Athlete A – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Athlete A

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2020

48%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

Powerful investigative doc about the Larry Nassar abuse scandal—important journalism, but absolutely not light viewing for families.

7.6/10

100%

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Athlete A

movie

PG-13, 2020

48%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

Powerful investigative doc about the Larry Nassar abuse scandal—important journalism, but absolutely not light viewing for families.

7.6

100%

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7.6/10

100%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be crystal clear: this is important, award-winning journalism that helped bring down a predator and reform USA Gymnastics. It's exceptionally well-made and the 100% critic score is deserved.

But this is NOT family movie night material. This is a documentary about systemic child sexual abuse, institutional cover-ups, and the courage it took to expose it all. It's emotionally brutal even for adults.

The WISE score is low because this simply isn't 'safe' or 'wholesome' content by design—it's meant to disturb you, to make you angry, to inspire change. That's valuable, but it's not what most parents are looking for when browsing Netflix with their kids.

For the right teenager—especially one interested in journalism, advocacy, or understanding how institutions fail vulnerable people—this is essential viewing. But it requires serious maturity, parental context, and follow-up conversation. This is homework-adjacent viewing, not entertainment.

Age Fit

This is for mature 16+ teens who can handle serious, traumatic subject matter and want to understand institutional abuse and accountability. Younger teens will find it too heavy, and it's absolutely not appropriate for middle schoolers despite what the rating suggests.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

While the film models courage, truth-telling, and institutional accountability, the subject matter—systemic sexual abuse of minors—is inherently distressing and emotionally heavy. The documentary handles the topic respectfully but cannot be called 'emotionally healthy' viewing given the traumatic content. It's important journalism, not wholesome entertainment.

Imaginative

This is investigative documentary journalism—compelling and well-crafted, but not designed to spark creativity, exploration, or imaginative play. It's a straightforward, serious examination of abuse and institutional failure. No points for originality in format or approach to inspire creative thinking.

Safe

This documentary centers on child sexual abuse by a trusted authority figure, systemic institutional cover-ups, and the trauma experienced by young athletes. While there's no graphic imagery, the subject matter itself constitutes serious trigger content. Common Sense Media rates it 13+, but even that feels optimistic—this requires significant emotional maturity and context. Definitely not something a child should stumble upon unexpectedly.

Enriching

Exceptionally enriching for the right age group. Perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85 Metacritic score. Teaches critical media literacy, institutional accountability, the importance of investigative journalism, speaking truth to power, and believing survivors. Offers profound lessons about courage, systemic failure, and how change happens. This is the kind of documentary that shapes how teens understand justice and advocacy.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Perfect 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes—this is exceptional journalism that changed USA Gymnastics forever
Teaches teens about institutional accountability, believing survivors, and how investigative reporting creates real-world change
Models incredible courage from both the reporters and the gymnasts who came forward
Offers crucial media literacy lessons about how powerful institutions protect themselves and how truth eventually wins
Could be transformative viewing for older teens interested in journalism, justice, or advocacy work

⚠

What to Watch For

This is about child sexual abuse—full stop. The documentary is respectful but the subject matter is inherently traumatic and distressing
Not appropriate for younger teens despite the 13+ rating; realistically needs 15-16+ with strong parental context and discussion
Emotionally heavy throughout—this isn't background viewing, it requires active processing and likely follow-up conversations
May be triggering for anyone with history of abuse or institutional betrayal

Conversation Starters

"What did you think about how long it took for people to believe the gymnasts? Why do you think institutions protect themselves instead of victims?"
"The reporters had to work really hard to get this story published. What does that tell you about how investigative journalism works?"
"How do you think Maggie Nichols and the other gymnasts found the courage to come forward when they knew it might cost them their careers?"
"What changes do you think should happen in youth sports to make sure something like this never happens again?"

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