Musical masterpiece tackles race, with some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Big fight scene leads to two characters being stabbed to death. In another scene, a female character is sexually assaulted. Lastly, a character is tragically shot to death, and another character points a gun and threatens to kill others and then themselves.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
A musical number mentions drinking and the use of specific drugs. In dialogue, brief references to alcoholism. Many characters smoke cigarettes (accurate for the era).
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Coca-Cola bottles and boxes are moved about, and classic Chevrolet cars line the streets. Bromo Seltzer and Tootsie Roll also seen.
Positive Messages
a little
Explores themes of social injustice and judicial corruption in mid-1950s New York and encourages viewers to question the meaning of "liberty." Although America is known as "land of the free," movie portrays how incoming immigrants struggle and are discriminated against. Revolves around love budding between two people who come from groups that hate each other. But violent, climactic ending leaves an open question as to whether love really conquers all, especially racial hatred.
Positive Role Models
a little
Maria is an inspirational role model who doesn't believe in fighting or war. She's able to view people for who they really are, rather than focusing on race or social class. Male role models are lessons to be learned from. Riff and Bernardo are unable to let their hate for one another subside. Determined to hurt each other, they'll fight to the death, even if it's at the expense of someone else's life.
Diverse Representations
Flagged for concern
Features two gangs, one White and one Puerto Rican. While many major characters are meant to be Puerto Rican, nearly all actors except Anita (played by Puerto Rican icon Rita Moreno) are non-Hispanic White. Movie relies heavily on inaccurate Spanish accents and stereotypes of Latinos as gang members.
Parents need to know that West Side Story is co-directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins' retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in 1950s New York. It stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer and explores race relations and immigration in a musical format that pits a White gang against a Puerto Rican one. Despite touching on race, only one of the main actors, Rita Moreno, is Latina. The movie includes several negative stereotypes about Latinos. Street fighting and knifings are depicted, though the impact of some of the violence is lessened by the choreography. In one disturbing scene, a gang of young men physically abuse a young woman, and sexual assault takes place. A major character is shot and killed. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
The movie has great music & choreography and is a cultural classic. That said, the violence, lack of diversity and treatment of women in the film makes this movie better suited for older viewers. My 10yo daughter was distraught with the violence and how women were treated/dismissed and it lends itself to family discussions on the prevalence of these issues in the 1960s. My daughter would give this movie 2 stars, but I will opt for 4 for an older audience.
What's the Story?
A classic American musical with strong social commentary, WEST SIDE STORY updates Shakespeare's tragedy about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, to 1950s New York City, where second-generation American street gang the Jets, led by Riff (Russ Tamblyn), are at constant odds with rival Puerto Rican gang the Sharks. A showdown is inevitable, but love gets in the way when Jets member Tony (Richard Beymer) falls for Maria (Natalie Wood), the sister of Sharks leader Bernardo (George Chakiris). People die and hearts get broken.
Co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, this beautiful musical is a visual masterpiece packed with talent. The music of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is unforgettable, as are the Oscar-winning performances of George Chakiris as Bernardo and Rita Moreno as Anita, the spunky girlfriend of Bernardo and confidant of Maria.
The raging emotions of the characters are expressed through song and dance (Jerome Robbins' choreography mixes jazz, ballet, and Latin influences), resulting in a kinetic display of emotion more expressive than words. Stylish streetwise sets and cinematic technique take West Side Story to another level, rich with visual symbolism.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the issues of racism, immigration, gangs, and youth culture. What do you think the two gangs in West Side Story would say about the American Dream?
What kinds of stereotypes are explored in this movie? Does the movie serve to challenge or reinforce stereotypes?
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.
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.
