Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
The Dead Pool
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violent '80s cop drama with blood and drugs.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Dead Pool
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Not Violent
What's the Story?
In THE DEAD POOL, for once the ordinarily rogue cop Inspector (Dirty) Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) has garnered good press for the police department. Harry says no to being paraded in front of the press, but his renown puts him on a list predicting the deaths of celebrities. The first to die is a singer and actor working on a horror film. When other people on the list start dying violent deaths, Harry is back in the news. Although he disdains the press for what he perceives as its interest in getting the story over public responsibility, he becomes involved with a reporter (Patricia Clarkson) who is covering the murders. As usual, he ignores his superiors, who think they've identified the killer. And, as always, Harry is proved right in the end.
Is It Any Good?
The Dead Pool reliably follows the formula of the Dirty Harry police dramas, and some might find that repetition tedious. As always, Harry must fight his superiors on the force as well as the criminals threatening the public. The formula becomes more difficult to ignore as the franchise continues, but mostly solid performances and nonstop action here make the predictability more forgivable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie expects viewers to tell good guys from bad guys when police are killing unarmed criminals in the back. Is this a mixed message? Why, or why not?
Harry casually goes to bed with various women in the Dirty Harry movies. How do you think the movie wants the audience to view his sexual encounters? Do you think he will have a long-term relationship with the reporter? Do you think he's interested in long-term relationships? Why, or why not?
How does The Dead Pool compare to the other movies in the Dirty Harry series?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 7, 1988
- On DVD or streaming: November 20, 2001
- Cast: Clint Eastwood , Patricia Clarkson , Liam Neeson
- Director: Buddy Van Horn
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 91 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: for Strong Violence, Language and Brief Drug Use
- Last updated: January 1, 2023
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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