Parents' Guide to Cocaine Bear: The True Story

Cocaine Bear: The True Story: Closeup of a bear's face with sunglasses on and the words Cocaine Bear: The True Story underneath

Common Sense Media Review

Stephanie Morgan By Stephanie Morgan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Twisty true story of Cocaine Bear has drugs, guns, murder.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

COCAINE BEAR: THE TRUE STORY is an investigation into the drug-smuggling tale of a bear in the 1980s who allegedly consumed a huge bag of cocaine in the Georgia woods and then was taxidermied for display. This show digs into the true story that was made into a popular movie, Cocaine Bear. But everything, down to the the authenticity of the stuffed bear, is up for investigation.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

This off-the-wall story seems too wild to be true, involving sky-diving drug smugglers, corrupt police officers, and even a little hidden treasure. While there's no footage of a bear on a bender here, the twists and turns in Cocaine Bear: The True Story just keep on coming, from the Kentucky Derby to the Vegas mafia, and even the involvement of actor Woody Harrelson's hitman father. The true story lives up to the absurdity of Hollywood's version, but unfortunately its telling isn't as entertaining. Presented matter-of-factly, using a series of interviews from people who were there, the documentary fails to totally do justice to its exciting subject matter.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how almost no part of the movie Cocaine Bear is true, despite being based on a true story. Does that surprise you? How much of most movies based on true stories do you think include real events? How much is fiction?

  • What did you think of the way the story was told in Cocaine Bear: The True Story? Did you find it engaging or confusing? Did the real news footage add to the story?

  • How do you think this story might be different if it had taken place in a different time or place?

TV Details

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Cocaine Bear: The True Story: Closeup of a bear's face with sunglasses on and the words Cocaine Bear: The True Story underneath

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