All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front

movie

R, 2022, Drama, History

WISE
68%

WISE Score

90

Avg. Tomatometer

Brutally honest WWI film that strips away any romance of war—powerful for older teens, but genuinely harrowing.

IMDb7.8
RT Critics90%
MC76
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be clear: this is not entertainment. It's an ordeal. A beautifully crafted, devastatingly effective ordeal that will stay with you for days.

The 2022 German adaptation of the WWI classic pulls no punches. Where the 1930 version was groundbreaking for its time, this version uses modern filmmaking to create something even more visceral and horrifying. The sound design alone—the screech of tanks, the wet thud of bodies hitting mud—will haunt you.

For the right audience, this is essential viewing. If your 16-17 year old is studying WWI, interested in film as art, or needs to understand why war is not Call of Duty, this delivers. It's anti-war cinema at its finest, stripping away any notion of glory or heroism and showing the meat grinder for what it is.

But don't mistake high WISE scores for 'family movie night.' This earned its 16+ rating through sheer brutality. Younger teens aren't ready, and honestly, some adults will tap out. That said, for mature viewers who can handle it, the enrichment value is off the charts. This is the kind of film that changes how you see history.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (16+) and adults. The violence is graphic and sustained, the emotional toll is heavy, and younger viewers will be traumatized rather than educated. For mature high schoolers studying WWI or interested in serious cinema, it's powerful. For everyone else, wait.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
45

This is a brutal, unflinching war film that shows the psychological devastation of combat. While it models anti-war themes and the futility of nationalism, the emotional toll is heavy—death, despair, and trauma dominate. Not emotionally healthy viewing for most kids, though older teens studying WWI may benefit from its stark honesty.

Imaginative
72

Visually stunning cinematography and sound design create an immersive, visceral experience of trench warfare. The German perspective on WWI offers a fresh lens for many viewers. While it doesn't invite creative play or exploration, it reimagines a classic novel with modern filmmaking craft that's genuinely impressive.

Safe
30

Common Sense Media rates this 16+ for good reason. The 2022 version is described as 'gruesome' with graphic war violence, death, dismemberment, and intense suffering. This is not a movie you want a younger kid stumbling into—it's relentlessly dark and disturbing. No sexual content or language concerns, but the violence is severe and sustained.

Enriching
88

One of the most powerful anti-war films ever made. Shows the human cost of conflict, the manipulation of young men by nationalist propaganda, and the senseless waste of war. Strong performances, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences, 7.8 IMDb rating. For mature teens, this is essential viewing that builds historical understanding and empathy.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • One of the most effective anti-war statements in cinema—shows the reality of propaganda and the cost of nationalism
  • Stunning cinematography and sound design that won multiple Oscars; technically masterful filmmaking
  • German perspective on WWI offers a different lens than most English-language war films
  • Highly rated across the board (90% RT, 7.8 IMDb)—this is serious, important cinema
  • Perfect companion to high school history units on WWI; makes the textbook come alive in the worst, most necessary way
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What to Watch For

  • Graphic violence throughout—soldiers are shot, stabbed, burned, dismembered. This is not Hollywood sanitized combat
  • Relentlessly bleak and emotionally exhausting; multiple deaths of characters you care about
  • Zero humor or lightness; this is 2+ hours of suffering and despair
  • Common Sense Media's 16+ rating is spot-on; even mature 14-15 year olds may find this overwhelming

Conversation Starters

  • "Why do you think Paul was so eager to enlist at the beginning? What changed?"
  • "The movie shows how propaganda worked on young men. Do you see similar tactics used today?"
  • "How did the scenes of soldiers from both sides compare? What was the film saying about 'the enemy'?"
  • "This is based on a book from 1929. Why do you think this story is still being retold almost 100 years later?"

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