PATERSON
An uplifting, poetic comedy for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
You should see Paterson if you value patient storytelling, gentle humor, and films that notice the beauty in ordinary life. Its four-star quality comes from lyrical details, small but profound poems, keen observation, and excellent acting. The marriage at its center is loving and supportive, and the film finds quiet joy in conversations, routines, kindness, and daily encouragement.
The cost is its R-rated content. There are 17 obscenities, including five “f” words, three light exclamatory profanities, partial rear female nudity, light alcohol use, and a tense scene involving a gun. These concerns are not constant, but they are real.
Adults who can accept that content may find an uplifting movie with a positive afterglow. Families with children or young teens should choose something else. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESPaterson is a young bus driver and poet living in Paterson, New Jersey. Over seven days, he follows a quiet routine: driving his route, listening to passengers, writing poems, encouraging his energetic wife Laura, and walking their ornery English bulldog, Marvin.
His daily life is full of conversations, neighborhood characters, artistic dreams, and small observations. Then the weekend brings several momentous events involving the bus, the dog, and Paterson’s poetry notebook.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptional film, and Paterson earns them through craft rather than spectacle. Jim Jarmusch’s observational storytelling is deliberately paced but remains engaging because of its droll humor, lyrical details, and keen comic observations.
Adam Driver gives an understated, appealing performance. Golshifteh Farahani is excellent as Laura, an energetic, loving, supportive wife. Barry Henley stands out as the sympathetic Doc, and Nellie the English bulldog is precious as Marvin. The movie moves slowly, but the humor and acting sustain it. The ending is inspiring and leaves a positive afterglow.
The Worldview
Paterson presents a light redemptive worldview with strong positive moral elements. It celebrates the poetry of everyday life, especially daily interactions with other people. Paterson listens sincerely to others, encourages Laura’s dreams, and experiences a kind act from a stranger that inspires him. The marriage between Paterson and Laura is especially positive: they clearly love and support one another.
Religious faith is not mentioned, but the film has a spiritual feeling. It encourages viewers to slow down and appreciate the details and people around them. Its vision is grounded in human connection rather than explicitly biblical faith, yet its attention to ordinary kindness aligns with Scripture’s call to “love one another with brotherly affection” and “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light redemptive worldview with strong positive moral elements celebrates the poetry of everyday life, including our daily interactions with people, a kind act by a stranger inspires the protagonist and the title character’s marriage with his wife is very positive (it’s clear they love one another), in a droll observational comedy about a bus driver with an artistic wife, a crazy English bulldog and a penchant for writing poetry, plus some light Romantic elements and a patriotic element in a photo of the appealing protagonist in a Marine uniform; 17 obscenities (mostly “d” and “s” words but five “f” words) and three light exclamatory profanities; a man pulls a gun, man heroically shoves another man to the ground, dog causes brief destruction at one point; no sex scenes implied or depicted, but man lies in bed with his wife and kisses her or holds her before going to work; partial rear female nudity as man’s wife sleeps in bed; light alcohol use; no smoking or drugs; and, lovesick man threatens people.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Paterson pays close attention to the people around him. What does it look like to listen well when someone is carrying troubles?
James 1:19 · Romans 12:15Laura and Paterson encourage one another’s creative dreams. How can your family support one another with both honesty and kindness?
1 Thessalonians 5:11 · Philippians 2:3–4The film finds meaning in ordinary routines. Where do you notice God’s gifts in the everyday parts of your life?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 · 1 Timothy 4:4–5A stranger’s kind act inspires Paterson. Why can a small act of kindness matter so much?
Matthew 5:16 · Ephesians 4:32The Final Word
Paterson is a quiet, droll, deeply appealing celebration of poetry, marriage, kindness, and everyday life. Its strong profanity and other adult content mean families with children or young teens should pass. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other options, see.
