Bad Boys (1983)
Kernel Score: 76% · 292 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: 1983-03-25
Runtime: 123 minutes
Where to watch Bad Boys
- Free with ads: Fawesome, Philo, Fandango at Home, Plex, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Mick O'Brien is a young Chicago street thug torn between a life of petty crime and the love of his girlfriend. But when the heist of a local drug dealer goes tragically wrong Mick is sentenced to a brutal juvenile prison where violence is a rite of passage and respect is measured in vengeance.
Bad Boys parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Bad Boys (1983) is an R-rated drama set in a brutal juvenile prison following a violent robbery.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Depicts a heist gone wrong, an accidental killing, and brutal violence within a juvenile prison where 'violence is a rite of passage.'
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Bad Boys
If you liked Bad Boys, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Sleepers (1996) — 87%
- Prison Break: The Final Break (2009) — 84%
- GoodFellas (1990) — 92%
- American Me (1992) — 81%
- The Departed (2006) — 96%
- Dog Pound (2010) — 82%
- White Heat (1949) — 84%
- Bound by Honor (1993) — 91%
Director
Rick Rosenthal
Cast
- Sean Penn as Mick O'Brien
- Reni Santoni as Ramon Herrera
- Jim Moody as Gene Daniels
- Eric Gurry as Horowitz
- Esai Morales as Paco Moreno
- Ally Sheedy as J. C. Walenski
- Clancy Brown as Viking Lofgren
- Robert Lee Rush as Tweety
- John Zenda as Wagner
- Tony Mockus Jr. as Warden Bendix
Bad Boys FAQ
Is Bad Boys good?
Bad Boys has a 76% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 292 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Bad Boys?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Fawesome, Philo, Fandango at Home, Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Bad Boys OK for kids?
Bad Boys is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Bad Boys (1983) is an R-rated drama set in a brutal juvenile prison following a violent robbery.
What movies are like Bad Boys?
If you liked Bad Boys, try Sleepers, Prison Break: The Final Break, GoodFellas and American Me.