging British talent, most notably Law in his first starring role. Cast as Shopping's adrenaline junkie ram-raider Billy, Law is on a collision course in more ways than one. Frost is along for the ride as Jo, not always approving but bound by loyalty and her unreciprocated romantic love for him. Law glides through his debut as a leading man, his boyish good looks not disguising the menace that rises to the surface when he clashes with his rivals -- the action sequences shine under the streetlights of London's darkened skies. And while the movie's cast of villains might be too familiar for some, Shopping does have a style and sense of place that so many other movies lack.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what motivates the characters in Shopping. What attracts Billy and Jo to a criminal lifestyle? Was it just the money or something more?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Discuss the movie's action sequences. Did you find them impressive? How were they different from modern movies, which tend to rely more on CGI?
How were drinking, smoking, and drugs depicted? Were they glamorized? Were there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 9, 1996
- On DVD or streaming : June 3, 2008
- Cast : Jude Law , Sadie Frost , Sean Pertwee
- Director : Paul W.S. Anderson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Gramercy Pictures , New Horizons
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence/mayhem, pervasive language and some drug content
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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