Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Exceptional, intense, complex crime drama resonates.

R 2017 115 minutes
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 23 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 25 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is an intense, sharply written crime-related drama with excellent performances (especially by star Frances McDormand). Expect some intense moments of violence, including assault by a police officer, a man grabbing a woman by the throat, fighting, beating with blunt objects, a man being horribly beaten and thrown through a window, a man being burned in a fire, threats with a knife, a drill being put through a thumbnail, someone coughing up blood, a man shooting himself in the head, references to rape, and more. Language is also extremely strong, with many uses of "f--k," "s--t," the "N" word," "c--t," and much more. A married couple has sex offscreen (it's referred to but not shown). Characters smoke cigarettes and drink socially, and there are references to drinking problems, hangovers, and drug use.

Community Reviews

AMrushdie
AMrushdie Adult
May 3, 2021
age 10+

Outside looking in often best perspective.

I think we are blessed to see this film. As Americans and as seen by someone from another country. This vision of the American reality, from racism, to seismic, to billboards: which most countries don't allow. So it's ebbing and it's miss o ri. Title and all the way through this is a masterpiece, like Shakespeare describing American life. And not only rural life. It's a beautiful story. Even the characters we see as most horrible we realize are ignorant. The brilliance of this movie, is that if the viewer is paying attention to the story and the character arcs. They will feel compassion for every person

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
ladysybil
ladysybil Adult
July 11, 2020
age 16+

Excellent acting, and powerful story!

Parents should be warned that this movie contains ALOT of language, but it is clear that the film is intentionally trying to be over the top. This is such a good movie, and the character development is absolutely amazing! The story is extremely well told. There are some heavy themes in this movie (for example rape, suicide, and racism) and the movie contains violence, but please watch because it is all extremely well done and worth seeing. Lots to contemplate in this movie!!

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 23 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) is still -- understandably -- grieving and angry a year after her daughter was raped and murdered, with the perpetrator never found. While driving a lonely stretch of road, Mildred spots three unused billboards. So she rents them and puts up a message for the local police chief, Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), calling him out for his failure to find the person who killed her daughter. Her act doesn't sit well with her fellow citizens, especially dim-bulb police officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell). Mildred finds herself and her friends threatened on several occasions, especially when someone tries to burn down her billboards. Meanwhile, Willoughby is guarding his own terrible secret. Then, it's none other than Dixon, inspired by Willoughby, who steps up and tries to help.

Is It Any Good?

So sharply written that it cuts, the third movie from award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh is a dramedy that starts with cleverness and wit, then opens up into something truthfully human. Aptly titled, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, features superb, lyrical dialogue so good that every single cast member, no matter how little screen time, gives a superb performance. McDormand in particular hasn't been this good since her Oscar-winning turn in Fargo. Yet Three Billboards never seems too clever for its own good. It's a stronger effort than McDonagh's In Bruges or Seven Psychopaths; beneath the sparkling verbiage are genuine, complex emotions.

There's hope here -- and love -- but also hate, rage, and grief, just like life. They're are all mixed up in a most bracing way. At the same time, the movie tackles things like murder, cancer, and racism, but never in a way that might seem obvious or pandering. It's not a movie about suspense or solutions; things are deliberately messy in this world, even if McDonagh presents them in a pin-neat manner. Blessed with pitch-perfect cinematography and production design, the movie offers many great scenes and no bad ones. But nothing quite prepares you for the final scene, a thoughtful, human moment that should resonate for some time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri's use of violence. How much is shown, and how much is mentioned or threatened? What's the overall effect? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How does the movie broach the subject of racism? Which characters are racist? How can you tell? How do things change, if at all?

  • What effect does Mildred's billboard scheme have? Was her action a positive move? Or was it something more akin to revenge or anger?

  • How does the movie portray and address suicide? Do you agree with that depiction?

  • How are drinking, smoking, and drugs represented in the movie? Does it glamorize them? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

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