PUBLIC ENEMIES
A realistic gangster drama with real merit—and serious adult-only concerns.
Should You Watch It?
PUBLIC ENEMIES is a very good historical gangster drama, not an excellent one. Its realistic style gives the story weight, and its contest between bank robber John Dillinger and FBI Agent Melvin Purvis has genuine moral tension. Dillinger’s charisma and rebellion receive too much sympathy, but Purvis is shown with integrity, care, determination, and flaws.
The film’s R-rated content is serious even when it is not especially graphic. Strong violence, profanity, implied sexual relations, brief nudity, alcohol, smoking, and criminal behavior make this unsuitable for children and young teens.
If you are a discerning adult—or are deciding for a particularly mature older teenager—the movie may be worth seeing for its historical drama and moral complexity. For a family movie night, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDuring the Depression, bank robber John Dillinger launches a crime spree and becomes a folk hero to people who distrust banks. In Chicago, he woos Billie Frechette while continuing his criminal life.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover names Dillinger Public Enemy No. 1 and appoints Agent Melvin Purvis to capture him. What follows is a dangerous contest of wills between a charismatic outlaw and the determined lawman pursuing him.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means PUBLIC ENEMIES is very good, but not excellent. The film aims for a realistic, documentary-style portrayal rather than the energetic, old-fashioned razzle-dazzle of classic gangster movies. That approach gives the story a grounded tone, but it also makes the movie seem too subdued.
The historical drama is compelling, and the contrasting portrayals of Dillinger and Purvis give the film moral interest. However, the filmmakers change the timing and sequence of events to make Dillinger more sympathetic than he really was. The result is a solid, serious gangster movie that does not reach the energy or excellence of the best films in the genre.
The Worldview
PUBLIC ENEMIES presents a mixed worldview. It romanticizes Dillinger’s rebellion and makes a real-life criminal appear more sympathetic than he was. The film also places him in conflict with both organized crime and government authority, creating tension between individual freedom, criminal power, and law enforcement.
At the same time, the movie treats Purvis more positively. It honors his integrity, care, and determination as a policeman, even while showing his flaws and suggesting that the pursuit of Dillinger torments him. The film also depicts Dillinger releasing hostages during some robberies, which contributes to its sympathetic portrait.
The movie’s moral balance is therefore uneven. It relishes criminal rebellion while also honoring qualities that are more consistent with a biblical understanding of public service and responsibility. Scripture says that governing authority is “God’s servant for your good” (Romans 13:4), a truth this story partly reflects even as it glamorizes resistance to authority.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mixed pagan worldview depicting the Romantic rebellion of a criminal in a positive light but also showing an FBI agent in mostly a positive light, with some revisionist history making a true-life criminal appear more sympathetic and showing that the criminal ran afoul of both Big Crime (in the form of the Mafia) and Big Government; about 13 obscenities (including two or three “f” words) and seven strong profanities; very strong violence with some blood includes many shootouts, shooting during bank robberies and a prison break, people threatened with guns, robber hits bank manager in head with gun, two civilians accidentally killed by FBI agents, guards and police officers shot, machine gun fire, bank robbers shot to death, escaping convicts shot to death; implied fornication in one scene, bank robbers have women in their rooms, kissing, references to prostitution, and naked girlfriend in tub seductively invites criminal boyfriend to share tub but police invade hotel room and arrest him before anything more happens; distant flash of upper female nudity with woman in bathtub and brief upper male nudity; alcohol use and slight drunkenness; smoking; and, stealing, bank robbery, evading and shooting at authorities and FBI agents, bank robbers take hostages and let them go, FBI agents accidentally kill two civilians, organized crime theme, rebellion extolled.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Dillinger’s charisma makes his criminal rebellion attractive. Why can wrongdoing appear admirable when it is presented confidently?
Proverbs 16:18 · Isaiah 5:20Purvis is shown as flawed but determined to pursue justice. What qualities should people look for in those entrusted with authority?
Romans 13:1–4 · Micah 6:8The film changes history to make Dillinger more sympathetic. Why does truth matter when we tell stories about real people?
Exodus 20:16 · Ephesians 4:25The movie places criminal rebellion against both organized crime and government power. How should Christians think about freedom, law, and responsibility?
1 Peter 2:13–17 · Galatians 5:13The Final Word
PUBLIC ENEMIES offers a serious, realistic gangster drama with moral complexity, but its R-rated content and sympathy for criminal rebellion make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it may be WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a family alternative, see.
