Common Sense Media Review
Scary '80s vampire film mixes gore with campy humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Lost Boys
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Based on 61 kid reviews
Kids say this film blends humor with horror, showcasing some campy, gory moments that are not too intense, making it suitable for teenagers, or even tweens with parental guidance. Many viewers appreciate its nostalgic charm and character relationships, suggesting a lower rating than R, arguing that the content is often milder than today's PG-13 films.
- humor
- light horror
- suitable for teens
- nostalgic charm
- parental guidance recommended
- campy visuals
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE LOST BOYS, the Emerson family has just moved to Santa Carla, self-titled murder capital of the world, and already oldest son Michael (Jason Patric) has fallen in with the wrong crowd. Out one night, he meets Star (Jami Gertz), whom he follows and who introduces him to David (Kiefer Sutherland). David is the leader of a gang of vampires, and, after hanging out, Michael unwittingly joins their clan. Meanwhile, David's brother, Sam (Corey Haim), befriends the Frog brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander), a pair of young vampire hunters. When David finds out what's going on, he and the young kids embark on a mission to destroy the head vampire and return their lives to normal. Dianne Wiest also stars as Michael and Sam's mother.
Is It Any Good?
The Lost Boys is a fun film to watch and is certainly one of the better vampire films to come out in the 1980s. Although he might not have been trying to, Kiefer vamps it up well and is enjoyable to watch. The film works a lot better as camp than as a serious vampire film; however, parents should be warned that there are some scary moments, and younger or more sensitive kids may be frightened.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about peer pressure. Why did Michael go along with the pack? Even though he later regrets it, what could he have done (if anything) to keep himself from falling into their trap?
How can you tell this movie is a product of the '80s? How would the movie be different had it been set in the 1950s or the 2010s?
How is violence and peril conveyed in The Lost Boys? Did it seem necessary for the story, or did it seem gratuitous?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 31, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : January 27, 1998
- Cast : Corey Haim , Dianne Wiest , Jason Patric
- Director : Joel Schumacher
- Inclusion Information : Queer Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and violence
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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