Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

68%

WISE Score

Behind-the-scenes with gaming's auteur—fascinating if you know who Kojima is, bewildering if you don't.

Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds

movie

R, 2023

68%

WISE Score

Behind-the-scenes with gaming's auteur—fascinating if you know who Kojima is, bewildering if you don't.

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a love letter to Hideo Kojima. If your teen is deep into gaming culture, knows who this guy is, and has expressed interest in game design or creative careers, this could be genuinely inspiring—showing the messy, collaborative reality of making art.

But let's be real: the 6.6 IMDb and 3.3 Letterboxd ratings tell the story. Even people who wanted to love this found it a bit... much. It's reverential to the point of being slow, and unless you're already invested in Kojima's work, you're watching a documentary about a guy you've never heard of making games you've never played.

For the right kid (17+, gaming-obsessed, creative-minded), it's a solid watch. For everyone else? You'll be checking your phone within 20 minutes. This isn't a mass-appeal doc like Free Solo or Jiro Dreams of Sushi—it's for the converted.

Age Fit

This is squarely for older teens (17+) and adults who already have interest in gaming culture, creative process, or Kojima specifically. Younger viewers will find it slow and impenetrable; even many teens will bounce off unless they're aspiring game designers or film buffs.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Documentary format presents a respectful, earnest look at creative process without cynicism. Focuses on professional collaboration, artistic integrity, and perseverance through career challenges. Tone is contemplative and mature rather than chaotic. However, it's a niche subject that won't resonate emotionally with younger viewers who don't know gaming history.

Imaginative

Deeply explores creative process of one of gaming's most innovative minds. Features discussions with visionary artists (del Toro, Refn, George Miller) about imagination, world-building, and pushing artistic boundaries. The documentary itself is described as 'visually captivating,' suggesting creative presentation. Shows the journey of launching an independent studio, modeling entrepreneurial creativity.

Safe

Documentary format means no surprise violence, gore, or inappropriate content. Common Sense Media rates it 17+, likely due to mature themes and discussion of M-rated games rather than explicit content in the doc itself. No toxic behavior, manipulation, or concerning elements. Some of Kojima's games (Metal Gear, Death Stranding) deal with heavy themes that may be referenced but not graphically shown.

Enriching

Offers genuine insight into creative process, entrepreneurship, artistic vision, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Shows resilience through career transitions and independence. However, enrichment is heavily gated by interest in gaming/creative industries—it's not universally accessible. IMDb 6.6 and Letterboxd 3.3/5 suggest it's informative but perhaps not deeply compelling even for its target audience.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Rare deep-dive into creative process from one of gaming's most influential designers
Features A-list creative collaborators (Guillermo del Toro, George Miller, Norman Reedus) discussing art and innovation
Models entrepreneurship and artistic independence—launching your own studio after decades at a major company
Visually engaging presentation that treats video games as legitimate art form
Could inspire teens interested in game design, filmmaking, or creative careers

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What to Watch For

Extremely niche—if your kid doesn't know Metal Gear Solid or Death Stranding, this will feel like watching someone else's home movies
Rated 17+ likely because Kojima's games deal with war, existentialism, and heavy themes (though the doc itself isn't graphic)
Documentary pacing means lots of talking heads and contemplative moments—not exactly riveting for casual viewers
Modest ratings (6.6 IMDb, 3.3 Letterboxd) suggest even fans found it a bit dry or overly worshipful

Conversation Starters

"What makes someone's work 'art' versus just entertainment? Where's the line?"
"Kojima left a huge company to start his own studio—what would make you take that kind of risk?"
"The doc shows how he collaborates with filmmakers and musicians. How does working across different creative fields make things better?"
"If you could design a video game, what would it be about? What feeling would you want players to have?"

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