Parents' Guide to The Longest Yard

Movie PG-13 2005 109 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

By Cynthia Fuchs , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Poor remake pushes the edges of PG-13.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

age 13+

Based on 35 kid reviews

Kids say this movie is very funny and entertaining, particularly for fans of sports comedies, but it features excessive swearing, sexual references, and occasional violence that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While some reviewers appreciate its humor and strong football elements, many warn that the content pushes the boundaries of a PG-13 rating and should be approached with caution for viewers under 13.

  • humor and entertainment
  • excessive swearing
  • sexual references
  • age-appropriate warnings
  • push PG-13 boundaries
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

In this remake, frustrated former NFL quarterback Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) lands in a desolate Texas prison following a particularly rowdy joyride. At prison, Paul is assigned by the selfish, political-career-minded warden (James Cromwell) to assemble a cons' team to play and lose to the big-necked guards' team. The guards' abuses of inmates range from beatings to harassment. Paul manages the team with the help of Caretaker (Chris Rock) and an old-timer, Nate (Burt Reynolds); their players are assigned reductive "traits": Brucie (Nicholas Turturro) is demented; receiver Deacon Moss (former NFL star Michael Irvin) is much-respected; the Beast (K-1 Kickboxer Bob Sapp) is ferocious; Torres (Lobo Sebastian) always smokes cigarettes; Turley (Dalip Singh) is a giant whose every utterance is subtitled.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 6 ):
Kids say ( 35 ):

What were they thinking? This movie has almost nothing to recommend it. Sandler -- unflappable, mildly self-mocking, and amusingly quizzical as always -- squeezes awkwardly into an old Burt Reynolds role. Though he's beaten repeatedly and endures something of a moral dilemma (the film is a play-by-play copy of the 1974 version), Sandler maintains his signature laidbackness, playing straight man while all around him "bring the pain."

The unoriginal gags include transvestite cheerleaders (for instance, Tracy Morgan as Ms. Tucker); the warden's aging secretary (Cloris Leachman), who has a crush on Paul based on the underwear ads he made as a superstar athlete); and the warden's political advisor looks like Colonel Sanders.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about drugs, steroids, and what it takes to bond in friendship. Families can also discuss the film's depiction of a corrupt prison system and how it sets up the inmates as heroes. What is the appeal of humor based on physical and verbal abuse of characters who are "different" in some way?

Movie Details

  • In theaters : May 27, 2005
  • On DVD or streaming : September 20, 2005
  • Cast : Adam Sandler , Burt Reynolds , Chris Rock
  • Director : Peter Segal
  • Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
  • Studio : Paramount Pictures
  • Genre : Comedy
  • Run time : 109 minutes
  • MPAA rating : PG-13
  • MPAA explanation : crude and sexual humor, violence, language and drug references
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

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