Money Monster parents guide

Money Monster Parent Guide

The good lessons that could have be learned here are sacrificed for supposed artistic benefits and comedic gains.

Overall C

When Kyle (Jack O'Connell) loses his life's savings, he decides to hold someone accountable! So he goes after the TV show that gave him the bad investing tips by taking the host (George Clooney) hostage --while the program is on air. He then  demands the cast and crew make his money matters right.

Release date May 15, 2016

Violence C-
Sexual Content C-
Profanity D
Substance Use D+

Why is Money Monster rated R? The MPAA rated Money Monster R for language throughout, some sexuality and brief violence.

Run Time: 99 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Investigative journalism is in critical condition and business ethics are a mess—those are the messages director Jodie Foster appears to want to convey in her real time thriller Money Monster. George Clooney plays Lee Gates, a financial talk show host who is much more interested in theatrics, goofy dances and tacky props than he is about careful economic analysis. A few weeks prior to the show he’s just about to open, Gates gave a glowing buy signal for investing with Ibis Clear Capital. But, as is often the case, his prediction turned sour when the trading company’s algorithm had a mysterious glitch and stocks plummeted. Today one of his viewers, Kyle Budwell (Jack O’Connell), is determined to hold Gates responsible.

Budwell makes his way into the secure studio by posing as a courier. Once inside, he hijacks the live show and holds the TV personality at gunpoint while forcing him to don an explosive vest. Meanwhile the program’s producer Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) watches helplessly from the control room as Gates now hosts an angered guest demanding to know why and how he lost his life savings. With Fenn still able to communicate with Gates through a discreet earpiece, she begins to remember what “real” journalism is and starts to track down the elusive CEO (Dominic West) of the offending company to see if there is more to the story than what the public has been told.

Part of the film’s tense conflict is derived from having the action play out in real time—or at least that’s what the promotional materials imply. The movie is barely an hour and a half long, so that means super-producer Patty Fenn has to dig up sources, find answers to tough questions and make miracles happen in minutes—a process that would typically take days or weeks to complete. This time compression contributes to the unconvincing conclusion that is too dependent on serendipity. Then there’s Gates ongoing satirical verbiage (Clooney in his typical role) which would be unlikely to release pressure if this were an actual situation.

Even more unfortunate is that the themes of media’s lost integrity and business’ broken principles are obscured behind needless profanities, brief but overt sexual content and a couple of scenes of recreational drug use. Like the recent Oscar nominated The Big Short, the good lessons that could be learned here are sacrificed for supposed artistic benefits and comedic gains. A joke surrounding a newly released sample of erectile cream results in a moment of spontaneous sexual activity between a man and woman (lots of sound and thrusting are depicted without explicit nudity). The more than 70 uses of a sexual expletive in this script (one used in a sexual context) appear to be a gratuitous attempt to reinforce the seriousness of the crisis.

By the time the police are at a stand-off with the armed madman, the story has unfolded in such a predictable way that neither the audience sitting in the theater nor the one depicted on the big screen, seem very concerned about the outcome. While the posed public appear to lose interest because they’ve seen this sort of sensational thing on TV too many times, those paying for their seats are more likely to disconnect because the promising premise has dissolved into yet another mediocre thriller. Sadly, the script barely addresses the culpability of the media. It never explores the issue of television programs like Money Monster, which may be seen as entertainment by the companies that produce them, yet are often interpreted as serious financial advice by those who watch. And bad business practices get off with just a reprimand. In the closing moments of the movie Fenn and Gates muse about what they should do on next week’s show. I find it hard to believe that in-depth reporting or calling companies to account will be on the top of the priority list.

Directed by Jodie Foster. Starring Julia Roberts, Giancarlo Esposito, George Clooney. Running time: 99 minutes. Theatrical release May 15, 2016. Updated

Money Monster
Rating & Content Info

Why is Money Monster rated R? Money Monster is rated R by the MPAA for language throughout, some sexuality and brief violence.

Violence: A character is taken hostage and forced to wear an explosive vest by a man who brandishes a gun and repeatedly makes death threats. Other characters are also threatened by his weapon and explosives. Armed police officers are brought in to help with the situation. Authorities argue the pros and cons of shooting at innocent targets while trying to take down the perpetrator. Violent images from old movies are infrequently seen. Gun shots are used to get attention and to destroy property. Suicide is contemplated and discussed. Characters are shoved around and rough handled. A news report shows armed men who are striking and protesting. Characters are shot at, some are hit, and blood is shown. A character punches another. Death and injuries are discussed.

Sexual Content: An erectile dysfunction remedy is discussed and a character tries it to see if it is effective. Masturbation is implied. A man and woman engage in sex: sounds and thrusting are portrayed, but no nudity is seen. A naked couple kissing in a shower is briefly shown. Various women are seen in scanty dance costumes and bikinis. Sexual references and innuendo are heard. Characters embrace and kiss. An extramarital affair and unwed pregnancy are implied. Divorce and unhappy relationships are discussed. Several scenes depict men in restrooms using the toilet.

Language: A sexual expletive is used pervasively (at least 70 times) and once in a sexual context. Also frequently used are scatological slang, moderate curses and mild profanity. Crude expressions, sexual slang terms and mentions of male anatomy are included as well.

Alcohol / Drug Use: People are seen drinking in bars. A man secretly drinks alcohol out of a coffee mug at work. Two scenes show characters using illegal drugs.

Page last updated

Money Monster Parents' Guide

In the opening moments of this movie, the producer (Julia Roberts) of the Money Monster show satirically observes, “We don’t do journalism…” What does she mean? How has their program evolved from being about financial news into being about entertainment? What real TV shows can you think of that do that too? Why might audiences want more entertainment than news when selecting what to watch?

A disgruntled viewer (Jack O’Connell) that has been burned by the advice of the host (George Clooney) takes the man to task. Should the host be held accountable for the faulty information he shared? How much investigation do you think was done before presenting the material on the air? How much responsibility does the viewer have to check the facts on his own rather than just believing what he hears on TV? Does the media try to persuade its audience to think TV personalities are experts? How can you know the difference?

A business tycoon (Dominic West) in this film points out that, “No one asks questions as long as you are making money.” What does he mean? How might greed justify turning a blind eye to ethics? How do attitudes change when an investment fails? Does success excuse questionable practices, or should businesses operate honestly regardless of the outcome?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Money Monster movie is September 6, 2016. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Money Monster
Release Date: 6 September 2016
Money Monster releases to home video (Blu-ray/Digital) with the following supplements:
- Deleted Scenes
- George Clooney, The Money Man
- Inside the Pressure Cooker
- Analysis of a Scene - The Showdown
- Dan the Automator (feat. Del the Funky Homosapien)
- Music Video: What Makes the World Go ‘Round (MONEY!)

Related home video titles:

In John Q. another desperate man takes the staff of a hospital hostage to try and get his child a much needed transplant operation. Another media personality is held hostage in the film Mad City.