
Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
The Hero
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sweet, soulful story about aging actor has mature content.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Hero
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In THE HERO, Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) was once a Western movie star known for his iconic role in a movie called The Hero. But these says he's doing radio ads for barbecue sauce. He goes to buy pot from his old friend, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), and, while he's there, meets the pretty, younger Charlotte (Laura Prepon). They strike up a tentative relationship but then a routine checkup reveals that Lee has cancer. He starts trying to pick up the pieces of his life, specifically attempting to reconcile with his daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter). But then an appearance at an awards banquet supercharges Lee's career, and he finds himself pulled in several directions at once, struggling to decide what's most important.
Is It Any Good?
Director Brett Haley manages to take an underused subject, i.e. a character over 70, and make a movie that's deeply soulful and sweetly easygoing. A movie like this could easily turn into a dire, hand-wringing affair, full of tears and anguish and button-pushing. But The Hero -- like Haley's own wonderful I'll See You in My Dreams -- is remarkably laid-back, happily open to looseness and exploration. It's warm, funny, and very much in tune with all of its characters, young and old, male and female.
The central May-December relationship could have been troubling, but the movie treats it just right, with a measure of shyness, a measure of questioning, and a measure of distance; each character feels around, rather than assuming a solution. Likewise, the father-daughter relationship seems to respect each character's point of view. No one's feelings are presented as hysterical or unreasonable. And, at the same time, nothing feels forced or overly dramatized; it's a breezy, effortless movie and a good choice for mature moviegoers of all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Hero portrays drug use. Are drugs glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Which images of violence are shown? Why do you think Lee thinks of violence during his "Western" reveries?
What is a "legacy"? Why would someone care so much about it? How much control does a person have over their legacy?
Why do you think more movies aren't aren't made about older people? What drives the business of filmmaking?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 9, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: September 19, 2017
- Cast: Sam Elliott , Nick Offerman , Laura Prepon
- Director: Brett Haley
- Studio: The Orchard
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: drug use, language and some sexual content
- Last updated: March 23, 2023
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