ESUSD Film Policy R-Rated Films
Apocalypse Now 1979
Captain Willard, whose mission is "Terminate with extreme prejudice", receives orders to seek out a renegade military outpost led by a mysterious Colonel Kurtz during the Vietnam war.
Action/ Adventure/ Drama/War
Rated R for disturbing violent images, language, sexual content and some drug use.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/
Curriculum: Vietnam, US History, Conflict, War, Psychology
Beloved 1998
Psychological Drama
Rated R for violent imagery and sexual content
Bowling for Columbine 2002
Documentary/ Drama
Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.
Rated R for some violent images and language.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310793/
Curriculum: Political; Social; Violent Nature of American Society
Brazil 1985
Comedy/ Drama/ Fantasy/Sci-Fi
A bureaucrat in a retro-future world tries to correct an administrative error and himself becomes an enemy of the state.
Rated R for some strong violence.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/
Curriculum: Political and Social Satire
Breakfast Club 1985
Drama
Five high school students, all different stereotypes, meet in detention, where they pour their hearts out to each other, and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought.
Rated R for Profanity, mature themes.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088847/
Curriculum: Youth Culture; Psychology; Peer Pressure; Educational Critique
Broadcast News 1987
Comedy/ Drama/ Romance
Take two rival TV reporters: one handsome, one talented, both male. Add one producer, female. Mix well and watch the sparks fly.
Rated R for adult language and sexual situations
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092699/
Curriculum: Journalism, Social Critique
Conan the Barbarian 1982
Action/ Fantasy/ Adventure
The epic tale of child sold into slavery who grows into a man who seeks revenge against the warlord who massacred his tribe.
Rated R for violence, nudity, sex
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082198/
Curriculum: Epic Hero; Beowulf; Epic Poetry; Mythology
Cries and Whispers (Viskningar och rop) 1972
Drama (Swedish with English subtitles)
A family drama takes place in a mansion in the late 1800's. Karin and Maria watch over their sister Agnes' sickbed together with the servant Anna.
Rated R for nudity, mature themes, violence
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069467/
Familial Conflict; Psychology; Culture
Dangerous Liaisons 1988
Drama/ Romance
Rich and bored aristocrats in Rococo France play high-stakes games of passion and betrayal.
Rated R for adult situations
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094947/
Curriculum: Revolutionary France; Historical Setting
The Day Ronald Reagan was Shot 2001
Drama
The film shows the power struggles, confusion, gaffes, incompetence, and general chaos that ensued after the White House and America learned that an attempt had been made on President Reagan's life.
Rated R for language
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271454/
Curriculum: History; Politics; Society
Demolition Man 1993
Action/ Sci-Fi/ Comedy/ Crime
A cop is brought out of suspended animation in prison to pursue an old ultra-violent enemy who is loose in a nonviolent future society.
Rated R for violence, language, brief nudity
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/
Curriculum: Violent Nature of Human Culture; Satire
Erin Brockovich 2000
Drama
Based on a true story
This legal drama is based on the true story of a woman who helped win the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit. Erin Brockovich runs across some information on a little-known case filed against Pacific Gas and Electric.
Rated R for language
website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/?ref_=sr_1
Falcon and the Snowman 1985
Drama/ Thriller
The true story of a disillusioned military contractor employee and his drug pusher childhood friend who became walk-in spies for the Soviet Union.
Rated R for adult situations, language, nudity, violence.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087231/
Curriculum: Drama; Cold War; Historical Background
First Monday in October 1981
Comedy /Drama
For the first time in history a woman is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she becomes a friendly rival to a liberal associate
Rated R for sexuality, nudity, language
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082382/
Curriculum: Social Commentary; Satire
French Lieutenant’s Woman 1981
Drama/ Romance
A film is being made of a story, set in 19th century England, about Charles, a biologist who's engaged to be married
Rated R for sexual situations, language
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082416/
Curriculum: Political Background of Victorian England; History; Romanticism
Glory 1989
Action/ Drama/ History/ War
Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
Rated R for Violence, mature themes
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097441/
Curriculum: Racial Issues; History; Civil War
Hacksaw Ridge 2016
Biography/Religion/World War2
World War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people, and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.
Rated R for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence.
Website: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119532/
Curriculum: bloody combat with concern for peace and humanity
Immortal Beloved 1994
Biography/ Drama/ Music/ Romance
This movie deals with life and death of the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven.
Rated R for mature themes, sexual situations, nudity
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110116/plotsummary
Curriculum: Music; Historical Backdrop; Multi-disciplinary setting
Into the Wild 2007
Biography/Adventure/Drama
Tells the story of Chris McCandless, a twenty-four-year-old who walked into the Alaskan wilderness on an idealistic journey and was found dead of starvation nearly four months later.
Rated R for language and some nudity.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/
Curriculum: Non-Fiction book in English Curriculum to accompany study of Thoreau
Joy Luck Club 1993
Drama/ Romance
The life histories of four Asian women and their daughters reflect and guide each other.
Rated R for language, mature themes, violence
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107282/
Curriculum: Novel in English Curriculum; Chinese Culture, Background and History
Last of the Mohicans 1992
Adventure/ Romance/War
Three trappers protect a British Colonel's daughters in the midst of the French and Indian War.
Rated R for violence, mature themes
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104691/
Curriculum: Pre-Revolutionary War Period; Historical Background
Legends of the Fall 1994
Drama/ Romance/ War/ Western
Epic tale of three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of 1900s USA and how their lives are affected by nature, history, war, and love
Rated R for violence, sexual situations, language, nudity
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110322/
Curriculum: Drama; Political and Social Commentary and Values
Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate)
Drama/ Romance
In a forgotten Mexico Tita and Pedro fall in love, but are forbidden to marry.
