Parents' Guide to

Live by Night

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Sluggish, uninspired mobster drama has lots of violence.

Movie R 2016 128 minutes
Live by Night Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Stevie111
Stevie111 Adult
January 15, 2017
age 16+

Ben Affleck delivers a slightly disappointing and violent gangster film

I had very high hopes for Live by Night, and wasn't completely thrilled with it. I liked it, but it wasn't everything I wanted it to be. The beginning feels very different from the end, and had less interesting characters. As the movie progresses, it gets better and better. I thought Ben Affleck's performance was inconsistent. Sometimes he was doing a great job, and sometimes he was not believable. He directed the action scenes very well, though. There is a lot of brutal violence, but there is little gore. There are a few mild sexual scenes, but there is one scene with pictures of a young naked woman. The distribution of rum is a large part of the plot. Language isn't frequent, but it is still fairly strong. It is better suited for more mature audiences, but depending on the person, some teens may be okay. I really didn't mind the movie, I just thought it could still be better.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In LIVE BY NIGHT, a Prohibition-era crime drama, Ben Affleck plays Joe Coughlin. A cop's son, Joe starts out as a small-time gangster with no ties to either of the two mob bosses who rule Boston: the calculating Maso Pescatore (Remo Girone) and the steely Al White (Robert Glenister) -- whose mistress, Emma Gould (Sienna Miller), Joe is secretly sleeping with. Recruited by both men, Joe says no. But when Al discovers Joe's affair with Emma, a series of events leads Joe south to Florida as Maso's deputy, starting another chapter of his life that's even more complicated and deadly than the previous one was.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

For a film about mobsters and Miami rum running that's headlined by big stars, this drama is shockingly slow, devoid of momentum and energy. Except for the pivotal final showdown --- a literal guns-blazing scene that finally pushes viewers to the edge of their seats -- Live by Night ambles from plot point to plot point, aided (or should we say hampered?) by an overly explanatory voiceover. Affleck's motto seems to be "Tell, don't show.

What a waste. Because the story itself is rich in possibilities, the action slinging from frigid Boston to balmy Florida, the characters an assortment of pain and ambition, rage and dysfunction. Stand-out cast members include Miller as Joe's troubled first love and Elle Fanning as a good-girl-gone-bad-gone-evangelical. Affleck himself is sadly inert as Joe -- though as a director, his visual imagery has punch. As a book by Dennis Lehane, Live by Night was a page-turner; as a film, it's a maddening slog.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Live by Night. Is it necessary to the story? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Who are the "good guys" and "bad guys" in this story? What separates them? How does the movie make it clear who to root for?

  • What role does alcohol/drinking play in the plot? How could you find out more about Prohibition?

  • How does the film portray the 1920s? Do you think it was as glamorous as it sometimes seems here?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: December 25, 2016
  • On DVD or streaming: March 21, 2017
  • Cast: Ben Affleck , Elle Fanning , Brendan Gleeson
  • Director: Ben Affleck
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Genre: Drama
  • Topics: History
  • Run time: 128 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity
  • Last updated: January 1, 2023

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate