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Our take
Demolition Man is a noisy action comedy about a cop and a murderer revived from cryogenic prison. Shootouts, killings, and wrecked streets are frequent, with the villain treating violence as a game. Strong swearing recurs, and a comic virtual-sex scene adds adult humour. We put it at around 16 and up.
Uplifting themes
The satire pokes at a world so safe it forgets how to be human. A little chaos and honesty look healthier than perfect manners. It is a joke with a soft point about freedom Spartan is loyal and brave, and also reckless and crude. Lenina learns to think for herself. Heroes here are flawed cops, not classroom examples You can talk about over-sanitised rules and what a society loses when it bans every risk. The science is comic-book. The conversation is the value
Story (may spoil tone)
In 1996, brash L.A. detective John Spartan and maniac killer Simon Phoenix are both sentenced to decades in a cryogenic prison as punishment for a rescue mission gone wrong. When Phoenix escapes 36 years later to wreak havoc on the future, Spartan is awakened to capture his nemesis the old-fashioned way.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Phoenix escapes and starts killing again, and Spartan answers with fist…
Phoenix escapes and starts killing again, and Spartan answers with fists, guns, and wrecked buildings. Hostages and street raids keep the body count moving. The jokes do not hide that people die
Language The f-word shows up from the first chase and keeps coming, with the s-w…
The f-word shows up from the first chase and keeps coming, with the s-word, damn, and inventive insults. Future fines for swearing are a running gag. Teens will hear a lot of it
Sex / nudity The virtual-sex scene is played for laughs, with the couple wearing hea…
The virtual-sex scene is played for laughs, with the couple wearing headsets instead of touching. There is also brief breast nudity elsewhere in the film. Sexual jokes and talk are part of the future-world humour
Drugs / alcohol Cigarettes, beer, and caffeine are listed as banned leftovers from the…
Cigarettes, beer, and caffeine are listed as banned leftovers from the old world. Spartan still wants a burger and a beer. Use is talked about more than shown as a habit
Frightening A laughing killer on the loose, talk of a burning-building nightmare, a…
A laughing killer on the loose, talk of a burning-building nightmare, and sudden demolitions keep the film tense. The future looks bright and cold at the same time. Younger teens may find Phoenix hard to shake
Gore / death / weapons Bodies are found after raids, and pistols get a history lesson before t…
Bodies are found after raids, and pistols get a history lesson before they are fired. Deaths happen in action bursts. The camera does not dwell on open wounds, but the weapons are real
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- The future has banned almost every vice. Which rules feel caring, and which ones just control people?
- Spartan solves problems with force. When does that help, and when does it make a mess?
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Demolition Man
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