The Social Reckoning (R)
Age 14+
Mature whistleblower drama calls for accountability.
Writer-director Aaron Sorkin’s fact-based follow-up to 2010’s “The Social Network” explores allegations that Facebook prioritized profits over users’ health and safety. The movie deals with mature, potentially upsetting subjects, including online radicalization, social media bullying and corporate accountability. It opens with a tense confrontation in which a White woman hurls racist insults and violent threats at two police officers, and it ends with footage of rioters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 (people are punched, kicked, pushed and bloodied). Language includes several uses of “f—,” plus “s—,” “b—-,” “a–hole” and “goddamn.” Adults drink at events, restaurants and bars, and a woman is implied to be drunk. There’s a crude sexual comment, and a brief glimpse of a partially undressed female college student in bed with a guy. The film has strong messages about courage, integrity and accountability, as well as the importance of investigative journalism and the risks of whistleblowing. (112 minutes)
Available in theaters.
Matchbox: The Movie (PG-13)
Age 13+
Violence and language in toy-based action spy blockbuster.
This action movie — starring John Cena and Jessica Biel — follows an international spy effort to recover a stolen nuclear warhead. Although it’s loosely based on the popular toy brand, the film isn’t meant for younger kids. Characters are kidnapped and die in shootouts, explosions, and car and helicopter crashes. There’s lots of fighting, with knives, fires and falls. A child’s mother has died, and a woman loses her uncle. A nuclear bomb is at risk of being detonated in a public place, and we see bloody wounds and corpses. A gay man says he had suicidal thoughts when he was bullied as a child. Adults drink, and they pass out when someone spikes their shots. (126 minutes)
Available on Apple TV.
Animals (R)
Age 15+
Twisty thriller has violence, language and sex.
This crime thriller focuses on a mayoral candidate (played by writer-director Ben Affleck) and his wife (Kerry Washington), who must make life-altering choices when their son is kidnapped. The boy is threatened with bodily harm and death, and panicking parents experience hours of terror. A handler offers to kill somebody, and people fall, fight and die. Married adults have affairs, characters kiss and people talk about “f—ing,” “j—–g off” and “getting railed.” Language also includes “s—,” “goddammit,” “b—-,” “a–hole,” “c–ksucker,” “b—–d,” “c–t” and “p—y.” (106 minutes)
Available on Netflix.
Carrie (TV-MA)
Age 15+
Telekinetic teen horror tale has violence, drinking and drugs.
This limited series adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 novel follows a teen girl (Summer H. Howell) with telekinetic powers. Brace for potentially frightening imagery, including bloody supernatural violence and mass casualties. Teen and adults drink and use drugs, and there are a few make-out scenes. Expect emotionally intense depictions of abuse, religious extremism and social media harassment. Strong language includes “f—” and “s—.” A character who dies by suicide is found by a peer; viewers only see the person’s feet. Menstruation and blood are key to the story, and scenes involving humiliation and cruelty may be upsetting. (Eight episodes)
Available on Prime Video.
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