SAMARITAN
Solid superhero lessons, but its violence and language call for adults-only viewing at home.
Should You Watch It?
Samaritan has its heart in the right place. Its story of redemption gives a mysterious old loner a chance to make amends while becoming a father figure to a boy. The film also teaches positive lessons about doing the right thing and avoiding fighting to solve problems.
The cost is substantial. The action violence can be relentless, and the movie includes 18 obscenities, including one “f” word, and two GD profanities. The second half often substitutes violence for plot development, while heavy-handed dialogue and hammy villains weaken the experience.
The thoughtful moments and strong performances by Sylvester Stallone and Javon “Wanna” Walton give the film real merit. Still, families should wait, and discerning adults should watch it at home only if they can accept the content.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn a comic-book version of America, Granite City remembers two superpowered brothers: Samaritan, who used his strength for good, and Nemesis, who chose crime and evil.
Sam, a 13-year-old boy obsessed with the missing Samaritan, becomes convinced that Joe, a mysterious loner in his apartment complex, is the vanished hero. After Sam gets involved in a store robbery, Joe becomes his mentor. Meanwhile, a villainous leader acquires powerful items connected to Nemesis and prepares a dangerous plan for the city.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means Samaritan is enjoyable but uneven. Stallone gives a strong performance as Joe, and Walton is strong as Sam. Their thoughtful scenes, especially as Joe seeks redemption while teaching Sam positive lessons, are the film’s best material.
Some fight sequences are impressive, but others look like they belong in a cheap 1990s children’s show. The dialogue is heavy-handed, the villains are hammy, and the second half often uses violence instead of developing the plot. A surprising late twist may stun viewers, but it conflicts with much of the movie’s earlier plot logic.
Overall, it is rousing enough for action and superhero fans seeking an enjoyable couple of hours at home.
The Worldview
Samaritan presents a strong moral and slightly redemptive worldview. Its heroic story centers on a superpowered man seeking redemption by making amends for his evil past and becoming a father figure to a young boy. Other villains gleefully pursue mayhem, but they are eventually brought to justice.
The movie teaches Sam to do the right thing and to try to avoid fighting as a solution to problems. It also presents wrongdoing honestly through the boy’s involvement with thugs and the villains’ attempt to create widespread mayhem. The film’s moral lessons are worthwhile, though its violence and language make them difficult to receive as a family.
At its center is the hope that someone can turn from evil, make amends, and choose a better way. Scripture says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him” (Isaiah 55:7).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral, slightly redemptive worldview in heroic story of a superpowered man seeking redemption by making amends for his evil past while becoming a fatherly figure to a young boy, and movie also depicts other villains gleefully engaged in mayhem but eventually are brought to justice, SAMARITAN teaches do the right thing to the boy and trying to avoid fighting to solve problems
Foul Language
18 obscenities (including one “f” word) and two GD profanities
Violence
Frequent shooting, punching, kicking, and throwing people in superhero-style violence that is relentless at points, a group of thugs hit and run a man with a car (he has multiple fractures, but he manages to restore himself by putting his bones back in place), a thug is seen about to smash a young boy’s hand with a tire iron though the actual act is offscreen, a policeman is killed when a villain puts an explosive in front of him, and looting and mayhem occur across a city after a villain urges the citizens to have a “revolution”
Sex
No sex
Nudity
A shirtless man’s back is seen, revealing large burn scars
Alcohol Use
Two men in the background drink beer Smoking and Drugs: No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Boy lies to his mother on two occasions, and a gang of thugs lure the boy into helping them commit a store robbery.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Joe seeks redemption for his past evil ways. What does it mean to make amends, and how is that different from merely feeling sorry?
2 Corinthians 7:10 · Luke 19:8Sam is taught to do the right thing and avoid fighting to solve problems. When does courage require action, and when does wisdom call for restraint?
Proverbs 15:1 · Matthew 5:9The story places a young boy under pressure from thugs and a villainous leader. How can a trusted adult help a young person resist wrongdoing?
Proverbs 1:10–15 · Ephesians 6:4The film portrays villains pursuing mayhem before being brought to justice. What does Scripture say about God’s justice and our responsibility to pursue peace?
Romans 12:18–19 · Micah 6:8The Final Word
Samaritan offers strong performances, positive life lessons, and a worthwhile tale of redemption. But its relentless violence and gratuitous foul language make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, the answer is WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For more suitable viewing, see.
