The Goonies

What’s it about?

After discovering an ancient map, a young group of misfits called “The Goonies” set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure. Along the way, they cross paths with the Fratelli family—a gang of criminals on the run—who are also after the treasure, leading to a dangerous and thrilling chase.

The facts

• Directed by Richard Donner
• Starring Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), Jeff Cohen (Perfect Harmony), Corey Feldman (Stand by Me), and Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)
• English, Spanish, Italian and Cantonese languages
• Runtime: 115 minutes

Why did it get this rating?

This film game was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Coarse language

The film includes mild coarse language, with words like “bulls**t,” “goddamn,” and “ass.” The phrase “son of a b*tch” is spoken but cut off before it is fully said.

Frightening scenes

While the film is mostly a fun adventure, there are moments that add a darker, more suspenseful edge. It includes tense and scary scenes where characters face threats of death. Along their journey, the group encounters skeletons and deadly booby traps left behind by the pirates. Tense scenes to look out for include:

• A car chase and shootout where people threaten to kill each other.
• The Goonies watch two men enter a restaurant, before several gunshots are heard. Later on, three villains are seen carrying large rubbish bags, implying there were dead bodies inside them.
• A character is mistreated by his family and is chained up. Due to his appearance, he can seem unsettling at first. However, he later becomes a lovable ally.
• Several of the pirate’s traps are suspenseful, including collapsing floors, hidden spikes, and rolling boulders that nearly crush the kids.
• A character is coerced into talking under the threat of having his hand placed in a blender. Panicked, he spills everything he knows, though the threat is never carried out.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters