FORD V FERRARI
A thrilling racing drama whose powerful heart is buried under constant profanity.
Should You Watch It?
FORD V FERRARI is an extremely entertaining, impressive character study with superb performances by Matt Damon and Christian Bale. Its racing sequences, strong direction, and emotional friendships give the film real power. The story ultimately celebrates self-sacrifice, doing the right thing, friendship, and family.
But this is a movie for adults, not a family outing. Nearly constant foul language runs from the first scene to the last, with over 60 obscenities and 17 profanities. Racing violence is relatively mild, but crashes, explosions, fires, fistfights, smoking, and lots of beer add to the concerns.
If you can accept those limits, the film offers a moving and uplifting drama. For children and young teens, choose something else; adults who can handle the content can take the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter winning the 24-hour Le Mans race, American racer Carroll Shelby learns that a heart problem will keep him from racing. He opens a high-level race car sales shop instead.
When Ford Motor Company decides it needs a car capable of beating Ferrari at Le Mans, Shelby is hired to design it. He brings in his friend Ken Miles, a gifted racecar driver with a temper, a failing business, and a devoted wife and son. Together, they face experimental technology, corporate interference, and the demands of the race.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an extremely powerful and entertaining film. It has a big budget, good direction, fine acting, and an exciting racing milieu. Matt Damon and Christian Bale give superb performances, while the friendship between Shelby and Miles and the bond between Miles, his wife, and his son provide the emotional center.
The film’s character study is as important as its racing. Its portrayal of corporate interference and political intrigue creates obstacles, while the independent entrepreneurs are shown as courageous, innovative, and brilliant. The result is a polished, moving drama with a powerful heart.
The Worldview
FORD V FERRARI presents a very subtle Christian, uplifting worldview within a mundane and ordinary humanist world. It includes some Romantic ideas about pursuing your dream, but those ideas are ultimately countered by self-sacrifice, doing the right thing, family, and friendship. Although everyone in the cutthroat racing world wants to win, the film ultimately says that sacrifice and integrity matter more.
The film has a slight anti-big-corporation perspective. Big corporations are shown as places of political intrigue and consensus decision-making, while independent American capitalist entrepreneurs are portrayed as valiant, courageous, innovative, and brilliant. The movie also carries a strong positive American perspective.
At its center, the film values sacrifice for others and the love found in friendship and family. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
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 subtle Christian worldview about self-sacrifice, set in a mundane and ordinary humanist world, with some Romantic elements about pursuing your dream, but this is ultimately countered by self-sacrifice, doing the right thing, family, and friendship, plus there’s a slight anti-big corporation perspective but pro independent entrepreneurs and a strong positive American perspective overall
Foul Language
Over 60 obscenities and 17 profanities
Violence
Racing violence includes car crashes, explosions, out of control fires, as well as some fistfights and punches but pretty mild
Sex
No sex scenes or sexual immorality, but husband and wife are seen in bed together and kiss several times
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Lots of beer drinking
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Lots of smoking, hero takes pills for heart problem;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Mild suggestion of cheating on the race track such as dropping a lugnut to scare another team and driving people off the road, man steals two stopwatches from Ferrari team, villain locked in office so hero can make his case to Henry Ford II, IRS closes one hero’s auto shop, wife gets fed up with hero’s addiction to racing and drives them both too fast until he confesses he’s going to race again, boy sees his father die in car crash, several people don’t have the courage of their convictions, race judges cheat to deprive hero of his victory, one hero lies to his wife about racing, and exposing the problem of corporate consensus decision-making, which the villain uses to try to sabotage the heroes.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film values self-sacrifice and doing the right thing. When have you had to choose what is right over what would help you win?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Galatians 6:9–10Shelby and Miles build a friendship through difficult work and setbacks. What makes a friendship faithful and dependable?
Proverbs 17:17 · John 15:13Miles’s wife and son are deeply affected by his devotion to racing. How should families balance a person’s calling with responsibility toward those they love?
1 Timothy 5:8 · Ephesians 5:25The film contrasts corporate interference with independent initiative. What does Scripture say about ambition, wisdom, and serving others through our work?
Proverbs 16:3 · Colossians 3:23–24The Final Word
FORD V FERRARI is a superbly acted, thrilling character study with a subtle Christian, uplifting heart. Its constant profanity makes it unsuitable for children and young teens, but discerning adults who can handle the content may find WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family viewing, see.
