Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that The Runner is a slow-moving drama starring Nicolas Cage as a disgraced New Orleans politician who's forced to resign. He's also an alcoholic who falls off the wagon, so there's plenty of drinking, as well as strong-but-not constant swearing ("s--t," "f--k," "ass") and a few brief sex scenes -- including a quick glimpse of a woman's breast, shots of people moving in silhouette, and a woman reaching down to grope a man's crotch. Themes include infidelity and the difficult path to redemption, making it a better fit for older teens and up.

Sexual Content

A quick glimpse of a woman's breast, and a few brief sex scenes that show people moving in silhouette. One scene features a woman reaching down to grope a man's crotch. References to a politician's repeated infidelities.

Violence

A woman slaps her husband during a heated argument.

Language

Strong but not constant language includes "f--k," "s--t," "d--k," and "ass."

Social Behavior

It's difficult but not impossible to recover from a huge setback, and staying true to your values can make the path to redemption easier.

Consumerism

One character uses a Mac laptop.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

The main character is a recovering alcoholic who falls off the wagon after both his career and marriage fall apart. He's often seen drinking heavily and waking up groggy. His father is also a not-so-sober alcoholic who also smokes cigarettes.