Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cops vs. the mob in bloody Prohibition-era drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Untouchables
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 26 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a classic gangster movie with strong performances and a compelling storyline, though it contains significant violence and language that may not be suitable for younger audiences. Many reviews highlight that while the film is entertaining and impactful, it includes graphic scenes that should be considered by parents before letting their children watch it.
- classic gangster movie
- strong performances
- significant violence
- parental guidance needed
- entertaining and impactful
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In Prohibition-era Chicago, organized crime prospers under arch-gangster Al Capone (Robert De Niro), who earns millions selling bootleg liquor, extortion and other vices through various lieutenants and underbosses. Proud US Treasury Agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) is appointed to specifically tear down the criminal empire, but learns the hard way that Capone has well-paid agents, spies, and informants even in the police. Fortunately Ness befriends Malone (Sean Connery), a streetwise Irish-American officer who mentors the young lawman in street tactics, including putting together a core team of "untouchable," bribe-proof deputies. Cleverly determining that ordinary tax law can lock away Capone -- he's hasn't filed a tax statement, naturally, for his illegal millions -- Ness and the Untouchables clash with the crime lord's deadliest gunmen in the prelude to Capone's trial.
Is It Any Good?
THE UNTOUCHABLES is a lot fun despite the corniness and simplifications. It's often said real-life lawman and city safety director Eliot Ness, when he died virtually forgotten in 1957, had no clue his name would be famous as a pop-culture crimefighter. It was the inaccurate "nonfiction" bestselling book The Untouchables and a network TV-series adaptation (1959-1963) that inspired this entertaining, super-deluxe, big-scale feature film, which, despite frequent swearing and bloodletting, is very old-school Hollywood in its flavor and morality (and failure to get the facts straight). The good guys are really good, the bad guys are hissably evil -- none of that trendy romanticizing the mob or pretending criminals are cool rebels. With bigger-than-life actors, direction, and snappy dialogue (by playwright David Mamet), this film comes on like, well, gangbusters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in this movie. How realistic is it? How does it affect you after watching it? Does who is committing the violence make a difference?
The newspapers in the film seem to be friendlier with Al Capone than with Eliot Ness. Are there criminals today who have the media spotlight? What is so appealing about colorful criminal characters, if anything?
Elliot Ness ends up breaking the law himself. Do the means justify the end?
This movie is based on real lives and real events. How have they been changed or dramatized? How can you find out the real story?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 3, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : May 9, 2017
- Cast : Andy Garcia , Charles Martin Smith , Kevin Costner , Robert De Niro , Sean Connery
- Director : Brian De Palma
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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