Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Sleepless

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Interesting characters save otherwise violent, vulgar movie.

Movie R 2017 95 minutes
Sleepless Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 18+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Sonnie M.
Sonnie M. Adult
June 2, 2017
age 18+

Predictable unrealistic movie

The movie in all sense was stupid and predictable in the story line . You know what's going to happen next through out the whole movie. Drug deal and the way it went down was unrealistic. Jamie Fox should stick to comedy . Don't get me wrong I'm a fan to all the actors in the movie that's why I rented it but the story lines was lousy. The director didn't do a good job in making it realistic..

This title has:

Too much violence
Dawnell J.
Dawnell J. Adult
May 15, 2017
age 17+

I loved it I thought it was good, could they put a little more back ground info in it yea but over all it's good. I hope they make a part two!!

See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In SLEEPLESS, Las Vegas cop Vincent Downs (Jamie Foxx) is working undercover, posing as a dirty cop and hoping to discover the secret identity of the inside source used by his partner, Sean Cass (Tip "T.I." Harris). The partners steal 25 kilos of cocaine, and their theft results in a shoot-out, with several dead. This brings internal affairs agent Jennifer Bryant (Michelle Monaghan) into the case. Unfortunately, the drugs were being transported by casino boss Stanley Rubino (Dermot Mulroney), for the powerful Novak crime family. Rubino knows that Downs has the drugs, so he kidnaps his 16-year-old son as collateral against their return. Meanwhile, the dangerous Rob Novak (Scoot McNairy) shows up and wants to know what's going on.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Though it suffers from minor plot inconsistencies and some shaky camerawork, this thriller offers a fun, entertaining, "B"-level story; the terrific characters help fill in the blanks. A remake of the 2011 French movie Nuit Blanche, Sleepless (the title doesn't seem to relate to anything) starts with a bang on the streets of Las Vegas, using the nighttime lights and daytime shabbiness for good effect. Then the characters are introduced, each shabby or beaten up or full of a kind of life experience that makes them very interesting.

Foxx's cop must deal with his ex-wife (Gabrielle Union) in matters of their son, as well as a constantly bleeding stab wound. Slick casino boss Rubino has a fascinating rapport with gangste Novak, who's calm yet volatile (with a mysterious, hideous scar on his neck). And Bryant must navigate a world consisting of mostly men; she shows frustration and weariness but also strength. It's these characters who allow us to forgive any dumb trespasses in plot, such as Downs always stopping to change his clothes. Overall, Sleepless isn't particularly memorable, but it's not bad, either.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Sleepless's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it thrilling or hard to watch? How did the filmmakers achieve these effects? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Why do you think there would be corruption on a police force? What would entice these men and women to become "dirty cops"?

  • How are drugs used in the story? Are they connected to drug use and/or abuse, or are they used as a prop? How did you feel about this?

  • How is Agent Bryant depicted? Is she a strong character? Are her struggles and achievements clear? How does she compare to other female cops you've seen in movies?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

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.

See all recommended movie lists

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