BOMBSHELL
An acclaimed workplace drama with serious content — for adults only.
Should You Watch It?
Bombshell has a worthwhile subject and some first-rate performances. Charlize Theron’s portrayal of Megyn Kelly is especially convincing, giving the drama weight and authenticity. The film condemns sexual harassment in the workplace and examines the difficult choices women face when speaking publicly about misconduct.
But that message is repeatedly undercut. A fictional female reporter’s story dilutes the movie’s treatment of real accusations, while the film’s implications about Bill O’Reilly fail to establish a solid case of sexual harassment. The movie also includes excessive, gratuitous foul language, strong lewd references, political jabs at conservatives, a scene mocking Christian faith, and a fictional lesbian subplot.
If you are an adult willing to weigh the film’s serious subject against its troubling content, it may be worth seeing; families and younger viewers should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter Fox News Channel CEO Roger Ailes faces accusations of sexual harassment, longtime host Gretchen Carlson sues him, saying he fired her because she refused to have sexual relations with him.
As other women come forward, Megyn Kelly wrestles with whether to discuss Ailes’ alleged attempt to kiss her years earlier. The drama also follows Kayla, a fictional young Fox reporter whose career becomes entangled with Ailes’ demands.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means Bombshell is a solid drama with notable strengths and serious weaknesses. Charlize Theron gives a spot-on impersonation of Megyn Kelly, capturing the distinctive presence of the talented news anchor. Her performance lends credibility to the movie’s presentation.
Margot Robbie is also notable as Kayla. However, the fictional “composite” character weakens the film’s condemnation of sexual harassment, especially because the story is built around accusations involving real people. The movie’s strong performances cannot overcome its excessive profanity, lewd content, and politically charged distractions.
The Worldview
The film presents a light moral worldview that condemns sexual harassment in the workplace. That moral concern is important: people should not be pressured, exploited, or punished for refusing sexual demands. The movie also raises questions about conscience, truth-telling, power, and the cost of bringing wrongdoing into the light.
Its presentation is weakened by strong pagan behavior among both good and bad characters, political correctness aimed at conservatives and President Trump, feminist content, revisionist history, a strong pro-homosexual subplot, and elements that mock Christian faith. The fictional Kayla storyline also undercuts the movie’s central premise, while the treatment of accusations against Bill O’Reilly risks guilt by accusation and guilt by association rather than established proof.
The film is right to condemn sexual harassment, but a biblical pursuit of justice requires both courage and truthfulness. “The one who speaks truth in his heart” is the person Scripture commends (Psalm 15:2).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Light moral worldview condemns sexual harassment in the workplace, marred by strong pagan behavior by good buys and bad guys, some political correctness taking jabs at conservatives and President Trump, some feminist content, some revisionist history, a strong pro-homosexual subplot, and a couple light Anti-Christian elements
Foul Language
At least 75 obscenities (including many “f” words), 24 strong profanities, 12 light profanities, plus some lewd language and a couple obscene gestures
Violence
Some possible threats against people and people get angry in a couple scenes
Sex
Strong pro homosexual content includes implied lesbian scene showing two women in bed afterwards, and multiple crude sexual references, sometimes to oral sex, sometimes to intercourse, often sexual harassment, and a couple references to self-abuse, and married couple wake up in bed while on vacation with their children
Nudity
No explicit nudity, but older boss makes young woman hike her skirt until you can see the bottom of her underwear
Alcohol Use
Brief alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Brief smoking but no drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Movie takes a jab at Bill O-Reilly a couple times but, in the end, the filmmakers don’t prove any case of sexual harassment by O’Reilly, so the claim at one point that he did borders on slander (being a tough and demanding boss doesn’t make you immoral, by the way).
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Why is it important to take accusations seriously without assuming guilt before the facts are established?
Proverbs 18:13 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21What should a person do when workplace power is used to pressure or exploit others?
Micah 6:8 · Ephesians 5:11How can Christians pursue justice while also speaking truthfully and refusing gossip or slander?
Psalm 15:1–3 · James 1:19–20What does it look like to respond when a film or culture mocks faith in Jesus?
1 Peter 3:15–16 · Colossians 4:5–6The Final Word
Bombshell offers strong performances and a serious condemnation of sexual harassment, but its message is clouded by fictionalized material, excessive profanity, lewd content, political jabs, and anti-Christian elements. For discerning adults who can weigh those concerns, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, choose something cleaner.
