TRUE GRIT (1969)
An entertaining western about courage, justice, and true friendship.
Should You Watch It?
Yes—if you are choosing for older children or adults and your family can handle some foul language and western violence. True Grit is highly entertaining, powered by John Wayne’s Oscar-winning performance and a legendary cast.
The film also offers a strong Christian, moral worldview. It honors courage, friendship, sacrifice, determination, justice, integrity, trust, and good overcoming evil. Its content keeps it from being suitable for every family, but the movie’s moral center gives it lasting value.
For older children and adults, True Grit is worth seeing.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTeenage Mattie hires U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn to hunt down Tom Chaney, the man who murdered her father. A young Texas Ranger named La Boeuf is also pursuing Chaney for killing a Texas senator.
Although Cogburn and La Boeuf would rather leave Mattie behind, she insists on joining them. The three travel toward Indian Territory, facing outlaws, danger, and many obstacles as they pursue the murderer.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a classic, terrifically entertaining western. John Wayne gives an Oscar-winning performance, and the legendary cast delivers other great performances. Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, and Robert Duvall are joined by character actors including Strother Martin and Jeff Corey, with almost everyone turning in an unforgettable performance.
The film’s entertainment comes from its memorable performances, strong cast, and adventure-driven western story. It is a polished, enduring example of the genre.
The Worldview
True Grit strongly exalts courage, friendship, sacrifice, determination, justice, integrity, trust, and good overcoming evil. Its moral convictions are expressed through concrete acts: one character says there is “nothing free but the grace of God,” another sacrifices his life so others can live, and Mattie offers Rooster a burial plot with her family so he will not be alone.
The film’s worldview aligns with biblical concern for courage, justice, sacrifice, and loyalty. Its treatment of justice is centered on pursuing a murderer and bringing him to punishment. The film does not present these themes as abstract ideas but as responsibilities carried out through difficult choices.
The story’s central conviction—that good should overcome evil—connects with Scripture’s command: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
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 strong Christian, moral worldview extols courage, friendship, sacrifice, determination, good overcoming evil, justice, integrity, and trust including a man says there is “nothing free but the grace of God,” a man sacrifices his life so others can live, and a girl offers a man a spot to be buried with her family so he is not alone
Foul Language
Six obscenities (including SOB) and one profanity, plus there are terms such as “Chinaman” and “Indian” to describe various characters, and a man with an implied disability is referred to as “simpleminded”
Violence
Men are shot, a public hanging takes place, a man spanks a teenage girl, a rat is shot at, a man stabs his partner’s hand and stabs him in the stomach, a pistol fight takes place where horses and men are shot at, a teenage girl shoots a man, girl falls into a snake pit and gets bit on the arm, a man collapses and dies after being shot
Sex
No sex
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Adults drink whiskey, and drunkenness is depicted
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Cigarette smoking but no drugs
Miscellaneous Immorality
Gambling, theft, kidnapping.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Mattie pursues justice for her father. How can we seek justice without allowing anger to rule us?
Micah 6:8 · Romans 12:19–21The story honors courage and determination. What is the difference between true courage and simply refusing to give up?
Joshua 1:9 · Psalm 27:14A character sacrifices his life so others can live. What does Scripture teach about sacrificial love?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4Mattie offers a lonely man a place with her family. How can we show friendship and care to people who feel alone?
Romans 12:10 · Hebrews 13:2The Final Word
True Grit is a classic western with memorable performances, a strong moral worldview, and meaningful themes of courage, justice, and sacrifice. Its language and violence call for parental discernment, but older children and adults can find much to appreciate. WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
