Is the nudity really that prominent?

It's a single, brief scene involving Madeleine Stowe in a shower/bathroom setting. It’s classic 80s 'gratuitous' nudity—it doesn't last long, but it's unmistakable and definitely earns the R rating.

Will my kid find this movie boring because it's from 1987?

It depends on the kid. If they need Marvel-style pacing, the long scenes of guys sitting in a room talking will drag. But if they like sharp dialogue and 'heist' vibes, the banter keeps it moving surprisingly fast.

How much '80s cheese' should I expect?

A fair amount. The synth-heavy score, the oversized suits, and the lack of DNA evidence or cell phones make it a total time capsule. It’s charming if you're nostalgic, but maybe hilarious to a Gen Z viewer.

Is it part of a series?

Yes, there is a sequel called Another Stakeout (1993). It’s generally considered less effective than the original but keeps the same lead duo.

Stakeout – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Stakeout

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1987

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A high-energy 80s buddy-cop comedy that balances genuine laughs with a premise that feels a little more 'stalker-ish' by modern standards.

89%

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Stakeout

movie

R, 1987

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A high-energy 80s buddy-cop comedy that balances genuine laughs with a premise that feels a little more 'stalker-ish' by modern standards.

89%

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89%

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Screenwise Verdict

Stakeout is a quintessential 80s relic. It’s significantly better than your average modern police comedy because it actually cares about its characters, but the 'R' rating is earned. If you can get past the fact that the hero is basically gaslighting his love interest for 90 minutes, the banter is world-class.

For a modern kid, it might feel a bit slow-burn compared to the frantic pace of current action movies, but the practical stunts still hold up. Just be ready for the '80s-ness' of it all—the hair, the tech, and the very loose approach to police ethics.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (16+) and adults. Between the R-rated language and the 'mature' romantic subplot, it’s not a family movie night pick for the middle-school crowd.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The buddy-cop camaraderie is fun, but the central premise involves a massive breach of ethics and professional boundaries that is played for laughs.

Imaginative

It’s a clever spin on the police procedural with some creative practical stunts, though it stays firmly within 80s genre tropes.

Safe

Typical R-rated 80s fare: frequent strong language, stylized violence, and a scene featuring full-frontal nudity.

Enriching

Offers a look at 80s cinematic styles and chemistry-driven storytelling, but lacks significant moral or educational depth.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Dreyfuss and Estevez have top-tier comedic chemistry that makes even the slower scenes feel alive.
It captures the 80s action aesthetic perfectly, with practical stunts and a gritty-but-glossy Seattle backdrop.
The suspense sequences are genuinely well-constructed by director John Badham, keeping the tension high during the actual stakeout moments.

⚠

What to Watch For

There is a brief scene of full-frontal nudity involving Madeleine Stowe that will definitely catch you off guard if you're expecting a PG-13 vibe.
The protagonist’s behavior—secretly watching a woman and then entering her home under false pretenses to date her—is objectively creepy by today's standards.
Expect a high volume of F-bombs and 80s-era casual machismo that might not fly with younger viewers.

Conversation Starters

"Does Chris falling for Maria make him a bad cop, or is it just 'part of the job' in a movie like this?"
"How would this movie be different if it were made today with modern surveillance tech like drones and smart cameras?"
"Why do you think 80s movies often mixed slapstick comedy with R-rated violence and nudity?"

Deep Dive

The 80s Buddy-Cop Peak

Before Lethal Weapon completely codified the genre, Stakeout was doing the heavy lifting of proving that you could mix genuine suspense with actual, character-driven comedy. Richard Dreyfuss is at his neurotic best here, and Emilio Estevez plays the perfect foil. They don't feel like movie cops; they feel like two guys who are bored out of their minds sitting in a dark room with a pair of binoculars.

The 'Creep' Factor

We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the premise. In 1987, Chris (Dreyfuss) falling for Maria (Stowe) while spying on her was framed as a romantic complication. In 2026, it looks a lot more like a predatory abuse of power. If you're watching this with a teenager, it’s a great opportunity to talk about consent and boundaries. The movie doesn't really punish Chris for his deception, which is a very 'of its time' narrative choice.

Why It Still Works

Despite the dated ethics, the movie works because it’s a masterclass in pacing and tone. Director John Badham (who did WarGames) knows how to milk a scene for tension. The sequence where the convict returns while the cops are unprepared is a classic bit of 'sweaty-palm' cinema. It’s a reminder of a time when action movies relied on the actors' faces and clever editing rather than CGI explosions.

What Parents Ask

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