20th Century Women – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

20th Century Women

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2016

64%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A punk artist, a savvy teen, and a single mom walk into 1979—and have extremely frank conversations about sex, feminism, and growing up.

7.3/10

88%

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20th Century Women

movie

R, 2016

64%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A punk artist, a savvy teen, and a single mom walk into 1979—and have extremely frank conversations about sex, feminism, and growing up.

7.3

88%

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7.3/10

88%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a thoughtful, empathetic film about the messy, beautiful ways people shape each other—but it's absolutely not for kids or even most teens. The R rating is earned through explicit sexual content and language that will shock parents expecting a gentle coming-of-age story.

What makes it worthwhile for the right audience is its genuine emotional intelligence. It's a film about a mother who loves her son enough to admit she doesn't have all the answers, and who brings in unconventional mentors to fill the gaps. The sexual conversations are frank to the point of discomfort, but they're not gratuitous—they're part of how these characters try to prepare a teenage boy for adulthood.

For mature 16-17 year olds or adults, it's enriching and beautifully acted. For anyone younger, it's a hard pass. The film's contemplative pacing and 1970s setting may also make it a tough sell for modern teens used to faster storytelling, even if they're mature enough for the content.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media recommends 16+, and that's right on target. The explicit sexual content and mature themes make this strictly for older teens who can handle very frank discussions about sex, or really, just adults. Younger teens will find it uncomfortable; older teens might find it refreshingly honest.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A tender portrait of a single mother raising a teenage son with help from unconventional mentors. The film models genuine care and vulnerability between generations, but includes very frank sexual discussions and language that, while realistic for the era, aren't exactly wholesome in the traditional sense. The emotional core is healthy—showing a mother who loves her son enough to admit she doesn't have all the answers—but the path there involves explicit conversations about menstruation, orgasms, and sexual health that are more educational than cozy.

Imaginative

Mike Mills crafts a thoughtful, character-driven piece that captures late-70s Santa Barbara through a nostalgic but not saccharine lens. The storytelling is unconventional—using voiceover, still photos, and flash-forwards to create a mosaic of memory rather than a linear plot. It invites reflection on how people shape each other across generations and genders. Not imaginative in a fantastical sense, but in its structure and empathetic exploration of how we become who we are.

Safe

Rated R for good reason. Contains explicit sexual content including a scene with audible climaxing, frank discussions about menstruation and orgasms, full nudity (breasts and pubic hair visible in magazines and art), frequent strong language, and teen smoking/drinking. The sex talk is educational rather than gratuitous, but it's very direct. Parents expecting a gentle coming-of-age story will be caught off guard. This is adult content examining adolescence, not content for adolescents themselves.

Enriching

This is where the film shines. It's a deeply empathetic exploration of how we're shaped by the people around us, especially those who don't fit conventional molds. The film examines feminism, generational divides, masculinity, and what it means to grow up with honest, imperfect guidance. Annette Bening's performance is luminous. The 88% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and 83 Metacritic reflect its thoughtful, nuanced approach to family and identity. For mature teens and adults, it offers genuine insight into parent-child relationships and the messiness of becoming yourself.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Annette Bening delivers a beautiful, lived-in performance as a mother who knows she can't do it all alone
Handles sexual education with frankness and honesty—the conversations are awkward but real, like actual people talking
Explores masculinity and coming-of-age through a feminist lens without being preachy
The 70s setting is richly textured without being a caricature—punk music, feminism, and the cusp of Reagan-era America
Strong critical acclaim (88% RT, 83 Metacritic) for its empathetic, character-driven storytelling

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What to Watch For

Very explicit sexual content including audible climaxing, visible nudity in magazines, and detailed conversations about menstruation and orgasms
Frequent strong language and teen smoking/drinking throughout
Slow, contemplative pacing—this is a character study, not a plot-driven film
The frank sex talk is educational but will absolutely catch parents off guard if watching with teens

Conversation Starters

"How do you think Jamie's mom's approach to raising him—bringing in other women to help—compares to more traditional parenting?"
"The film shows really direct conversations about sex and bodies. Do you think that kind of openness helps or makes things more awkward?"
"What do you think about the idea that we're all shaped by the specific time and place we grow up in?"
"Dorothea worries she doesn't understand her son because of their age gap. Do you ever feel like generational differences create distance?"

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