Hidden Strike – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Hidden Strike

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jackie Chan and John Cena team up in a paint-by-numbers action flick that critics agree is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

25%

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Hidden Strike

movie

PG-13, 2023

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jackie Chan and John Cena team up in a paint-by-numbers action flick that critics agree is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

25%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, sometimes you just want to watch things blow up. We get it. But even by that low bar, Hidden Strike apparently misses the mark.

This is a 2023 Netflix action movie starring Jackie Chan and John Cena that got absolutely demolished by critics (25% on Rotten Tomatoes, 2.2/5 on Letterboxd). That's not just 'critics being snobby'—those are 'this is genuinely not good' numbers. Even audiences were lukewarm at 54%.

The violence is sustained enough to warrant a 14+ rating, so this isn't family movie night material for younger kids. And for teens who ARE old enough? There are dozens of better action movies on Netflix that deliver actual entertainment value.

Unless you're a hardcore Jackie Chan completist or your teen specifically asks for it, this one's a skip. Life's too short for mediocre action movies when Mad Max: Fury Road exists.

Age Fit

Best for teens 14+ who are specifically fans of the lead actors or who just want mindless action. Even then, the poor reviews suggest there are much better options in the genre. Adults won't find much here either unless they're completists.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Action movie built around gunfire and explosions with a protective/escort mission premise that at least frames violence within a rescue context. However, the constant combat and typical action movie machismo don't model much in the way of cooperation or emotional health beyond basic 'protect civilians' heroics. Pacing is likely chaotic given the genre.

Imaginative

Generic action premise with no notable creative elements. The 'escort civilians through danger' plot is well-worn territory. Critically panned (25% RT critics, 2.2/5 Letterboxd) suggests formulaic execution with little originality. No awards recognition. Doesn't invite creative thinking or exploration—just watch explosions happen.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 14+, suggesting moderate action violence but nothing gratuitous. As a Netflix action movie, likely has gunfire and explosions as advertised but probably avoids gore, sex, or truly shocking content. However, the violence is the entire premise, so younger viewers would definitely encounter sustained combat sequences. Not 'safe' for young kids but relatively predictable for the genre.

Enriching

Poor critical reception (25% critics, 5.4 IMDb) suggests minimal substance beyond surface-level action. No meaningful themes, character development, or takeaways evident. Pure popcorn entertainment at best, but the low ratings indicate it doesn't even deliver compelling entertainment. No skill-building, empathy development, or insight—just a forgettable action vehicle.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your teen is a die-hard Jackie Chan or John Cena fan, they'll at least get to see their favorites on screen
Straightforward good-guys-protect-innocents premise means clear moral lines
Mindless background viewing that requires zero brain cells—perfect for folding laundry while the kids zone out

⚠

What to Watch For

Constant gunfire and explosions throughout—this is wall-to-wall combat
The 14+ age rating is there for a reason: sustained action violence
Critics savaged this one (25% on Rotten Tomatoes), so even as 'turn your brain off' entertainment, it apparently fails to deliver
Zero educational or emotional value—this is pure (unsuccessful) spectacle

Conversation Starters

"What do you think makes someone a hero? Is it just fighting bad guys or something more?"
"The movie shows soldiers protecting civilians—why do you think that's their job?"
"Did the action scenes seem realistic to you, or more like a video game?"

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