Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The friendship that changed history—and the ideological rift that tore it apart. Heavy, but essential viewing for teens.

6.9/10

94%

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Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali

movie

PG-13, 2021

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The friendship that changed history—and the ideological rift that tore it apart. Heavy, but essential viewing for teens.

6.9

94%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of documentary that makes history feel urgent and personal. The 94% critic score isn't inflated—it's genuinely well-made, using archival footage and expert commentary to reconstruct a friendship that shaped two of the most important figures in American history.

The subject matter is heavy: racism, religious conflict, political betrayal, and Malcolm X's assassination. But for teens 14+ who are ready to engage with complex moral questions, this is essential viewing. It's not just about what happened—it's about why people make the choices they do when friendship and principle collide.

The IMDB score of 6.9 is a bit middling, but the strong RT scores suggest critics and audiences who care about this history found it compelling. It's not going to be a crowd-pleaser for younger kids or anyone looking for light entertainment, but for the right audience, it's powerful and thought-provoking.

Age Fit

Best for teens 14+ who are ready for mature historical content and complex emotional territory. Adults will find it equally compelling—this isn't dumbed-down history, it's a sophisticated look at friendship, faith, and the civil rights movement.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Documentary explores a profound friendship with emotional depth and historical honesty. Models the complexity of real relationships, including painful fallout. Tone is respectful and measured, though the subject matter involves ideological conflict and betrayal. Age-appropriate for teens who can handle nuanced emotional territory.

Imaginative

Uses archival footage and historical narrative to reconstruct a relationship that shaped civil rights history. Invites viewers to think critically about loyalty, faith, and political movements. Not highly creative in documentary format (standard talking heads and archival approach), but the story itself sparks curiosity about a lesser-known angle of two iconic figures.

Safe

Documentary format means no graphic violence or sexual content, though it deals with mature themes of assassination, racism, and religious conflict. Common Sense Media rates it 14+. The 'tragic fallout' involves ideological betrayal and Malcolm X's eventual assassination (historical fact, not gratuitously shown). No surprise content for viewers expecting a serious historical documentary.

Enriching

Strong educational value exploring civil rights history, Nation of Islam, personal integrity, and the costs of political conviction. 94% RT critic score and 83% audience score indicate it's compelling and well-crafted. Builds empathy for complex historical figures and invites critical thinking about friendship, faith, and social movements. Meaningful takeaways about loyalty and principle.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Illuminates a lesser-known angle of two iconic civil rights figures—their actual friendship and painful split
94% critic score on RT means it's well-crafted and engaging, not just educational homework
Sparks critical thinking about loyalty, faith, political movements, and the personal costs of conviction
Archival footage brings history to life in a way textbooks can't
Perfect for teens ready to engage with complex moral questions about friendship and principle

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What to Watch For

Deals with assassination, racism, and religious conflict—emotionally heavy for younger viewers
The 'tragic fallout' is real: Malcolm X's murder hangs over the narrative
Requires some baseline knowledge of civil rights history to fully appreciate the stakes
Not a feel-good watch—this is about betrayal and ideological division between friends

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if your best friend's beliefs changed in a way that felt like a betrayal?"
"Why do you think Muhammad Ali stayed with the Nation of Islam when Malcolm X left?"
"How do you think their friendship shaped both of their legacies?"
"What does this documentary teach us about the difference between loyalty to a person vs. loyalty to an ideology?"

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