Greater – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Greater

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2016

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Faith-driven underdog football story that's genuinely inspiring if you can handle the earnestness and the emotional gut-punch.

7.3/10

75%

85%

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Greater

movie

PG, 2016

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Faith-driven underdog football story that's genuinely inspiring if you can handle the earnestness and the emotional gut-punch.

7.3

75%

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Screenwise Verdict

Greater is the kind of movie that splits critics and audiences cleanly down the middle. Critics see a formulaic faith-based sports drama (hence that brutal 35 Metacritic). Audiences see a genuinely moving true story about a kid who had no business making it but did anyway through work ethic and character.

Both are right. This is absolutely a by-the-numbers underdog story, and if you're allergic to earnest Christian themes, you'll find it syrupy. But if you're looking for a clean, family-friendly film that models perseverance and humility—and you can handle the emotional weight of knowing how Brandon's story ends—it delivers.

The main caution: the film deals with the protagonist's death. It's not graphic, but it's sad, and younger or sensitive kids might struggle. Otherwise, it's about as safe as movies get. Just know what you're getting into: this is comfort-food cinema for families who want inspiration without edge.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-16 who are into sports and can handle emotional content about loss. The faith-based angle and earnest tone will resonate more with some families than others. Adults might watch for the inspirational story but it's not must-see cinema.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

True story of Brandon Burlsworth, a walk-on who became an All-American football player through grit and faith. Models perseverance, humility, and family values. Strong positive role models throughout. The film emphasizes hard work over natural talent, and shows healthy family relationships. Some emotional weight around loss, but handled with grace.

Imaginative

Sports biopic follows a fairly conventional narrative arc—underdog works hard, faces setbacks, achieves success. The imaginative element is limited by the true-story format and straightforward storytelling. Doesn't invite creative thinking or exploration beyond the inspirational message. It's competently made but plays it safe with standard sports-movie beats.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 12+. No violence, gore, sexual content, or profanity of note. The main safety consideration is emotional—the film deals with the death of the protagonist, which could be heavy for younger or sensitive viewers. Otherwise extremely clean content appropriate for family viewing. PG rating confirmed by distribution patterns.

Enriching

Solid inspirational sports story that teaches perseverance, dedication, and the value of hard work. Shows how someone without natural advantages can succeed through discipline and faith. Good discussion fodder about goal-setting and overcoming obstacles. The true-story element adds weight. However, it's fairly surface-level in its exploration of these themes—you get the message, but not much depth beyond it.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

True story of Brandon Burlsworth is legitimately inspiring—walk-on to All-American through sheer determination
Strong positive role models who emphasize hard work, humility, and family values without being preachy
Clean content that families can watch together without worrying about surprise inappropriate scenes
Good for sports-loving kids who need to hear that talent isn't everything—effort and character matter more
High audience scores (85% RT, 7.3 IMDb) suggest it connects emotionally despite modest production

⚠

What to Watch For

The protagonist dies—it's handled tastefully but will hit hard for sensitive kids or families dealing with loss
Faith-based film with Christian themes woven throughout; works fine if that's your family's vibe, might feel heavy-handed otherwise
Conventional sports-movie storytelling means it's a bit predictable and slow in spots—not exactly edge-of-your-seat stuff
That 35 Metacritic score isn't wrong—critics found it formulaic even if audiences loved the heart

Conversation Starters

"Brandon didn't have natural talent but became great anyway—what's something you've gotten better at through practice?"
"The movie shows how Brandon's family supported him even when others doubted—who believes in you like that?"
"Brandon stayed humble even after success—why do you think that mattered to him and his teammates?"
"How did you feel about the ending? Sometimes real life doesn't give us the happy ending we expect"

Stills

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John Perritt's football movie picks from his Family Movie Night newsletter (johnperritt.substack.com), from Rudy and Remember the Titans to American Underdog. Several are based on true stories, and a few are for older kids, so check the content first.

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