Why is “The Long Walk” rated R? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “strong bloody violence, grisly images, suicide, pervasive language, and sexual references.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes a couple of references to sex, partial non-sexual nudity, many scenes of teens being killed by gunshots, a teen run over by a tank, discussions of murder and beatings, several arguments, and nearly 290 F-words and other strong language. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.

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Based on a Stephen King novel: After an unnamed war leaves future America desperate and existing as a police state, 50 desperate teen boys are selected to compete in a tortuous walk that when completed will leave only one standing, who will win whatever he wishes for. With Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, Mark Hamill, Roman Griffin Davis, Judy Greer, Josh Hamilton, Noah de Mel, Daymon Wrightly, Jack Giffin, Thamela Mpumlwana, Keenan Lehmann and Dale Neri. Directed by Francis Lawrence. An Algonquin chant is not translated. [Running Time: 1:48]

The Long Walk SEX/NUDITY 3

 – A teen boy pulls down his pants to defecate and we see his bare buttocks (please see the Violence/Gore category for more details). A teen boy pulls off his clothes and we see him wearing underwear (his bare chest, abdomen, back and legs are seen).
► A teen boy talks about wanting to “fornicate” and refers to himself as “Long Dong Silver.” Two teen boys argue and make sexual remarks to each other. A teen boy talks about a man having numerous illegitimate children. A teen boy says that his wish if he wins a challenge is “10 naked ladies.” Teens talk about one of the group having been married and that she is now a widow.

The Long Walk VIOLENCE/GORE 7

 – A teen boy struggles while walking, complaining of pain in his leg, he receives a warning and other teens help him walk off the pain; he then falls to the ground and is shot in the back of the head (we see the exit wound leaving a gaping wound on his face).
► A teen boy describes his father being murdered for telling people about life, music and art from the past that has been deemed seditious and illegal; we see armed men burst into their home, take the man outside and force him to his knees; one man shoots him in the head, as his teenage son and his wife watch and scream.
► A teen boy runs out of line and toward a store where he is shot in the back and crashes into the glass window shattering it (we see blood on his back). A teen boy collapses on the ground thrashing and we see him foaming at the mouth until a man with a gun approaches him and shoots him in the head, off-screen. A teen boy mocks another teen about his mother and makes crude remarks causing the other boy to try to hit him; the mocked boy falls to the ground and scrapes his face (we see the wound), is unable to get back up and is shot in the head (it is blurred in the background and we later see his body with blood spreading on the ground); other teens call the teen that mocked him a murderer. Teen boys talk about having to defecate and one teen is shown to have diarrhea (we see the liquid when he pulls his pants down a couple of times) and other teens react to the sight and smell; the teen is shot in the head for stopping. A teen boy is shown with his foot bent at the ankle and his sock drenched in blood; he limps, is warned and then shot in the head (blood spurts). A teen boy is struck in the face with a gun handle and he falls to the ground, walks off the road and his legs are crushed under the treads of a tank (we see the legs crushed and blood and matter); he screams loudly and is shot. A teen boy runs and pulls off his clothing (we see him wearing underwear), runs off the road and is shot (blood spurts). A teen boy runs toward a truck following them and is shot in the abdomen; he falls to the ground, others try to help him get up (we see blood on the wound), but the others walk away and the first teen yells and is shot in the head. A teen boy stabs himself in the throat three times (we see blood), falls to his knees and is shot in the head (blood pours onto the ground). A teen boy charges a man with a gun, takes his gun and shoots him (we see blood); the teen is shot in the abdomen (we see blood), he chants in Algonquin briefly, points his gun to his chin and shoots himself (blood sprays). A man is shot and falls dead (we see blood spray).
► A teen boy complains that his nose won’t stop bleeding (we see blood on his face) and another teen says that it is an internal hemorrhage; he stands alone, we hear a gunshot and see him fall to the ground dead. A teen boy says that his liver is failing and his lungs are filling with fluid; he stops walking and calls out, “Do me,” as we hear a shot and he falls to the ground (in a blurred background). A teen boy complains of his legs feeling like jelly. A teen boy stops during a walking challenge and removes a rock from his shoe; he receives warnings and a man with a gun approaches and points the weapon at the teen’s head (he is not shot). A man yells and shoots a pistol into the air to start a challenge. A teen boy makes obscene hand gestures toward a man holding a gun and spits on the ground. A teen boy runs to his mother when she stands on a sidewalk watching him; he is warned and he nearly steps off the road while trying to reach her.
► A teen boy describes living alone when his parents died, saying that he lived with an alcoholic uncle that would beat him regularly and he died in a pool of his own vomit. A teen boy and his mother argue about his participation in a competition that could lead to his death and the woman sobs deeply when they hug goodbye. A man lists the rules of a competition to a group of teenage boys and says that after receiving three warnings for infractions, they will, “Get your ticket,” meaning they will be shot and killed. A teen boy describes his wish to kill a person. There are several references to a war and a man talks about an epidemic of laziness.
► A teen boy seems very anxious and paces before a competition begins. A teen boy drops his food ration and worries because he has no more. Teen boys are seen continuing to walk in their sleep. A teen boy’s shoe breaks and he removes both to continue walking. A teen boy has a deep scar on his face and neck and explains that they are from a fight with a person using a knife. A car is shown in flames on the side of a road.
► A teen boy defecates and is held with a gun to his head when he is unable to finish quickly (we see some feces on the ground when he stands up); he eventually does and is not shot (others complain about the teen smelling bad afterward). A teen boy urinates while walking and we see the stream as others behind him complain about being sprayed. A cow’s decaying carcass is seen on the ground. A cat missing its eyes is seen sitting on a mailbox. A teen boy says that he is eating raw ground venison while walking in a challenge and other boys are squeamish.

The Long Walk LANGUAGE 10

 – About 286 F-words and its derivatives, 2 obscene hand gestures, 8 sexual references, 63 scatological terms, 14 anatomical terms, 18 mild obscenities, name-calling (jumpy, Superman, creepy, dumb, spooky, dumb, idiot, meemaw, stupid, gross, bleeding heart, nerd, queers, disgusting, hick, cruel joke, bumpkin, buggy, freak, murderer, superstitious, killer, crazy, sour puss, pest, sick, dirt poor, sweating hog fest, lousy), exclamations (whoa, shut-up, oh wow, walk or die, no brainer, it’s not fair), 13 religious profanities (GD), 37 religious exclamations (e.g. Jesus, Jesus Christ, oh my God, Hallelujah, Holy [scatological term deleted], I swear to God, there are several references to the Bible and scripture). | profanity glossary |

The Long Walk SUBSTANCE USE

 – A teen boy lights a cigarette and says it tastes bad before handing it to another teen that smokes it.

The Long Walk DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – War, desperation, hope, prosperity, friendship, dissent, the system, vengeance, fear, guilt, irony.

The Long Walk MESSAGE

 – Always see the beauty in things. The only guarantee we have in life is that we are going to die.