Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Greg Heffley's holiday chaos is safe and mildly amusing, but this Disney+ special is pretty forgettable even by Wimpy Kid standards.

75%

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever

movie

PG, 2023

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Greg Heffley's holiday chaos is safe and mildly amusing, but this Disney+ special is pretty forgettable even by Wimpy Kid standards.

75%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is fine. It's a Wimpy Kid holiday special on Disney+, which means it's safe, mildly entertaining, and completely forgettable.

The critics were kinder than audiences (75% vs 57%), which tells you it's competently made but doesn't really land with viewers. That 5.9 IMDb and 2.6 Letterboxd rating? Ouch. Even kids who love the books seem to shrug at this one.

If you need something to throw on during winter break that won't rot brains or traumatize anyone, sure, go for it. But there are way better holiday specials and way better Wimpy Kid content out there. This feels like Disney+ needed holiday content and churned out something serviceable but uninspired.

The WISE score reflects that it's safe and somewhat wholesome, but just not particularly good or memorable. Your kids probably won't hate it, but they also won't be asking to rewatch it next December.

Age Fit

This is squarely aimed at 7-12 year olds who relate to middle school social dynamics and find Greg's mishaps funny. Younger kids might not get the humor; older kids will likely find it too juvenile unless they're nostalgic fans of the books.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The Wimpy Kid franchise centers on Greg's self-centered misadventures, which often model poor behavior before eventual lessons. The holiday setting adds wholesome themes about family and staying off Santa's naughty list, but Greg's character is fundamentally about bad decisions and schemes. The tone is age-appropriate for middle-grade audiences, but doesn't strongly model kindness or cooperation—it's more about surviving middle school chaos with humor.

Imaginative

Wimpy Kid stories follow a familiar formula: Greg gets into predicaments through his own schemes and self-interest. While the animated format (Disney+ has been doing animated adaptations) offers visual creativity, the narrative structure is predictable and doesn't invite much creative exploration or original thinking. It's entertaining but not particularly imaginative beyond the illustrated diary format concept itself.

Safe

This is quintessentially safe content for kids. Common Sense Media rates it for age 8+, and the Wimpy Kid franchise has always been mild middle-school humor without violence, scary content, or inappropriate material. The worst you'll get is some bathroom humor and mild mischief. Disney+ as a platform adds another layer of safety assurance. No surprise content concerns.

Enriching

The entertainment value is there for the target demographic, but enrichment is limited. Greg rarely learns meaningful lessons that stick, and the stories often reward his self-interest with comedic outcomes rather than growth. There's some relatability about middle school social dynamics and family relationships, but it's more about laughs than life lessons. The mixed-to-negative audience scores (57% RT audience, 5.9 IMDb, 2.6 Letterboxd) suggest even fans find this installment underwhelming.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Completely safe, predictable middle-school humor that won't surprise you with inappropriate content
Holiday setting adds seasonal appeal if you need something festive and kid-friendly
Familiar characters for kids already invested in the Wimpy Kid universe
Short enough that it won't overstay its welcome on a snow day

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What to Watch For

Greg is a pretty self-centered protagonist who doesn't always model great behavior—that's kind of the point, but it can grate
The audience scores are rough (57% on RT, 5.9 on IMDb)—even fans seem lukewarm on this one
If your kid hasn't read the books or seen previous movies, this probably won't convert them into fans

Conversation Starters

"What do you think Greg could do differently to stay off the naughty list? Is he trying hard enough?"
"Have you ever been stuck inside during a snowstorm? What would you do differently than Greg's family?"
"Why do you think Greg keeps making the same kinds of mistakes? Does he actually learn anything?"

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