STUNTMAN
A gripping stunt documentary with heart—don’t try this at home.
Should You Watch It?
STUNTMAN is a terrific documentary about Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun, a devoted husband and father of four who uses his vocation to support his family. The film builds strong jeopardy around Braun’s attempt to launch a rocket across Idaho’s Snake River Canyon, while giving equal weight to his personal life and responsibilities.
The documentary has lots of heart, strong storytelling, dramatic stakes, and a satisfying resolution. It also offers a very strong moral, pro-family worldview with Christian, pro-capitalist, and patriotic elements.
The cost is real but limited: strong stunt violence and brief foul language. If your family can handle those concerns, this is worth watching together.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEddie Braun is a Hollywood stuntman in his fifties who has spent his career performing increasingly intense stunts. Inspired by legendary daredevil Evel Knievel, Braun decides to attempt a rocket launch across Snake River Canyon—the same challenge Knievel once failed.
The documentary follows Braun as he seeks news coverage, funding, technological support, and cooperation from local people whose farmland could be affected. Through it all, his work remains tied to his identity as a husband and father.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is excellent documentary filmmaking. STUNTMAN is fascinating, gripping, and dramatically well-shaped, with equal parts jeopardy, heart, and drama.
Slow-motion shots and wide shots capture the gravity of the events. Archival footage and voiceovers add context and give viewers a fuller picture of Braun’s life story. The result is a documentary with strong storytelling and an emotionally satisfying resolution.
The Worldview
STUNTMAN strongly emphasizes providing for, teaching, and honoring one’s family. Braun is presented as a family man who uses his vocation to support his wife and children. The documentary also values directness and personal responsibility: in two separate instances, Braun uses Matthew 5:37 to stress that one’s yes should be yes and one’s no should be no, including in relation to taking on too much.
The film includes Christian, pro-capitalist, and patriotic elements. One man wears a cross necklace, and multiple intentional shots feature an American flag as Braun prepares for the dangerous stunt. The documentary presents work, family commitment, courage, and perseverance as worthy ideals.
The film does not ignore the danger involved. Its opening disclaimer stresses that professional stunts should not be attempted by viewers. That note supports a needed distinction between courage and recklessness.
The documentary’s central longing is to pursue meaningful work while faithfully supporting one’s family. Scripture says, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37).
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 moral, pro-family worldview with Christian, pro-capitalist and patriotic elements, including an overt emphasis on providing, teaching and honoring one’s family, protagonist stresses in two separate instances the value (from Matthew 5:37) of letting your yes be yes and your no be no, one man wears a cross necklace, the movie stresses that the title character is a family man who uses his vocation to support his family, plus there are multiple intentional shots of an American flag as a stuntman prepares for a death-defying stunt, has an American flag outside his family home and is shown next to an American flag image at the very end of the movie
Foul Language
Four obscenities (including two “d” words), two OMG profanities, one obviously bleeped out “f” word, one crap, one freaking, one oh my gosh
Violence
Strong stunt violence includes buildings explode as do vehicles, multiple car wrecks with burning rubber, depicted helicopter crash, archival footage of Evil Knievel stunts such as jumping across ravines and extreme motorcycle stunts, stuntman prepares to fly a rocket across a major ravine with an ever-present threat of death, and man gets an IV put into his arm after an accident
Sex
No depicted sex or sexual immorality (husband kisses his wife on the cheek)
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Adult has wine with dinner, and stuntmen drink a celebratory shot of alcohol
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Man references betting when it comes to survival odds.
Talk About It
Four questions for the couch, the commute, or the couple bingeing it together.
Braun connects his work to providing for his family. What responsibilities has God given each of us, and how can our work serve others?
1 Timothy 5:8 · Colossians 3:23–24The documentary emphasizes letting your yes be yes and your no be no. Why does straightforward speech matter, especially when others depend on us?
Matthew 5:37 · Ephesians 4:25The film shows professionals performing dangerous stunts and warns viewers not to imitate them. How can wisdom help us distinguish courage from unnecessary risk?
Proverbs 22:3 · Luke 14:28–32What does it look like to pursue an ambition without neglecting the people God has entrusted to you?
Philippians 2:3–4 · 1 Corinthians 10:31The Final Word
STUNTMAN is an excellent documentary with gripping jeopardy, genuine family feeling, and a strong moral center. Its strong stunt violence and brief foul language call for discernment with younger viewers, but teenagers and adults can find much to admire. Our answer is clear: WORTH WATCHING — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
