RULES DON’T APPLY
Almost a morality tale about faith, freedom, and the cost of exceptions.
Should You Watch It?
Rules Don’t Apply has the makings of a meaningful morality tale. Two young people arrive in Hollywood as Christians, speaking openly about Jesus, faith, prayer, and right and wrong. The story then watches their convictions weaken as passion, ambition, alcohol, sex, and Howard Hughes’ influence take over.
The film’s strongest idea is also its most troubling: each major character acts as though ordinary rules do not apply to them. Howard Hughes’ addiction to painkillers is condemned, but alcohol abuse is treated as liberating, and illicit affairs are a recurring temptation. The movie raises questions about faith and accountability without delivering clearly on redemption.
Because of its content and confused moral vision, this is better saved for discerning adults at home, where the experience can be discussed and evaluated.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn 1958, Marla Mabrey comes from rural Virginia to Hollywood with her mother for a screen test at RKO Pictures, owned by billionaire Howard Hughes. Frank Forbes, a young Christian driver hoping Hughes will finance his real estate deal, picks them up at the airport.
Marla and Frank are drawn to each other while waiting for Hughes, whose secrecy, legal troubles, and increasingly erratic behavior shape life around the studio. Their faith, desires, and ideas about whether rules apply to them are tested as Hollywood closes in.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an ambitious, thoughtful drama that falls short of its promise. The film presents an intriguing psychological portrait of Howard Hughes and follows two young Christians whose faith changes under pressure. Its questions about God, morality, accountability, and redemption give the story weight.
But the morality tale remains obscured, much as Hughes is repeatedly shown in shadows. The ending slightly contradicts the lawless message, yet the film does not make its redemptive possibilities clear. The result is a movie with worthwhile ideas that ultimately feels vague and incomplete.
The Worldview
The film begins with two young people who speak openly about Jesus, faith, prayer, and Christian commitment. It then portrays Hollywood as a place where their convictions erode. Sex is the main corrupting force, while alcohol is treated as liberating and Howard Hughes’ painkiller addiction is explicitly condemned.
The title expresses the central idea: the rules do not apply. The characters see themselves as exceptions to loyalty, chastity, decency, sobriety, loving God, and loving their neighbors. The movie raises the possibility that this freedom is destructive, but its vaguely humanist, agnostic approach never clearly presents repentance or redemption.
The film’s Christian scenes may be interpreted as mocking by viewers who are not Christian, though that remains debatable. Its final questions about faith suggest a longing for answers, but the story ultimately guards its options instead of affirming the Good News.
Scripture rejects the idea that grace makes moral accountability irrelevant: “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Romans 6:1–2).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Vaguely humanist, agnostic, antinomian (or lawless) worldview about two strong Christians who go to church and pray in the name of Jesus but come to Hollywood and lose their faith, with a very vague question by Howard Hughes about whether his assistant, Frank, still believes, and both of them affirming they don’t know at the end, all of which almost adds up to a morality tale but not quite; 13 obscenities, 15 strong profanities as well as several strong affirmations in the beginning about Jesus; very light violence includes plane crashes, man in full bandage in hospital room, couple breaks glass table; intense sex with two Christians who give up their faith in Hollywood, the girl gets depressed and drinks a bottle of champagne and then sexually attacks Howard Hughes producing a son, and young starlet has a passionate encounter with young man who spots his pants in the process and is almost caught by his superior, and man discusses going all the way with his girlfriend back home, and man has sexual encounters in Nicaragua and other places, but all sex scenes shot in shadows; no nudity but some female cleavage; alcohol use and intense drunkenness; minor smoking and billionaire Howard Hughes is addicted to heavy pain killers that damages his mental faculties, a major plot point in the movie; and, breaking the rules because the rules don’t apply, deception, violating one’s contract, deceiving the government, avoiding accountability, and movie may be mocking Christian faith but that’s debatable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The characters begin by speaking openly about Jesus and prayer, then struggle with faith. What helps a Christian remain faithful when a culture pulls in the opposite direction?
Romans 12:2 · Hebrews 10:23–25The film’s title suggests that some people believe they are exceptions to moral rules. Why do we want rules to apply to others but not to ourselves?
Romans 2:1–3 · 1 John 1:8–9The story distinguishes between remorse, uncertainty, and redemption. What does genuine repentance look like?
2 Corinthians 7:10 · Acts 3:19Howard Hughes’ drug addiction damages his judgment, while alcohol is treated as liberating. What does Scripture teach about sobriety and self-control?
Ephesians 5:18 · 1 Peter 5:8The Final Word
This is an ambitious film about faith lost in Hollywood, but its sexual content, profanity, drunkenness, and lawless worldview make it unsuitable for children and young teens. Its questions may reward thoughtful adult discussion, but its redemption remains unclear. WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For a safer family choice, see.
