
The Wolf of Wall Street
By Jeffrey M. Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Intoxicating rise-and-fall story is full of sex and drugs.

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The Wolf of Wall Street
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Based on 79 parent reviews
Not For Kids, but adults who enjoy crime dramas from Martin Scorsese.
What's the Story?
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, starting his thrilling new job as a broker on Monday, Oct. 19, 1987 -- the day of one of the biggest market crashes in history. After that, he's forced to take a job trading semi-worthless stocks, but for 50 percent commissions. Teaming up with a neighbor, Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), Jordan takes this idea and opens his own firm, using high-pressure sales tactics and shady techniques to earn huge piles of cash. As the money comes rolling in, life gets fast and exciting. Jordan also turns to alcohol, sex workers, and drugs (especially cocaine and Quaaludes) as the company grows larger. But how long can this supercharged lifestyle last?
Is It Any Good?
Director Martin Scorsese, assisted by his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker, keeps up an astoundingly intoxicating pace for nearly three hours. He draws on his previous movies GoodFellas and Casino for the template of The Wolf of Wall Street, packing in many outrageous details behind a criminal organization over an epic running time. The huge cast, which includes a particularly memorable turn by Matthew McConaughey, helps out with small but potent performances.
The key difference here is that The Wolf of Wall Street may be the funniest movie Scorsese has ever made. Every few minutes, it hurls something so shocking and high-spirited that laughter feels like the only response. Yet the movie's monstrous energy seems to be fueled by something both exciting and rotten. DiCaprio gives a true heavyweight performance, laced with contempt, and he's never truly redeemed. Rather, Scorsese ends the movie on a scene that illustrates the pitfalls of desire and how it can never be entirely fulfilled.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the extensive depictions of sex in The Wolf of Wall Street. Does any of it come from a loving, respectful relationship? How do women fare in this movie and in these sexual relationships?
How do the characters approach drinking, smoking, and drug use? Do they seem to get enjoyment out of them? Does the movie make these things look appealing? What are the real consequences of drinking to excess or smoking or using drugs?
What's the appeal of a character with such questionable morals? Martin Scorsese often makes movies about these kinds of characters -- what might draw him to highlight these stories? How does it affect his movie legacy?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 25, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: March 25, 2014
- Cast: Jonah Hill , Leonardo DiCaprio , Matthew McConaughey , Margot Robbie
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- Run time: 180 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence
- Last updated: November 2, 2023
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