Mixtape – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Mixtape

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

68%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

An orphaned tween hunts down songs from her late parents' mixtape in this earnest, Y2K-era family dramedy about grief and cassette tapes.

100%

7.0

→

Mixtape

movie

2021

68%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

An orphaned tween hunts down songs from her late parents' mixtape in this earnest, Y2K-era family dramedy about grief and cassette tapes.

100%

7.0

Jump to

Also rated on

100%

7.0

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Mixtape is a perfectly fine Netflix family movie—earnest, gentle, and emotionally literate about grief. It's not going to blow anyone's mind (those middling audience scores tell the story), but it handles heavy topics with care and gives tweens a protagonist processing real loss.

The catch: it's about dead parents and sad grandmas, so you need a kid who's emotionally ready for that. And the whole Y2K/cassette tape thing is going to feel like ancient history to modern kids, which might be charming or just confusing depending on your family's tolerance for retro vibes.

Bottom line: if you're looking for a thoughtful, low-key movie about family and memory that won't traumatize anyone but also won't become anyone's favorite, this fits the bill. Just maybe not on a night when you need something light and silly.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-13 who can handle themes of parental death and appreciate a slower, emotionally-driven story. Younger kids might get bored or confused by the Y2K nostalgia; older teens will find it too juvenile.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Centers on a 12-year-old processing grief and family loss through music and connection. The grandmother-granddaughter relationship models intergenerational care, though the emotional weight of orphanhood and a grandmother struggling to talk about her late daughter adds complexity. Tone is gentle and family-focused per genre tags, with positive themes of remembering loved ones and finding identity.

Imaginative

The Y2K setting and mixtape-as-treasure-hunt premise offer nostalgic creativity, but the concept isn't particularly original—it's a heartwarming quest narrative rather than boundary-pushing storytelling. Music as a portal to understanding parents is sweet but well-trodden territory. Limited information suggests straightforward execution without major creative risks.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 10+, suggesting age-appropriate content for tweens. The core subject matter—dead parents, grief, a grandmother avoiding painful conversations—is emotionally heavy but handled within a family comedy framework. No indicators of violence, scary content, or inappropriate material, though the orphan backstory and themes of loss could be unexpectedly sad for younger or sensitive viewers. 100% RT critic score suggests thoughtful handling.

Enriching

Explores grief, family history, and identity formation through a tween lens. The mixtape device encourages curiosity about parents' lives and generational connection through music. Offers opportunities for discussing loss, memory, and how we learn about people who aren't here anymore. However, it's a modest Netflix family film without major cultural impact or deep thematic complexity—solid emotional lessons but not transformative.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

100% on Rotten Tomatoes suggests critics found it genuinely touching and well-crafted for the family genre
Centers a tween girl navigating complex emotions—grief, curiosity, identity—in an age-appropriate way
Music-driven storytelling can spark conversations about how songs connect us across time and generations
The grandmother-granddaughter dynamic offers a less-common family structure in kids' media
Y2K nostalgia might be fun for parents who remember the era (and confusing-funny for kids who don't)

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire premise is that Beverly's parents are dead—this isn't a surprise twist, but it's heavy and central to the story
Kids who've experienced loss or family instability might find it cathartic OR triggering, depending on where they are emotionally
The Y2K setting and mixtape concept may feel weirdly retro to kids under 10—like, 'What's a cassette tape, and why does the year 2000 matter?'
It's a Netflix original with modest ratings (6.6 IMDb, 3.1 Letterboxd)—this is sweet but not groundbreaking cinema

Conversation Starters

"If you could make a mixtape (or playlist) to tell someone about yourself, what songs would you pick?"
"Beverly's grandma has a hard time talking about her daughter. Why do you think it's so hard for grown-ups to talk about people they've lost?"
"What do you think it would be like to learn about your parents mostly through music and stories instead of knowing them yourself?"
"The movie is set right before Y2K—do you know what people were worried about back then? (Spoiler: computers were going to explode or something)"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic