Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intoxicating rise-and-fall story is full of sex and drugs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Wolf of Wall Street
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 65 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a controversial portrayal of greed and excess, blending humor with graphic depictions of sex, drugs, and swearing, making it unsuitable for children and even many teens. While some viewers appreciate the character arcs and messages about consequences, others find it overly lewd and believe it's more akin to pornography than a traditional film, leading to strong recommendations against letting young audiences watch it.
- graphic content
- mixed reviews
- parental discretion
- not for children
- moral ambiguity
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 182 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is entertaining and engaging, highlighting an exciting yet graphic depiction of its themes involving drugs, sex, and profanity, making it inappropriate for younger audiences. Many reviews emphasize that it's essential to avoid watching it with parents due to its explicit content, while some believe that mature teens could handle its themes, although it often serves as a cautionary tale about greed and its consequences.
- mature content
- teen suitability
- explicit themes
- adult themes
- graphic language
Summarized with AI
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 Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 180 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout, and for some violence
- Last updated : February 9, 2026
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