Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says not for kids
Over-the-top violence, nudity, drugs in dark Stallone movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Bullet to the Head is the first teaming of legendary action director Walter Hill and legendary action star Sylvester Stallone. The result is extremely violent in an over-the-top way, with wall-to-wall, extra-noisy, extra-bloody shooting, fighting, stabbing, and explosions. There's also nudity (mostly topless women) in a few scenes, and language is strong, with several uses of "f--k" and "s--t." Characters drink in bars, and a minor character snorts cocaine in one scene. Though the movie isn't realistic, it's still very intense overall and isn't recommended for anyone but the most mature teens and up.
- Families can talk about Bullet to the Head's violence. Does the fact that it's clearly over the top affect its impact? How would the movie have been different with less violence?
- What's appealing about a hit man as a main character? How can we like or identify with someone who breaks the law and solves his problems with violence?
- What stereotypes come up in the movie between the two main characters? How do the characters deal with them?
The good stuff
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Educational value:
Though the cop character slowly learns that the underworld way of doing things is more effective than following the rules, at least he and a double-crossed hitman learn to work together, more or less. There are a few culturally-charged jokes: the cop is Korean, but the hitman throws any number of Asian stereotype jokes at him.
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Positive messages: The characters use violence as a response for nearly every situation, and when they try to use their heads, things tend to not work out. Hence, they learn that violence (or threats) is usually the "better" solution to any problem.
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Positive role models: Though the cop character slowly learns that the underworld way of doing things is more effective than following the rules, at least he and a double-crossed hit man learn to work together, more or less. There are a few culturally-charged jokes: The hit man throws any number of Asian stereotype jokes at the Korean cop.
What to watch for
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Violence: The over-the-top, wall-to-wall violence in Bullet to the Head is of the extra-noisy, extra-bloody type, with almost constant fighting, chasing, shooting, stabbing, and explosions. True to the title, characters are shot in the head. In the big showdown, characters fight with axes. There's a brief but bloody autopsy scene. Nearly everyone gets shot or beat up, and many, many minor and supporting characters die. A woman is kidnapped and treated roughly.
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Sexy stuff: A prostitute is shown taking a shower; one breast and her naked bottom are shown. At a fancy, crowded party, several masked women walk around topless. The female lead is shown just out of a shower, her bottom on display and very briefly topless before covering up with a towel. There's also some quick, spoken innuendo in one or two scenes.
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Language: Language isn't constant but includes several uses of "f--k," plus "s--t," "prick," "ass," "piss," "a--hole," "son of a bitch," "crap," "damn," "goddamn," and "bitch."
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Consumerism: Google is mentioned in one scene, and Band-Aids and Blow Pops are mentioned in another. The main character drinks a specific brand of whisky, Bulleit Bourbon, which he asks for by name several times and shows in one or two scenes.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: A minor character is shown drinking and snorting cocaine in a hotel room. Most other characters are shown drinking in bars at some point -- mostly beer and/or a certain brand of bourbon/whisky.