BATTLESHIP
Patriotic, turbo-charged action for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
Once it gets going, Battleship is turbo-charged fun. The Navy setting gives this alien-invasion story a distinctive frame, while the rousing second half delivers patriotic excitement and lessons in bravery, maturity, humility, and heroism.
The movie’s moral center is strong. Alex learns to lead, defer to experience, and overcome his immaturity. The story also honors courageous sailors, previous generations, and the contributions that make victory possible. But that strength comes with frequent profanity, intense action violence, and other PG-13 content.
If you are an adult who can handle those concerns, Battleship is worth the trip; it is not suitable for children or young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAlex Hopper begins as an immature young man without direction. Years later, he is a Navy lieutenant taking part in an international training exercise near Hawaii.
When alien spacecraft arrive and communications are cut off, Alex becomes the highest-ranking officer left nearby. He and his sailors must outmaneuver the alien ships and prevent them from using a local satellite array to call for reinforcements.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a solid, entertaining film with notable weaknesses. Battleship becomes exciting once its central conflict begins, and its strongly patriotic second half brings the story together. A clever, suspenseful sequence pays homage to the original Hasbro board game.
The film also includes an inspiring subplot involving Samantha and a soldier recuperating from the loss of his legs. Its ending honors previous generations of Navy sailors, especially the ordinary sailors whose courage and work keep things running during war.
The drawbacks are corny, predictable moments and possible plot holes. Still, the action, patriotism, and moral themes make this a worthwhile—but imperfect—film.
The Worldview
Battleship presents a strongly moral and patriotic worldview. It exalts humility, maturity, bravery, heroism, teamwork, and sacrificial service. Alex’s growth requires him to overcome immaturity and defer to the experience of Captain Nagata. The film also celebrates the contributions of previous generations, including World War II-era Americans.
The movie’s moral vision is inspiring, but it is not free of troubling content. Its intense violence and frequent foul language make the story unsuitable for children and young teens. A sensual scene shows an unmarried adult couple kissing, and the film includes upper male nudity and alcohol use.
The movie also includes a reference to America’s motto, “In God we trust.” Its central lesson—that humility is necessary for courage and leadership—aligns with Scripture: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral, patriotic worldview stressing humility, maturity, bravery, heroism and celebrating the contributions of previous generations, including the World War II generation of Americans; 31 obscenities (mostly “h,” “d,” “s”, and a** words with one SOB), one GD, five light exclamatory profanities, and “MF” is started twice but not heard to the finish, though it might be completed in an unrated version of the DVD package; strong, frequent action violence includes many explosions, humans fight aliens in spacesuits, guns and cannons blast aliens, humans, and their machines, large balls of whirling alien machinery shred human vehicles and ships and copters and planes, men have to jump off sinking ship being destroyed by large balls of whirling machinery that shreds, people run away from such machinery, soccer action includes man accidentally kicked in face, man falls through ceiling of closed convenience store a couple times trying to get a chicken burrito for beautiful girl he just met, and man is tazed twice by police after breaking into this store; no bedroom scenes but there’s a sensual scene where an unmarried adult couple in clothes on a beach talk and kiss while woman kneels on top of man; upper male nudity; alcohol use in a bar; no smoking or drugs; and, man breaks into closed convenience store to get chicken burrito for beautiful girls he just met, but he leaves money behind and gets caught, and irresponsibility and immaturity but they’re condemned and overcome.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Alex begins as immature and without direction. What helps him grow into a responsible leader, and where do you need to grow in humility?
James 4:6 · Philippians 2:3–4The film honors ordinary sailors and previous generations who serve faithfully. How can your family honor people whose quiet work protects and helps others?
Hebrews 13:7 · Romans 13:7Alex has to set revenge aside and work with Captain Nagata’s experience. When is it difficult to accept help or submit to wise leadership?
Proverbs 11:14 · Proverbs 15:22The movie connects courage with sacrifice and service. How does Jesus redefine greatness through serving others?
Mark 10:43–45 · John 15:13The Final Word
Battleship is imperfect but exciting, patriotic, and morally inspiring. Its frequent profanity and intense violence make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
