Parents' Guide to Wild Style

Movie R 1983 82 minutes
Wild Style movie poster: Illustration of red album LP with yellow and black graffiti-style lettering of the film's title Wild Style at the center of t

Common Sense Media Review

Sabrina McFarland By Sabrina McFarland , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Drama mixes early hip-hop and graffiti cultures; language.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Still from Wild Style: White newspaper reporter Virginia (Patti Astor) with neck-length straight bleached-blond hair dancing at a club and surrounded
  • Still from Wild Style: Raymond a.k.a. Zero ("Lee" George Quiñones) with his back facing the camera while graffiti painting a New York City amphitheate
  • till from Wild Style: In the background, an amphitheater covered with graffiti logos and messages, and in the foreground, Raymond a.k.a. Zero ("Lee" G

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What's the Story?

In WILD STYLE, Raymond a.k.a. Zoro ("Lee" George Quiñones) wants to have a career as a graffiti paint artist. He's also in love and wants to impress Rose "Lady Bug" (Sandra "Pink" Fabara), who shares his artistic passion for the craft. Raymond enlists assistance from others to achieve his dream.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Director Charlie Ahearn shares a feel-good collaboration of the early days of hip-hop and graffiti artistry in New York City. The filmmaker's Wild Style introduces the fictional story of aspiring artist Raymond a.k.a. Zoro ("Lee" George Quiñones) who paints subway cars. "Being a graffiti writer," says Raymond, "is taking the chances…taking the risks." Friend and artist "Crash" (Johnny "Crash" Matos) agrees and claims that getting started is something that "you just pick it up. It's like a virus."

Greater recognition, however, is just around the neighborhood corner for Raymond when he meets influencers who share his vision and want to help. "Phade" (Frederick Brathwaite a.k.a. Fab 5 Freddy), a concert promoter of up-and-coming hip-hop artists such as Busy Bee Starski, Cold Crush Brothers, and Double Trouble, a newspaper reporter (Patti Astor), and a patron of the arts (Niva Kislac) are a few of the people who welcome the chance to make the New Yorker's dream come alive, a concept almost any teen could personally hope for and truly appreciate.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the communication of the cast in Wild Style. How do they also demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

  • What do you think about the art of graffiti? In the film, why does this craft appear to be a risky activity to engage in? What could be the possible pros and cons of this type of artistic creation?

  • What do you think about the hip-hop music featured in the film? What may be the possible reasons behind the genre's lasting longevity today?

Movie Details

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Wild Style movie poster: Illustration of red album LP with yellow and black graffiti-style lettering of the film's title Wild Style at the center of t

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