Everybody Wants Some!! – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Everybody Wants Some!!

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2016

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Linklater's love letter to 1980 college baseball bros partying through the last weekend before classes—critically acclaimed, decidedly adult.

6.9/10

87%

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Everybody Wants Some!!

movie

R, 2016

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Linklater's love letter to 1980 college baseball bros partying through the last weekend before classes—critically acclaimed, decidedly adult.

6.9

87%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: critics adored this movie because Linklater is a master of the hangout film and the period recreation is meticulous. It's well-made, has heart, and offers genuine insight into the college transition and male friendship.

But for Screenwise purposes? This is adults-only territory. The entire movie is a celebration of partying, drinking, casual sex, and bro culture. It's not mean or cruel, but it's definitely not wholesome. Common Sense Media says 17+ and that's generous—honestly, this is best for college-age viewers and up who can appreciate the nostalgia and craft without taking it as a how-to guide.

The critic-audience score gap (87% vs 68%) tells you this is more of a film-buff movie than a crowd-pleaser. If you're a Linklater fan or love Dazed and Confused, you'll probably dig this. If you're looking for family viewing or something with clear positive messages, keep scrolling.

Age Fit

This is strictly 17+ content—it's for older high schoolers, college students, and adults who appreciate Linklater's style or have nostalgia for 1980s college culture. The R-rated content is pervasive, not incidental, so there's no way to make this family-friendly.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is Richard Linklater's 'spiritual sequel' to Dazed and Confused, celebrating 1980s college baseball bro culture with constant partying, casual hookups, drinking, and competitive masculinity. While it has moments of camaraderie and isn't mean-spirited, the emotional core revolves around hedonism and conquest rather than kindness or cooperation. The pacing captures the languid, aimless weekend well but the values modeled are decidedly not wholesome for younger viewers.

Imaginative

Linklater brings his signature observational style and period detail to 1980 college life—the music, fashion, and social dynamics are meticulously recreated. There's creativity in the episodic structure and character work, but the film doesn't invite exploration or creative expression from viewers. It's more nostalgic time capsule than imaginative storytelling. The originality lies in the tone and execution rather than the premise (college guys partying is hardly novel).

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this 17+, and that tracks. Expect pervasive drinking, drug use (marijuana), sexual content including nudity and casual hookups, strong language throughout, and objectification of women. This is definitively R-rated content—not because of violence or gore, but because of the sexual and substance content that permeates every scene. Parents would absolutely not want younger kids stumbling into this.

Enriching

There's genuine insight here about the transition to college, finding your identity, male bonding, and the end of adolescence. Linklater explores how people try on different personas (punk, disco, country scenes) and the film has empathy for its characters. Critics loved it (87% RT, 85 Metacritic). But the 'lessons' are subtle and wrapped in a lot of partying—it's more observational than instructional. For mature viewers, there's value in the character study and period authenticity, but it's not exactly building skills or offering clear takeaways beyond 'college in 1980 was a trip.'

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Richard Linklater's signature hangout-movie style with authentic period detail and strong character work
Critics loved it (87% RT, 85 Metacritic)—it's genuinely well-crafted filmmaking with empathy for its characters
Offers insight into the college transition, identity exploration, and male friendship dynamics (if you can look past the constant partying)
For older teens/young adults, it's a relatively honest (if rose-tinted) look at college social life and finding your tribe

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What to Watch For

This is R-rated through and through: constant drinking, marijuana use, sexual content, nudity, hookup culture, and pervasive strong language
Women are largely portrayed as objects of pursuit rather than fully developed characters—it's very much a 'bro' movie
The entire premise is partying for a weekend straight—not exactly modeling responsible behavior
The 68% audience score vs 87% critic score tells you this is more of a critic's darling than a crowd-pleaser

Conversation Starters

"How do you think college life has changed since 1980? What's stayed the same?"
"The characters try on different identities (punk, disco, country)—have you ever felt like you were experimenting with who you want to be?"
"What do you think about how the movie portrays relationships between men and women?"
"Is there value in movies that honestly show bad behavior, or does that just glamorize it?"

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