The Blues Brothers (1980)

Kernel Score: 85% · 4,504 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Music, Comedy, Action, Crime

Released: 1980-06-16

Runtime: 133 minutes

Is The Blues Brothers worth watching?

Worth watching. Two ex-cons put their band back together to save an orphanage, and it's mostly an excuse for great soul and R&B numbers and absurdly big car chases. Loose and silly, but the music and the spectacle carry it.

Watch it if you

  • love classic soul and R&B on screen
  • enjoy deadpan, anything-goes comedy
  • like big old-school car chases

Skip it if you

  • want a tight, realistic story
  • tire of films that run over two hours

Best for: Fun group watch

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch The Blues Brothers

  • Stream: Netflix, YouTube TV
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.

The Blues Brothers parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that The Blues Brothers is an R-rated musical comedy with slapstick chases and some crude humor.

  • Violence & scariness: Some — Comedic car chases, crashes, and slapstick action, largely non-graphic.
  • Language: Some — Some mild profanity typical of an R-rated late-70s comedy.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like The Blues Brothers

If you liked The Blues Brothers, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Animal House (1978) — 75%: Same director and star energy: loud, anarchic 1970s comedy.
  • Trading Places (1983) — 80%: Another early-80s comedy from the same director with sharp performances.
  • An American Werewolf in London (1981) — 83%: Same director's blend of jokes and genuine craft.
  • Beverly Hills Cop (1984) — 83%: Fast-talking 80s action comedy carried by its star.
  • Hot Fuzz (2007) — 86%: Action comedy that loves the genre it's sending up.
  • Kung Fu Hustle (2004) — 87%: Wildly inventive, cartoonish comedy with big set pieces.

Director

John Landis

Cast

  • Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues
  • John Belushi as 'Joliet' Jake Blues
  • James Brown as Cleophus James
  • Cab Calloway as Curtis
  • Ray Charles as Ray
  • Aretha Franklin as Mrs. Murphy
  • Steve Cropper as Steve 'The Colonel' Cropper
  • Donald 'Duck' Dunn as Donald 'Duck' Dunn
  • Murphy Dunne as Murphy 'Murph' Dunne
  • Willie Hall as Willie 'Too Big' Hall

The Blues Brothers FAQ

Is The Blues Brothers worth watching?

Worth watching. Two ex-cons put their band back together to save an orphanage, and it's mostly an excuse for great soul and R&B numbers and absurdly big car chases. Loose and silly, but the music and the spectacle carry it.

Where can I watch The Blues Brothers?

In the US you can stream The Blues Brothers on Netflix and YouTube TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is The Blues Brothers OK for kids?

The Blues Brothers is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Blues Brothers is an R-rated musical comedy with slapstick chases and some crude humor.

What movies are like The Blues Brothers?

If you liked The Blues Brothers, try Animal House, Trading Places, An American Werewolf in London and Beverly Hills Cop.