Common Sense Media Review
Cult classic has lots of profanity, some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Blues Brothers
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say that while the film is filled with hilarious moments and outstanding music, it has frequent profanity and casual references to violence and bad behavior. Most agree that it’s suitable for older kids, typically recommending an age of 12 or 14 and emphasizing the importance of parental guidance to discuss the language and underlying messages present in the story.
- strong language
- great music
- suitable for older kids
- parent supervision recommended
- underlying messages
- humorous content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 62 kid reviews
What's the Story?
After three years in prison for robbery, Jake Blues (John Belushi) is released with one thing on his mind: Getting the band back together. His brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) has something else on his mind -- getting right with God. The brothers discover that the orphanage where they grew up will be sold if they can't raise $5,000 to pay the tax assessor, and set out to raise the money by getting the band back together and holding a benefit concert. Along the way, they meet up with some of the great R&B musicians of all time: James Brown preaching in a Baptist church; Aretha Franklin belting out "Think!" in her soul food restaurant; Cab Calloway singing to a packed house; Ray Charles singing about doing the twist in a pawn shop. Along with great music, their quest is full of car chases, property destruction, and repeated explosions. Jake and Elwood are scamps, but they pay for the damage they do, and do good in the end.
Is It Any Good?
THE BLUES BROTHERS holds a special place in cult movie lovers' hearts for a reason. It's surreal, it's got style, and it has great music. Indeed, it's a cross between a Saturday Night Live skit and a really great musical. Even if you hate the flimsy plot, you're likely to be humming the songs days later.
Though teens may find parts of it slow and may need to be educated about old school R&B, the film is likely to become a favorite. Expect to hear them quoting lines ("Mom, we're on a mission from God," when you question where they're going) and to see them wearing their sunglasses all the time. In the end, you get the sense that this movie is the teenage boy's dream inside Dan Aykroyd and John Landis, the cowriters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Elwood and Jake's morals are -- or aren't --reflected in their behavior. For instance, they want to save the orphanage they grew up in, but they lie, cheat, and steal to raise the money. Is the damage they cause justified by their goal?
What are the ways in which this movie exposes viewers to legendary performers of jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues? Why do you think these sequences are so prominent in this movie?
How is violence used for the sake of comedy in this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 16, 1980
- On DVD or streaming : August 30, 2005
- Cast : Aretha Franklin , Dan Aykroyd , James Brown , John Belushi , Ray Charles
- Director : John Landis
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 133 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : comic violence and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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