Common Sense Media Review
Slow-moving, somber drama is too mature for kids.
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There Will Be Blood
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 30 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a slow-paced yet powerful story exploring themes of greed and ambition, with Daniel Day-Lewis delivering an outstanding performance. Many reviewers argue that despite some instances of violence, the film's R rating is excessive, suggesting it is suitable for younger viewers if they appreciate complex storytelling rather than fast-paced action.
- slow pace
- outstanding performances
- excessive rating
- themes of greed
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 54 kid reviews
Kids say that while the movie is complex and mature, it can be appropriate for older teens, especially those who appreciate slower narratives and deeper themes. Opinions vary on its content, with some considering it a masterpiece of storytelling and character study, while others find it slow-paced and potentially boring for younger viewers.
- complex themes
- strong performances
- slow pacing
- mature content
- might bore kids
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Based on Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel, Oil!, THERE WILL BE BLOOD follows the life of self-described oilman Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) from his earliest days as a miner to his later years as a wealthy, lonely misanthrope. Along the way, he informally adopts H.W. (Dillon Freasier), whom he loves in a strange, desperate way that leads to distress when H.W. eventually grows away from him. Daniel's other primary interaction is with Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a self-styled preacher who resents Daniel's governance of the land he's bought from Eli's California neighbors. Their conflict increases as each believes himself best suited to organize the community.
Is It Any Good?
Set against the movie's stark landscape and brilliant orchestration by Jonny Greenwood, the conflict between Daniel and Eli turns simultaneously explosive and subterranean. They embody the forces that shape American culture -- specifically, capitalism and religion. Neither man is "complete," and each feels betrayed by someone introduced as his brother -- in Eli's case, his missing twin, and in Daniel's, the sudden appearance of Henry Brands (Kevin J. O'Connor), who shows up late in the film claiming to be Daniel's half-brother. Even as Daniel and Eli's plots go in different directions, both underline loss and pain that lead to bad decisions and violence.
Beyond the emotional sparks between Eli and Daniel, the film offers stunning visual compositions set against gorgeous desert and wide skies. Following an early oil rig accident, flames appear to leap behind a stoic Daniel as he gazes on his fortune -- one that will both make and ruin him. Subtle exchanges between father and son are built on shared glances that are at once knowing, intimate, and skeptical. This relationship is increasingly complicated, partly by H.W.'s friendship with Eli's sister, and partly by Daniel's increasing rage at the world. At the film's end, there is blood, sticky and odious -- but most effectively, there is also H.W., terrified, trusting, and enduring.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's messages. Is there a clearly defined "good guy" or "bad guy"? Do characters that offer a mix of both qualities more accurately reflect real life? If so, why do you think TV shows and movies don't feature characters like that more often? How are Daniel and Eli both alike and at odds?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 11, 2008
- On DVD or streaming : April 7, 2008
- Cast : Daniel Day-Lewis , Kevin J. O'Connor , Paul Dano
- Director : Paul Thomas Anderson
- Studio : Paramount Vantage
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Adoptees and Foster Kids , Siblings ) , Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Faith ( Christianity ) , Competition , History , Sports
- Run time : 158 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence.
- Last updated : March 20, 2026
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