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Parents' Guide to

The French Connection

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Classic cop film with frequent profanity, violence.

Movie R 1971 104 minutes
The French Connection Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Swimming09
Swimming09 Adult
January 28, 2021
age 14+
Sircjalot
Sircjalot Parent of 17-year-old
July 20, 2018
age 17+

A gritty New York city crime film!

New york was a rough place to live in back in the 1970s. Everything is really gritty looking. A man was shot point blank to the face, blood splattered all over his cheek. This movie is filled with bloody shootings/shootouts. Swearing is prevalent, the F word was said at least 6 times, the N word was used once. One sexual scene, A police detective comes into his partner house to find him handcuffed to the bed, and then you'll see a women running twards another room to hide, as so you can see her full buttocks. The whole movie is about a heroin drug bust. So you'll expect to see drugs.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Two tough NYC police detectives, "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) stumble upon a gigantic heroin-smuggling ring that connects the New York mafia to Marseilles, France. They discover who the "French Connection" is -- a suave gentleman named Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey) who manages to elude Doyle and Russo's pursuit. But when one of Charnier's hit men tries to murder Doyle, Doyle goes above and beyond traditional law-enforcement techniques, determined to stop Charnier and shut down his heroin operation.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (5 ):

Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider are unforgettable as cop partners using pretty much any means necessary to stop a large shipment of heroin from coming into New York City from France. The action is unrelenting, and the car chase scene alone is a masterpiece in filmmaking. The French Connection set the standard for cop-themed dramas for decades to come, and it's easy to see why. The dialogue, action, and story combine to create a dark, gritty, and cynical masterwork from director William Friedkin, as perfect an example as any of the dark brilliance of so many great 1970s-era urban-themed films.

Based on a true story, and the winner of multiple Oscars, THE FRENCH CONNECTION is undeniably a classic that has transcended its gritty 1971 release to remain not only a great film but also a highly influential one. By graying the lines between "good guys" and "bad guys," one can see the influence of The French Connection on contemporary classic cop dramas such as The Wire.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the concept of the antihero. What does that mean, and how do these lead characters embody this idea?

  • At the end of the film, the filmmakers seem to be making a comment on the criminal justice system. What is that comment, and do you agree or disagree with the message?

  • Does the violence in the film seem necessary to convey a sense of realism, or does it seem gratuitous?

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