Honor Society – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Honor Society

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2022

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Ruthlessly ambitious teen schemes to destroy her rivals for Harvard, then—surprise—catches feelings for her biggest competition.

6.5/10

86%

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Honor Society

movie

TV-MA, 2022

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Ruthlessly ambitious teen schemes to destroy her rivals for Harvard, then—surprise—catches feelings for her biggest competition.

6.5

86%

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Screenwise Verdict

Honor Society is a competent teen rom-com that gets points for tackling the genuinely stressful world of hyper-competitive high school culture. The premise—ambitious student plots to eliminate her rivals—is darker than your average Netflix teen fare, but it's played for comedy and the film ultimately lands on 'maybe don't be a sociopath.'

The 86% critic score suggests it's well-made within its genre, but let's be real: this is formulaic stuff. You've seen this movie before with different character names. It's watchable, occasionally clever, and might give you something to talk about regarding college pressure and ethics. But it's not going to blow anyone's mind.

If your teen is stressed about grades and college, this could be a useful conversation starter about keeping perspective. If they're already prone to cutthroat behavior... maybe pick something else.

Age Fit

Best for high schoolers (14+) who can appreciate the satire of cutthroat academic culture and won't take the protagonist's scheming as a how-to guide. The rom-com elements and college admissions focus will resonate most with teens actively in that world.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A teen rom-com centered on a ruthlessly ambitious high schooler who schemes to sabotage her classmates to get into Harvard, then has a change of heart when she falls for one of her targets. The premise is inherently about manipulation and cutthroat behavior, though it ultimately lands on a redemptive arc. The tone is self-aware and comedic rather than genuinely mean-spirited, but it does model some questionable ethics for a good chunk of the runtime. Not toxic, but not exactly wholesome either—more like 'moderately cynical teen comedy that eventually finds its heart.'

Imaginative

This is a fairly paint-by-numbers teen rom-com that hits familiar beats: ambitious protagonist, enemies-to-lovers romance, high school social hierarchy drama. The 'scheming to take down rivals' angle adds a slightly darker twist to the formula, but it doesn't break new ground or invite much creative thinking. It's competent but formulaic—the kind of movie that knows exactly what it is and doesn't try to be more. No real world-building, no curiosity-sparking ideas, just a standard Netflix teen comedy.

Safe

As a teen rom-com, this sits comfortably in PG-13 territory with no major content warnings. No graphic violence, gore, or sexual content beyond typical teen romance fare (kissing, flirting). The main 'safety' concern is thematic—the protagonist actively manipulates and sabotages people for personal gain—but it's played for comedy and the film ultimately condemns this behavior. Some mild language and teen drinking references are likely present but not extreme. No surprise traumatic content. Appropriate for the teen audience it targets.

Enriching

There's a moral arc here about the costs of ruthless ambition and the value of authentic relationships over résumé-padding, which is genuinely relevant for achievement-obsessed teens. The film does engage with real pressures around college admissions and the toxic competitive culture in some high schools. However, it's primarily entertainment—a breezy rom-com that touches on these themes without going deep. The 86% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and 66 Metacritic suggest it's well-executed within its genre, but it's not particularly thought-provoking or skill-building. Decent conversation fodder about ethics and ambition, but not transformative.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Actually addresses the toxic achievement culture and college admissions pressure that many teens genuinely experience
Self-aware about its protagonist's moral failings rather than glorifying them—there's a redemption arc
Strong critical reception (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) suggests it's a well-executed entry in the teen rom-com genre
Could spark genuinely useful conversations about ethics, ambition, and whether the ends justify the means

⚠

What to Watch For

The protagonist spends most of the movie actively manipulating and sabotaging people—even with the eventual comeuppance, it's a lot of scheming to sit through
Likely contains typical teen movie content: mild language, possible drinking references, romance/kissing
The cynical 'do whatever it takes to win' mentality might not be the best model for already-stressed high achievers

Conversation Starters

"Do you think Honor's plan was ever justified, or was she wrong from the start?"
"Have you felt pressure to compete with friends for grades or college stuff? How do you handle that?"
"What would you have done differently if you were in Honor's position?"
"Is it ever okay to bend the rules to get ahead, or does integrity always matter more than winning?"

Deep Dive

The "Harvard or Bust" satire

While the synopsis reads like a standard rom-com, the actual execution is closer to a heist movie where the vault is an Ivy League admissions office. The protagonist isn't your typical "girl next door" looking for love; she’s a Machiavellian senior who views her classmates as obstacles to be cleared. This sharper, slightly cynical edge is what earned it that 86% critic score. It’s less about the "will they, won't they" and more about the "how far will she go?"

If your teen is currently drowning in AP classes and extracurriculars, they’ll recognize the specific brand of desperation on screen. The movie works because it mocks the absurdity of the "perfect" resume while acknowledging how high the stakes feel when you’re seventeen. It’s a solid pick if you want something with more bite than the usual best teen movies to watch on Netflix, even if the third-act pivot into romance feels a bit more conventional than the setup.

The "Honor Society" Google trap

Here is the specific thing you’ll want to know after the credits roll: your kid is going to see ads or emails for real-life "Honor Societies" that look exactly like the ones in the movie. If they start searching for the film, they’ll inevitably hit sites like HonorSociety.org or NSHSS.

As the Reddit threads and reviews suggest, many of these are essentially pay-to-play organizations. They aren't "scams" in the sense that they don't exist, but they are often "money grabs" that charge membership fees for "exclusive" access to scholarships that are usually available elsewhere for free. Use the movie as a bridge to explain that a fancy certificate or a "stole" for graduation isn't a golden ticket to Harvard, no matter what the marketing says.

If your kid liked the "scheming" genre

This movie fits into a very specific niche of high school cinema: the ruthless overachiever. If they enjoyed the fast-talking, fourth-wall-breaking style of movies where the lead is technically the "villain" of their own story for a while, this will land well.

The friction comes from the protagonist’s lack of empathy. She spends a significant portion of the runtime actively trying to ruin the lives of her peers. While there’s a redemption arc, the "hero" is genuinely unlikeable for a long stretch. It’s a great litmus test for your teen’s media literacy: do they realize she’s being a monster, or are they taking notes on her tactics? If they can handle the satire, it’s one of the more rewarding teen comedies from the last few years. If they just want a sweet story about a first crush, this might feel a little too mean-spirited.

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