Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Crime thriller has anti-drug message; language, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Good Mother
What's the Story?
When newspaper journalist Marissa (Hilary Swank)'s son, Michael (Madison Harrison), is murdered soon after the passing of her husband, it's almost too much to bear. Marissa finds renewed purpose by joining forces with Mikey's pregnant gilfriend, Paige (Olivia Cooke), and her other son, police officer Toby (Jack Reynor), to bring down Mikey's killer. But as they uncover corruption, they realize that discovering the truth may not bring closure.
Is It Any Good?
Miles Joris-Peyrafitte's gritty crime drama effectively raises a specter of parental worry: What if all your efforts to raise a "good" kid don't work out? In The Good Mother, Michael's journey from a kid who was great at sports, loving and happy, and used to run around the house with his best friend into someone who sold and was dependent on drugs isn't as elaborately explained as you might hope, but it is informative as it gently asks, "What is a parent's contribution to their child's addiction?"
That question is asked very softly, as the film is about Marissa getting to the bottom of how her son wound up gunned down on the street. Swank relays Marissa's distraught weariness so visually that we can almost see her wearing an invisible heavy coat as she trudges through her day. When Marissa pours glass after glass to anesthesize her pain, we watch more in sympathy and understanding than in judgment. As the movie's title indicates, this is a film for parents, and even though not all parents will relate, many will understand. And the twisty plot is enough of a roller coaster that teens may buckle in as well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Good Mother depicts the opioid crisis and its impact on people. What measures could help combat it?
How do Marissa and Paige demonstrate curiosity? Why is that an important character strength?
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking glamorized here? How do Marissa's issues with smoking and drinking compare to Mikey, Paige, and Ducky's drug dependencies?
Did Marissa make the right decision? What would you do if you were in her shoes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 1, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : September 19, 2023
- Cast : Hilary Swank , Jack Reynor , Olivia Cooke
- Director : Miles Joris-Peyrafitte
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, some violent content and drug material
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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