Chronicle earned its 85% on Rotten Tomatoes by doing something different with the superhero formula. It's a character study disguised as a found-footage thriller, and it commits hard to the idea that superpowers + teenage trauma = disaster.
The first half is legitimately fun—three friends discovering they can move stuff with their minds, pulling pranks, learning to fly. Then it pivots into something much darker as Andrew's abusive home life and social isolation turn his powers into weapons. The climax is a full-on tragedy, not a triumph.
It's well-made and thought-provoking, but it's also genuinely upsetting in places. The found-footage style makes the violence feel more real and less escapist than typical superhero fare. If your teen can handle Breaking Bad-style moral descent and isn't looking for a Marvel-style good-guys-win story, this delivers. But it's absolutely not for younger kids or anyone expecting a pick-me-up.