Rated R for nudity, sexual situations, violence
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103994/
Curriculum: Novel in English Curriculum; Mexican Culture
Lord of the Flies 1990
Adventure/ Drama/ Horror/ Thriller
Stranded on an island, a group of schoolboys degenerate into savagery.
Rated R for violence, profanity
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100054/
Curriculum: Novel in English Curriculum; Political Commentary; Human Society
Macbeth (Tragedy of Macbeth directed by Roman Palanski) 1971
Drama
A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord siezes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.
Rated R for violence and sexual content,
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067372/
Curriculum: Shakespearean Play in English Curriculum
Mary Reilly 1996
Drama/Horror/ Thriller
A housemaid falls in love with Dr. Jekyll and his darkly mysterious counterpart, Mr. Hyde.
Rated R for violence, mature themes
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117002/
Curriculum: Based on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in English Curriculum
Men of Respect 1991
Drama/Crime/ Thriller
A hitman heeds a spiritualist's prophesies that he will rise to the head of his family.
Rated R for violence, profanity, nudity
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102432/
Curriculum: Modernization Based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth in English Curriculum
Name of the Rose (Name der Rose, Der) 1986
An intellectual, nonconformist monk investigatew a series of mysterious deaths in an isolated abbey.
Rated R for violence/nudity/adult situations/strong sexual content
website:http://www.imdb.com/title/ttoo91605
Curriculum: Deconstructionism in English curriculum
Network 1976
Drama
A TV network cynically exploits a deranged ex-TV anchor's ravings and revelations about the media for their own profit.
Rated R for occasional profanity, non-explicit sexual situations, violence
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/
Curriculum: Political and Societal Commentary of Media in Society
Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984
Drama/ Romance/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller
George Orwell's novel of a totalitarian future society in which a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love
Rated R for nudity, violence and disturbing images
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087803/
Curriculum: Novel in English Curriculum; Political Commentary
No 2012
Drama/History
An ad executive comes up with a campaign to defeat Augusto Pinochet in Chile's 1988 referendum.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2059255/
Curriculum: Spanish
Official Story (Historia official, La) 1985
Drama/ History
Determined to find out the truth about their adopted daughter, Alicia risks everything-even at the cost of her own family.
Rated R for brief domestic violence and intense subject matter.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089276/
Curriculum: Spanish; Argentina Society and Culture
Othello 1995
Drama
The evil Iago pretends to be a friend of Othello in order to manipulate him to serve his own end in the film version of this Shakespeare classic.
Rated R for some sexuality
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114057/
Curriculum: Shakespearean Play in English Curriculum
The Patriot 2000
Action / Drama / War
Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son
Rated R for war violence
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187393/
Curriculum: Revolutionary War; Loyalists
The Pianist 2002
Biography/ Drama/ Music/ War
A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.
Rated R for violence, profanity
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0253474/
Curriculum: Holocaust; WW II
Ran 1985 (Japanese with English subtitles)
Action/ Drama/ War
Akira Kurosawa's treatment of King Lear, with three sons dealing with the passing of an era as their warlord father Lord tries to find peace in his last years by dividing his kingdom among them.
Rated R for graphic war violence
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089881/
Curriculum: Based on Shakespeare’s Play King Lear
Richard III 1995
Drama/ War
The classic Shakespearean play about a murderously scheming king staged in a alternative fascist England setting.
Rated R for violence and sexuality.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114279/
Curriculum: Shakespeare’s Play in English Curriculum
Schindler’s List 1993
Biography / Drama/ History/ War
Oskar Schindler uses Jews to start a factory in Poland during the war. He witnesses the horrors endured by the Jews, and starts to save them
Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/
Curriculum: WW II; Holocaust
Separate Peace 2004
Drama
The coming-of-age story of the students attending an all-boys prep school. With the possibility of being drafted for World War II, the boys try their best to graduate before the draft and encounter many obstacles along the way.
Rated R for brief strong language.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328400/
Curriculum: Novel in English Curriculum; War Time Culture
Slaughterhouse Five 1972
Comedy/ Sci-Fi / Drama / War
A man tells his story of how he became unstuck in time and abducted by aliens.
Rated R for brief nudity/Adult Situation
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069280/
Curriculum: Novel in English Curriculum by Kurt Vonnegut
Slumdog Millionaire 2008
A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.
Crime/ Drama/Romance
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/
Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language.
Curriculum: This film shows the cultural geography of India and the affect the caste system has had on it.
Sophie’s Choice 1982
Sophie is the survivor of Nazi concentration camps, who has found a reason to live in Nathan, a sparkling if unsteady American Jew obsessed with the Holocaust.
Rated R for intense thematic content, brief drug references and language, and some sexuality.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084707/
Curriculum: Holocaust; WW II; Novel
Stand by Me 1986
Adventure / Drama
A writer looks back on his preteen days when he and three close friends went on their own adventure to find the body of a kid their age who had gone missing and presumed dead.
Rated R for language and Some Crude Humor
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092005/
Curriculum: Youth Culture; Coming of Age; Cultural Values
Troy 2004
Action / Drama / History / Romance
An adaptation of Homer's great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved.
Rated R for graphic violence and some sexuality/nudity
Webpage: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332452/
Curriculum: Based on Homer’s Odyssey; Ancient Greek Culture
Volpone 2003 (French)
Comedy / Drama / Romance
A version of Ben Johnson's play: A Venetian swindler goes from town to town pretending to be a dying millionaire in order to attract (and dispose of) greedy "friends".
Rated R for sexual content
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364736/
Curriculum: French; Based on Ben Johnson’s English Play