Fame – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Fame

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1980Drama, Music

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

This 1980 performing arts drama is a time capsule of leg warmers and ambition—but it's dated, slow, and surprisingly mature.

6.6/10

81%

69%

6.4

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Fame

movie

1980, Drama, Music

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

This 1980 performing arts drama is a time capsule of leg warmers and ambition—but it's dated, slow, and surprisingly mature.

6.6

81%

6.4

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6.6/10

81%

6.4

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Screenwise Verdict

Fame is a cultural artifact that was groundbreaking in 1980 but feels like homework in 2025. Yes, it won Oscars and spawned a franchise, but let's be real: it's over two hours of episodic storylines with dated filmmaking, mature content that'll surprise you, and a pace that makes modern viewers check their phones.

The film deserves credit for its authentic portrayal of arts education and its progressive-for-1980 approach to diversity and identity. But unless your teen is a serious performing arts student doing research or you're having an '80s movie marathon, this is a skip. The 6.6 IMDb rating tells the story—it's fine, but not compelling enough to overcome the 45-year age gap.

If you want the Fame vibe for actual kids, try the 2009 remake (slightly more modern) or just watch Glee. If you want a great performing arts film, go with Whiplash or Sing Street. This one's for film studies classes and nostalgia nights only.

Age Fit

This is really for older teens (16+) and adults who have nostalgia for '80s culture or a specific interest in performing arts history. Younger viewers will be bored by the pacing and potentially disturbed by mature content. Honestly, the TV series reboot is probably more accessible for modern teens.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Fame tackles serious issues facing performing arts students—ambition, rejection, financial struggle, and identity—with some emotional maturity. However, it includes mature themes like teen sexuality, pregnancy, drug use, and exploitation that complicate its wholesomeness. The film models both cooperation and cutthroat competition, reflecting the reality of arts education but not always in emotionally healthy ways. Pacing is uneven and episodic.

Imaginative

The film celebrates creative expression through dance, music, and performance, showcasing students exploring their artistic identities. Musical numbers and performance sequences invite viewers into the world of creative discipline and artistic ambition. However, it's more observational than interactive—viewers watch creativity rather than being prompted to create themselves. Still, it authentically portrays the imaginative process of becoming an artist.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this for 16+, and for good reason. The film contains unexpected mature content including nudity, sexual situations, drug use, exploitation of a student by a sleazy photographer, teen pregnancy, strong language, and intense emotional scenes. While not gratuitously violent or gory, it has multiple elements that would be inappropriate for younger viewers to encounter unexpectedly. The R-rating (implied by content) reflects serious adult themes.

Enriching

Fame offers genuine insight into the dedication, sacrifice, and rejection that come with pursuing artistic dreams. It doesn't sugarcoat the struggles of arts education or the entertainment industry. Viewers see characters grapple with class differences, racial dynamics, family expectations, and self-doubt. The film builds empathy for diverse perspectives and shows the real work behind performance. However, entertainment value is diminished by dated filmmaking and uneven pacing.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Authentic portrayal of the hard work, rejection, and sacrifice behind artistic dreams—no Disney fairy dust here
Diverse cast and storylines exploring race, class, sexuality, and identity in ways that were progressive for 1980
Musical and dance sequences showcase real talent and the discipline of performing arts education
Spawned a cultural phenomenon (TV series, musical, "Fame" leg warmers) that defined '80s arts culture

⚠

What to Watch For

Mature content throughout: nudity, sexual situations, a creepy photographer exploiting a student, drug use, teen pregnancy, and strong language
Runtime of 133 minutes with episodic, uneven pacing—modern teens will likely find it slow and dated
Emotional intensity around rejection, failure, and crushed dreams may be heavy for sensitive viewers
The 1980s filmmaking style, fashion, and cultural references make this feel like watching your parents' yearbook come to life

Conversation Starters

"What do you think about how hard these students have to work for their dreams? Does that seem worth it?"
"The movie shows some students getting exploited or making bad choices—what would you do in those situations?"
"How do you think the experience of being a performing arts student has changed since 1980?"
"Which character's storyline resonated with you most, and why?"

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