Common Sense Media Review
Intense biopic full of drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll.
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The Doors
What's the Story?
THE DOORS chronicles the rise and fall of the popular 1960s rock band. Legendary lead singer Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer) blows into Los Angeles in the mid '60s, shy at first with a head full of poetry. While attending UCLA film school, he meets keyboardist Ray Manzarek (Kyle MacLachlan), and, together with Robbie Krieger (Frank Whaley) and John Densmore (Kevin Dillon), they form a band, with Morrison's girlfriend, Pamela Courson (Meg Ryan), a constant by his side. They're not short on ambition, fancying themselves the myth makers for the Age of Aquarius. But as the band achieves success, fame gets to Morrison's head, and he spirals out of control, alienating lovers and band members before meeting his inevitable end.
Is It Any Good?
This story of a tragic artist who lives fast and dies young could have come off as clichéd in less able hands. Director Oliver Stone had a string of hits in the early 1990s, and here his distinct style meshes seamlessly with the content. Though the plot doesn't add up to anything special, the scenes function well on their own, with longtime Stone collaborator Robert Richardson bringing 1960s SoCal culture to life through his cinematography—and, of course, the Doors providing the soundtrack. There's a lyrical quality to the film, nonlinear and highly subjective. More agreed upon is Kilmer's utterly convincing performance. Stone and Morrison seem to be cut from the same cloth, and it's hard to imagine anyone else telling (or living) so vivid a story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about artistic integrity in The Doors. How does the band create art? How do you feel about Morrison and his bandmates using drugs in their artistic process? Does it help or hinder their music?
Does the nudity in The Doors help tell the film's story? Why, or why not?
Did you know much about the Doors before seeing this film? Does the movie make you want to listen to them more? What platforms do you use to listen to music? Is this better, or worse, or simply different from the vinyl records people listened to during the film's 1960s era?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 23, 1991
- On DVD or streaming : August 19, 1997
- Cast : Kathleen Quinlan , Meg Ryan , Val Kilmer , Kyle MacLachlan
- Director : Oliver Stone
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Artisan Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , History ( Biopic )
- Run time : 138 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : heavy drug content, strong sexuality and language
- Last updated : March 19, 2026
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