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Parents' Guide to

There Will Be Blood

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Slow-moving, somber drama is too mature for kids.

Movie R 2008 158 minutes
There Will Be Blood Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 28 parent reviews

moviefan444
moviefan444 Adult
April 25, 2021
age 10+

A Little Violent (Non Gory)

There is no doubt violence in this movie, but most of it is the type of violence with no gore and little blood, the worst scene is the ending scene and kids can just cover their eyes, other than that two dead corpses are shown and a few non brutal mining accidents as well. But I think the main part of why kids should watch this film is the fact that it has a really great message about greed and what it can do to a person, and that's something I think not only every child but every human should learn about in their life.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
HcrS1310
HcrS1310 Adult
September 19, 2022
age 15+

So f--king good

This is my favourite film along with gladiator and jfk. Is sometimes violent but is never lingered on but the ending is quite brutal with a man’s head being crushed with a bowling pin you see lots of blood. The main thing is that it just won’t really appeal to most kids under 15. So brilliant!
See all 28 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (28 ):
Kids say (46 ):

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

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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