OCEAN’S 8
A terrific cast and entertaining heist, but greed makes it adults only.
Should You Watch It?
OCEAN’S 8 works best as a light, stylish heist movie with a terrific cast and some entertaining twists and turns. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter give the movie plenty of energy.
But the film’s moral center is weak. Its characters are motivated by greed and revenge, and the movie jokes about inspiring young girls to become criminals. That makes it harder to care about the results of the heist, even when the plot is fun.
The movie also has foul language and suggestive material. Adults who enjoy heist movies may find enough entertainment here, but families with children or young teens should choose something else. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter serving five years in prison for an art-selling scam, Debbie Ocean is ready for her next big con. She reconnects with her old partner, Lou, and assembles a team with specialized skills.
Their target is a $150 million necklace worn by a famous actress at New York City’s star-studded Met Gala. To pull off the heist, the team must recruit a jewelry maker, a fence, a computer hacker, a quick-hand thief, and a financially struggling fashion designer.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means OCEAN’S 8 is entertaining but limited. The cast is terrific, and the movie delivers some enjoyable moments and adequate twists and turns. The heist provides enough suspense and humor to keep the film moving.
The weaknesses are in the writing and emotional connection. The dialogue is not as snappy or witty as the earlier OCEAN’S movies, and the story lacks the heart of OCEAN’S ELEVEN. Some aspects of the heist are also unbelievably unrealistic. The result is a decent heist movie that does not offer much reason to care about its outcome.
The Worldview
OCEAN’S 8 treats stealing as entertainment and makes greed and vengeance the main motivations for its characters. Its light moral element is loyalty to friends, but that loyalty serves a criminal enterprise rather than a higher moral purpose. The film also jokes that the heist might inspire young girls who dream of becoming criminals.
The movie’s worldview is therefore difficult to reconcile with a biblical view of justice and contentment. Scripture is clear about theft: “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). The film can make criminal cleverness look appealing, but it does not provide a strong moral foundation for celebrating it.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong pagan worldview extolling stealing, vengeance and greed, with only a light moral element of being loyal to your friends
Foul Language
14 obscenities (including two “f” words), and at least nine profanities (including strong uses of the Lord’s name)
Violence
Women threatens man with a makeshift knife or “shiv”
Sex
Implied fornication when woman straddles man in skimpy nightgown, kisses him and handcuffs him to his bed, and the next morning he wakes up alone implying they had intercourse
Nudity
Upper male nudity, women wear outfits showing cleavage, woman wears skimpy nightgown, and nude woman in a painting
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No tobacco smoking but there’s discussion of smoking marijuana, and woman smokes something that’s likely marijuana;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Lots of greed, revenge, female protagonist wants to frame her ex-boyfriend for her own attempted crime, and insurance fraud investigator makes compromises.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film treats stealing as clever entertainment. Why does Scripture forbid theft, and what does contentment have to do with it?
Exodus 20:15 · Hebrews 13:5The characters are motivated partly by revenge. What does God ask us to do when we have been wronged?
Romans 12:19–21The team’s loyalty to one another is presented as a virtue. How can loyalty be good while loyalty to a sinful plan is still wrong?
1 Corinthians 15:33 · Ephesians 5:11The movie jokes about inspiring young girls to become criminals. What responsibility do stories and role models have toward children?
Matthew 18:6 · Philippians 4:8The Final Word
OCEAN’S 8 offers a terrific cast, entertaining moments, and adequate twists, but its weak writing and immoral worldview limit its value. The language and suggestive material make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family-friendly alternatives, see.
