Train Dreams
NZ release: 21 November 2025
Adult themes Rated on: 18 September 2025
What’s it about?
Based on the novella by Denis Johnson, Train Dreams is the portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century.
The facts
- Directed by Clint Bentley (Sing Sing)
- English language
- Runtime: 102 minutes
- Starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones
- An adaptation of Denis Johnson’s 2002 novella
- Nominated for four Academy Awards (best picture, cinematography, original song and adapted screenplay)
Why did it get this rating?
This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.
Adult themes
We see a married couple having sex. The scene is dimly lit by candlelight and we only see head movements and sounds to indicate sex.
During flashbacks and dream states a character imagines people being overwhelmed by smoke during a forest blaze. We don’t see people on fire but the scenes may be upsetting.
Violence
The lead character is witness to a racial assault and killing where we see a man thrown off a railway bridge. The scene is upsetting even though we don’t see the final landing. The lead character is subsequently haunted by his silent colleague.
There are further brief references to racial assaults and killings in Depression-era America. We see characters grabbed and taken away without warning. This is witnessed and described by the lead character as shocking and confusing.
A character chases down a man and shoots him at close range, killing him. He apologises to the witnesses and explains it was a revenge killing. We don’t see any of the gunshot wound or injury.
A character comes to the aid of an injured woman who has an apparent broken leg. He realigns the break – we see movement and hear the sound but don’t see the wound.
Offensive language
Very infrequently strong language is used as emphasis during scenes of shock or terror. Examples include 'hell’, ‘damn’, and ‘sh*t’.
When content stays with you:
We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.
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