Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Edgy but powerful story of incendiary '80s rap group.
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Why Age 17+?
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Where to Watch
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Straight Outta Compton
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 31 kid reviews
Kids say this movie offers a powerful exploration of the life and struggles of a 1980s rap group, highlighting significant issues such as racism, police brutality, and the realities of life in Compton. While it features strong language, graphic content, and adult themes, many viewers believe it's a great film for mature audiences that conveys important life lessons despite its explicit nature.
- life lessons
- strong language
- graphic content
- racism themes
- mature audiences
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the 1980s, African-American youths in Compton are faced with poverty, police harassment, drugs, and violence. Five friends -- known as Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), MC Ren (Aldis Hodge), and DJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr.) -- decide to try their hand at making rap music. Before long, with the help of manager Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti), they become N.W.A. and create one of the most incendiary, game-changing albums of all time. Fans love them as much as the police hate them, but squabbles over money quickly drive the group apart. Dre and Cube struggle to launch solo careers, but Eazy's record label is drying up. He hopes to get N.W.A. back together again, but fate has other plans.
Is It Any Good?
A group as powerful as N.W.A. deserves a powerful movie; this one captures the energy of the moment, but after a while, it becomes apparent that the filmmakers didn't know how or where to stop. Director F. Gary Gray was there during the time portrayed here, making videos for both Ice Cube and Dr. Dre and making his feature directing debut with Cube's Friday (1995). He was clearly the right man for the job, and the footage of the group's early days and first successes is transporting and immensely powerful.
But perhaps Gray was a bit too close? Perhaps there was pressure to give equal weight to all the players, and to respectfully depict Eazy-E's 1995 AIDS-related death? As STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON reaches the mid-1990s, it becomes awkwardly torn between showing enough detail and showing too much; it could have been a fascinating long miniseries or a much stronger, shorter movie. But what's here will thrill music fans, especially those who wish to learn more about the old school.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Straight Outta Compton's violence. Does it seem believable that violence could creep into the music industry from the streets? Does art reflect life, or vice versa? Do different types of movie violence have different impact on kids?
How much sex is shown in the movie? Why do sex and the music business seem to go hand in hand? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
What role do drinking, smoking, and drugs play in the movie? Are they glamorized? How much of a role do substances play in the music industry?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 14, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : January 19, 2016
- Cast : O'Shea Jackson Jr. , Corey Hawkins , Jason Mitchell
- Director : F. Gary Gray
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , African American Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 147 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, strong sexuality/nudity, violence, and drug use
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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