Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

The Gunman

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Overly serious and convoluted Sean Penn action thriller.

Movie R 2015 115 minutes
The Gunman Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 18+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Dan G.
Dan G. Parent
March 27, 2015
age 18+

Way, Way Too Much Objectionable Content for Children of any age

The following things in this R rated movie make it totally unacceptable for a child to be exposed to it. The violence is bloody, gory and frequent, to the point of being sickening. The language is of the worst that is heard in movies today. There are a couple of profane uses of God's name as well. The film also clearly holds up the adultery of the main characters as a really good thing. There is a pretty clear sex scene of the adultery, and there is some nudity elsewhere in the movie.
Eric A.
Eric A. Adult
August 8, 2015
age 18+
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 2006, former Special Forces soldier Jim Terrier (Sean Penn) is paid to assassinate the minister of mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As part of the deal, he's forced to flee and leave his girlfriend, Annie (Jasmine Trinca), behind. In the present day, Jim is back working in the Congo as a humanitarian, digging wells. A band of goons attempts to kill him, and he surmises that the attack is connected to his former life. He tracks down several old colleagues -- Stanley (Ray Winstone), Cox (Mark Rylance), and Felix (Javier Bardem) -- the latter of whom married Annie in Jim's absence. Without knowing who to trust, and with time running out, Jim must stay a jump ahead of his foes to keep himself and Annie alive.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

While it's an admirable attempt by director Pierre Morel at a more grown-up type of entertainment, the movie winds up feeling rather leaden. Morel, best known for his lightweight, fast-paced action films for Luc Besson (District B13, Taken, and From Paris with Love), attempts THE GUNMAN on his own, adding a new kind of weight and seriousness. Penn may be one of the most dedicated and professional actors in the world, but even he can't bring a much-needed vulnerability or warmth to the project.

Not to mention that, though the tone puts more strain on the plot to be tight and relevant, it starts to feel confusing and ridiculous in spots. Morel's action directing is fast paced, but perhaps a bit clunky. His dedication to the actors, on the other hand, is strong, and the great cast members each get moments to shine; stage star Rylance in particular gives what could be a breakout performance. But even so, The Gunman overall isn't quite recommended.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Gunman's violence. How did it affect you? Did it seem necessary to the plot? What message does the lack of consequences for violent behavior send?

  • How is drinking depicted? Which character seems to have a drinking problem? What are the indications of this? Do other characters have drinking problems?

  • The main character appears to be quite a bit older than his love interest. Is that OK? How would it be if the situation were reversed? How many times have you seen these situations in movies?

  • The movie depicts violent acts committed over valuable mining rights. Do you believe that governments or corporations would kill for profits?

  • Does Sean Penn's character represent an unrealistic body type?

Movie Details

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.

See all recommended movie lists

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