High Flying Bird – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

High Flying Bird

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2019

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Soderbergh's talky, iPhone-shot basketball drama is less slam dunk, more intellectual chess match about labor and power.

6.2/10

91%

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High Flying Bird

movie

TV-MA, 2019

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Soderbergh's talky, iPhone-shot basketball drama is less slam dunk, more intellectual chess match about labor and power.

6.2

91%

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6.2/10

91%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: High Flying Bird is legitimately smart and well-made. Critics loved it, Soderbergh's experimental approach works, and the script really does treat complex ideas with respect. It's enriching in the truest sense.

But that 49% audience score isn't an accident. This is a movie that requires patience, interest in labor economics, and tolerance for long stretches of people talking in offices. Most teens—and honestly most adults—will find it slow and dry. If your kid is the type who reads about business or gets genuinely curious about how industries work, they might love this. If they just like basketball, they'll be checking their phone in 15 minutes.

It's a niche film that does its niche exceptionally well. Just make sure you're in that niche before hitting play.

Age Fit

Best for teens 15+ who are genuinely interested in business, economics, or sports management—not for kids who want basketball action. The sophisticated dialogue and slow pacing will lose younger or less intellectually curious viewers quickly.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Intellectually sophisticated drama about labor, capitalism, and athlete empowerment. Dialogue-heavy and cerebral rather than action-packed. Models strategic thinking and negotiation, though the tone is more cynical business maneuvering than straightforward cooperation. Pacing is deliberate and talky—not chaotic, but also not exactly uplifting family viewing.

Imaginative

Genuinely original take on sports films—ignores the game itself to explore the business machinery behind basketball. Shot entirely on iPhone, creating an intimate, experimental aesthetic. The script (praised as 'outstanding' and 'intellectually sharp') turns labor negotiations into a twisty thriller. Invites viewers to think critically about power structures in professional sports rather than just root for the underdog.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 15+. No graphic violence, gore, or sexual content. The 'unsafe' elements are mature themes: complex labor disputes, capitalism critique, and likely some strong language. This isn't a movie where anything shocking jumps out, but it's dense, adult conversation that younger kids would find boring rather than inappropriate. Safe for teens who can handle sophisticated dialogue.

Enriching

This is the film's strongest suit. Critics call it 'a thrilling dunk on capitalism' and 'emotionally whole, sophisticated.' It's a genuine economics and ethics lesson wrapped in sports drama—exploring labor rights, athlete exploitation, and power dynamics in professional sports. The 91% critic score and 78 Metacritic reflect its intellectual heft. Teens interested in business, social justice, or sports management will find real substance here.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely smart—turns sports into a vehicle for exploring capitalism, labor rights, and athlete exploitation in ways that feel fresh and relevant
Outstanding script with twisty plot that treats viewers like adults who can follow complex negotiations and power plays
Great for teens interested in business, economics, or the machinery behind professional sports rather than just the game itself
Experimental filmmaking (shot entirely on iPhone) that shows what's possible with unconventional approaches

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What to Watch For

This is ALL talk—if your kid wants to see basketball games, they'll be disappointed. It's a boardroom drama that happens to involve basketball players
The 91% critic vs 49% audience split tells you everything: critics loved the intellectual ambition, regular viewers found it slow and talky
Mature themes about business and power dynamics, likely some strong language—Common Sense says 15+
Not a feel-good sports movie—it's cynical about the industry and doesn't offer easy answers

Conversation Starters

"Do you think professional athletes are treated fairly by team owners? Who has more power in that relationship?"
"The movie talks about athletes as 'products'—what do you think about that? Is it different from other jobs?"
"If you were a rookie player, would you take the deal Ray offers? What would be the risks?"
"How do you think filming on an iPhone instead of professional cameras changes how the movie feels?"

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