Is The Equalizer scary?

Only a little. The Equalizer has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.

How gory is The Equalizer?

Graphic gore and brutal violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.

What is The Equalizer rated, and is it OK for kids?

Rated R, and it earns it: moderate sex and nudity, brutal violence, and frequent strong language. Not one for kids.

The Equalizer (2014)

Film · 2h 12m · Rated R

Action, Crime, Thriller

A man with a mysterious past unleashes his brutal skills to protect the helpless from Russian gangsters.

Suspenseful and pulpy. A full-attention watch at a brisk pace. Emotionally it is heavy.

Streaming on Netflix.

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The Equalizer parents guide

It stays inside its R, with moderate sex and nudity, and brutal violence.

Scare: Mildly scary; A few tense or eerie moments.
Jump scares: A couple; One or two sudden jolts.
Gore: Graphic gore; Blood and wounds shown clearly.
Violence: Brutal violence; Our top level for violence.
Sex and nudity: Moderate; Moderate means a sex scene or nudity on screen, even brief, or sexual violence that is described or implied but never shown.
Language: Strong; Frequent strong profanity or slurs.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is The Equalizer scary?: Only a little. The Equalizer has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.
How gory is The Equalizer?: Graphic gore and brutal violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
What is The Equalizer rated, and is it OK for kids?: Rated R, and it earns it: moderate sex and nudity, brutal violence, and frequent strong language. Not one for kids.

What is The Equalizer about?

McCall believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets Teri, a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

Yes. It lands on a happy note.