Men in Black: International – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Men in Black: International

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2019

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A lifeless reboot that proves even Chris Hemsworth's charm can't save a script this uninspired.

23%

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Men in Black: International

movie

PG-13, 2019

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A lifeless reboot that proves even Chris Hemsworth's charm can't save a script this uninspired.

23%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be honest: this movie is a dud. With a 23% critic score and a 2.2/5 on Letterboxd, even generous audiences couldn't muster enthusiasm for this lifeless franchise cash-grab.

It's safe, sure—no traumatic content, no inappropriate material, perfectly sanitized PG-13 action. But it's also aggressively mediocre. The original Men in Black had wit, style, and genuine creativity. This? It's a paint-by-numbers retread that wastes its charismatic leads on a script that feels like it was generated by an algorithm.

If your 11-year-old is bored on a rainy Sunday and this is already on Peacock, fine. But there are dozens of better sci-fi action options that are both safe AND actually entertaining. This isn't offensively bad—it's just forgettably bad, which might be worse.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-14 who are into sci-fi action and don't have high standards yet. Adults will find it painfully dull, and younger kids won't follow the plot (not that there's much to follow).

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film features teamwork and partnership between agents, with some positive themes about proving oneself and trust. However, it's a fairly generic action movie without deep character development or meaningful emotional beats. Pacing is standard summer blockbuster fare—not chaotic, but not particularly thoughtful either. The tone is light and quippy but ultimately forgettable.

Imaginative

While the Men in Black franchise premise—aliens living among us—has inherent creativity, this installment brings little new to the table. It's a formulaic retread of the original films with exotic locations but no fresh ideas. The alien designs are competent but unremarkable. There's minimal invitation to wonder or explore beyond surface-level spectacle. Critics overwhelmingly called it derivative and uninspired (23% RT critic score).

Safe

This is standard PG-13 action fare—sci-fi violence with aliens being vaporized, some weapons, but no gore, no sexual content, and no truly frightening moments. Common Sense Media rates it 12+, which aligns with typical MiB content. There are no surprise traumatic elements or inappropriate content that would catch parents off guard. It's predictable and sanitized for broad audiences.

Enriching

This movie offers virtually nothing in terms of growth, insight, or meaningful takeaways. It's pure popcorn entertainment, but even as entertainment it falls flat—critics panned it and audiences were lukewarm (5.6 IMDb, 2.2/5 Letterboxd). There's minimal character development, no ethical complexity, and no real skill-building or empathy development. It's a forgettable cash-grab sequel that doesn't even succeed at being fun.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Safe, predictable action that won't traumatize anyone—it's basically cinematic wallpaper
Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson have decent chemistry, even if the script gives them nothing to work with
Exotic international locations provide some visual variety if you're really desperate for travelogue vibes
Short enough (under 2 hours) that the boredom won't last forever

⚠

What to Watch For

Sci-fi action violence—aliens getting zapped, weapons, chase scenes (all bloodless and sanitized)
Your kid will probably be bored unless they're really into the franchise or just want background noise
Minimal substance or takeaways—this is pure empty calories cinema

Conversation Starters

"What did you think of the alien designs? Which ones were your favorite?"
"If you could be a secret agent protecting Earth, what would your special gadget be?"
"How did this compare to other action movies you've seen? What made it better or worse?"

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