Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

By Jordan Elizabeth, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Drama about Black man killed by cops has violence, language.

Movie NR 2021 83 minutes
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain is a representative story of the many instances of racially motivated police brutality in the United States. Star Faison expertly holds the intersection of an elderly, Black, disabled veteran who's steadfast in protecting the rights of U.S. citizens -- in this instance, his own rights. His logic is sometimes flawed, and his communication is often incoherent, but he's human, and he deserves protection. The movie feels play-like, with one incident, one location, and a small cast. The racist White cops play their part but with very little subtlety -- using phrases like "these people" and referring to Kenneth as a "boy" and using the "N" word. That said, while the cops are one-dimensional, this is a movie about exposing the dimensionality and humanity of a Black man in a society where those inherent truths are so often overlooked.

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

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.

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