Parents' Guide to

Premium Rush

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

High-octane action sustains thin plot in teen-friendly film.

Movie PG-13 2012 91 minutes
Premium Rush Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Dr. Charles Brown
Dr. Charles Brown Parent
July 25, 2016
age 6+

Perfect

Really good for kids of a young age to understand why to stay in school
joshua martinez
joshua martinez Adult
January 2, 2013
age 14+

14 and up.

this thriller movie Premium Rush stars with Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a awesome movie filled with bike chasing action this movie is fine for older teens and parents you need to know that Premium Rush has some peril/tense violence such as bike accidents and more there's also some strong language used and some social drinking the role model is that Wilee is kind, if reckless. He's willing to help, even if it means his life could be thrown in danger All the bikers share a great camaraderie.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is one of New York City's best bike messengers. Riding a bike without brakes, he navigates the city's traffic- and pedestrian-clogged streets with tenacity and foresight, hoping his razor-sharp route choices won't land him in the middle of an avenue, knocked off and in mortal danger. One day his agency gets a call; he has to deliver an envelope 100-plus blocks down from his old college, where he was once a law student. And it turns out this is no ordinary pick-up. Wilee's estranged girlfriend's roommate, Nima (Jamie Chung), specifically requested him, and the envelope's contents are as good as money. Soon after retrieving it, Wilee finds himself chased down by an enraged cop (Michael Shannon), who's looking to the envelope as his salvation.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (11 ):

PREMIUM RUSH won't be mistaken for a complex masterpiece. It's a popcorn movie through and through, made for maximum momentum and white-knuckle thrills. Make peace with this reality, and you're in for a ride (pardon the pun), with bike sequences that will place you square at the handlebars of Wilee's bike, hoping you'll make it out alive. He's a lean, mean delivery machine.

That said, the film suffers from sloppy writing and plotting. (Wilee's name, to start, is explained as a reference to Wile E. Coyote. You don't say.) A romance thrown into the mix is a throwaway, and throughout the movie, there are markers to make sure you're getting points that are already obvious. Viewers never doubt that they'll get to Premium Rush's intended destination, which is a blunder, considering that suspense is what sustains a thriller. Ultimately, what keeps this bike on the road is Gordon-Levitt's authentic, accessible charm and Shannon's off-kilter villain. We can't keep our eyes off them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Premium Rush's tension compares to bloodier violence in other movies. Which has more of an impact on you? Why?

  • Why do you think bike messengers ride around cities at such a dangerous clip? What's in it for them? Are the motivations presented here believable?

  • Is Wilee an admirable character? Why?

Movie Details

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