If your middle schooler or teen came off Top Gun: Maverick wanting more jet action, Devotion delivers the flight sequences with significantly more emotional substance. It tells the true story of Ensign Jesse Brown, the US Navy's first Black aviator, and his wingman Tom Hudner as they fly combat missions over Korea.

Rather than leaning into hyper-masculine swagger, the film takes its time building the bond between the pilots and showing the quiet resilience required of Brown in a desegregated but deeply racist military. The aerial sequences feel weightier because they rely heavily on real vintage airframes and practical flying.

The combat violence avoids blood-and-guts shock value, but the emotional stakes hit hard. It ends on a somber, heroic note that makes for a great family movie night with actual educational value.