Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this: Beastly is not good. With a 20% critic score and 2.2/5 on Letterboxd, this is a movie that even fans of teen romance struggle to defend.

The concept—Beauty and the Beast set in modern New York—had potential, but the execution is wooden, the dialogue is cringe-inducing, and the whole thing feels like it was designed by a committee trying to capitalize on Twilight's success without understanding what made that franchise work (and even Twilight had its issues).

The 'beast' transformation is particularly weak—some tattoos and scars that honestly look kind of cool rather than monstrous, which undercuts the entire premise. And making physical difference a punishment feels icky in 2025 when we're trying to teach kids that all bodies are valid.

That said, if you have a 13-year-old who's curious about fairy tale retellings and insists on watching it, it won't traumatize them. The message about inner beauty is decent, even if delivered with all the grace of a falling piano. Just don't expect anyone to actually enjoy it—this is more of a 'well, we watched it, now we never have to again' experience.

There are so many better options out there. Watch the animated Beauty and the Beast. Watch the 2017 live-action version. Watch literally any other romantic drama. Your time is valuable, and Beastly doesn't respect that.

Age Fit

Best suited for younger teens (13-15) who are just getting into romantic dramas and haven't yet developed discerning taste. Older teens and adults will likely find it painfully dated and poorly executed—there are much better versions of this story available.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

55

A Beauty and the Beast retelling centered on inner beauty vs. superficiality has a positive core message about looking beyond appearances. However, the protagonist starts as an arrogant, shallow bully who needs magical punishment to learn basic empathy—not exactly a wholesome role model for most of the runtime. The tone skews melodramatic teen angst rather than genuinely heartwarming.

Imaginative

35

This is a paint-by-numbers modern fairy tale adaptation that brings little originality to the well-worn Beauty and the Beast story. Transplanting it to a New York high school with tattoos and piercings as the 'beast' transformation is more gimmicky than genuinely creative. The film doesn't invite exploration or spark curiosity—it's a straightforward romantic drama that checks expected boxes without much inventiveness.

Safe

70

Rated for ages 14+ by Common Sense Media, this is relatively tame for a teen romance. No graphic violence, gore, or sexual content that would shock viewers. Some mild bullying behavior and emotional intensity around the transformation/curse, plus typical teen relationship drama. The 'beast' appearance (tattoos, scars) might be mildly unsettling but not traumatic. Safe enough for its target demographic with no major trigger warnings.

Enriching

40

The 'don't judge by appearances' moral is valuable but delivered with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. There's potential for discussions about vanity, empathy, and personal growth, but the execution is so heavy-handed and the characters so thinly drawn that any meaningful takeaway gets lost in melodrama. The film doesn't challenge viewers intellectually or emotionally in ways that promote real growth—it's more checklist morality than genuine insight.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Core message about inner beauty and not judging by appearances is genuinely valuable, even if delivered ham-fistedly
Might appeal to younger teens just discovering romantic dramas who haven't seen better versions of this story
Short enough (under 90 minutes) that it won't consume your whole evening if curiosity gets the better of you
Could spark discussions about vanity, transformation, and what makes someone truly attractive

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What to Watch For

The protagonist is genuinely awful for a good chunk of the film—bullying, vain, cruel—which might not be fun to watch
Peak 2011 aesthetics and dialogue that will make you wonder what we were all thinking back then
The 'beast' transformation is just tattoos and scars, which might feel anticlimactic or even trivialize body modification
Melodramatic teen angst throughout—if your kid rolls their eyes at overwrought emotions, this will test their patience

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Kyle needed magic to force him to be a better person? Could he have changed without it?"
"The movie treats physical appearance as punishment—what do you think about that? Is that fair to people who actually look different?"
"Have you ever judged someone based on how they look and been totally wrong? What happened?"
"If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Would that change who you really are?"

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