OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN
A patriotic action thriller for mature adults only.
Should You Watch It?
Olympus Has Fallen is an exciting, action-packed thriller with a red, white, and blue heart. The story moves quickly, keeping the crisis interesting and intriguing, while themes of sacrifice, honor, integrity, and loyalty give the action a moral center.
The cost is substantial. The film contains lots of strong foul language and graphic battle violence, including disturbing battlefield injuries. Its Christian and patriotic elements are meaningful, but they do not make the movie suitable for a family audience.
If you are a mature adult who can handle the content, this is an enjoyable thriller with clear moral and patriotic values. For children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESWhen North Korean terrorists attack Washington, D.C., they seize control of the White House and take the President of the United States hostage. Mike Banning, a former Secret Service agent and the only surviving agent inside the White House, must find a way to save the President and prevent disaster for the country.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly enjoyable action thriller, even with some clear limitations. The movie is exciting, action-packed, and fast-moving enough to remain interesting and intriguing throughout.
The acting is adequate. The main villain is clichéd, and the special effects do not reach the level of a movie such as The Avengers. Even so, the thriller’s pace and patriotic energy make it very enjoyable.
The Worldview
The film strongly emphasizes sacrifice, honor, integrity, and loyalty. It also carries a strong patriotic message about standing for the principles on which America was built, including liberty and justice. “God Bless America” is emphasized many times, and one character quotes, “The wages of sin is death.” Another character says she is ready to meet her Maker.
The movie presents evil as something ultimately rebuked by integrity, honor, loyalty, and sacrifice. Its Christian elements and biblical themes are clear, though the story’s moral framework is closely joined to American patriotism.
The film’s central longing is for people to protect one another and remain faithful under pressure. Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral, biblical worldview with strong Christian content and very strong patriotic content including themes of sacrifice, honor, integrity and loyalty, someone quotes the New Testament passage “the wages of sin is death” and “God Bless America” is emphasized quite a bit, one character mentions that she’s ready to meet her maker, strong patriotic message of standing for principles on which our country was built on, principles like freedom and justice; 60 obscenities (including at least 40 “f” words) and 13 profanities (some of which are strong); strong battle violence, civilians are shot up on the street, multiple people are shot point blank in the head, stabbings in the knee, throat and head, necks and arms are broken, sometime blood is squirts from wounds, we see injured people with missing limbs in a hospital, woman is beat to a pulp; no sex, light kissing; upper male nudity; no drinking; light smoking; and, evil but rebuked by integrity, honor, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film emphasizes sacrifice, honor, integrity, and loyalty. Which of these virtues is hardest to practice under pressure, and what does faithfulness look like in your life?
Micah 6:8 · 1 Corinthians 16:13–14The story presents liberty and justice as principles worth defending. How should Christians understand justice, courage, and service to others?
Isaiah 1:17 · Philippians 2:3–4One character quotes, “The wages of sin is death.” What does that truth mean, and how does the rest of the verse point beyond judgment?
Romans 6:23The film connects patriotism with moral responsibility. How can you love your country while remembering that your deepest citizenship is in heaven?
Jeremiah 29:7 · Philippians 3:20The Final Word
Olympus Has Fallen delivers fast-moving action, strong patriotic feeling, and meaningful themes of sacrifice and loyalty. Its strong profanity and graphic violence make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family options, see.
