Mockingjay Part 1 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Mockingjay Part 1

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2014

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The brooding, talky middle chapter where Katniss becomes a propaganda tool—heavy on war trauma, light on actual games.

6.6/10

70%

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Mockingjay Part 1

movie

PG-13, 2014

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The brooding, talky middle chapter where Katniss becomes a propaganda tool—heavy on war trauma, light on actual games.

6.6

70%

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6.6/10

70%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is the movie where the Hunger Games franchise gets serious—maybe too serious. Gone are the arena battles and survival tactics; instead, we get Katniss filming propaganda videos in a bunker while grappling with PTSD. It's thoughtful and raises genuinely interesting questions about media manipulation and the cost of revolution, but let's be real: it's slow, heavy, and incomplete.

The 6.6 IMDb rating tells the story—this is the least-loved entry in the series, and for good reason. It's half a movie that feels like two hours of setup. For teens who are ready to engage with mature political themes and can handle sustained emotional darkness, there's value here. But if your kid loved the action and survival elements of the first two films, prepare for disappointment.

It's not unwatchable, but it's definitely a homework assignment disguised as entertainment. Watch it if you're committed to the series, but don't expect anyone to be excited about it.

Age Fit

Best for mature 13+ teens who can handle dark themes of war, trauma, and political manipulation. The slow pacing and heavy emotional content make it a tough watch for younger viewers, even if they loved the earlier films. Not recommended under 13.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a melancholy, heavy film that centers on trauma, propaganda, and war. Katniss is explicitly portrayed as unhappy and traumatized throughout. While it models courage and sacrifice, the emotional tone is dark and oppressive—there's little lightness or hope until the very end. The pacing is slow and brooding, making it a slog for many viewers. Not emotionally damaging, but far from uplifting.

Imaginative

The dystopian world-building remains strong, with District 13's underground society and the propaganda war offering interesting sci-fi elements. However, this is the 'talking heads' installment—most of the action and arena creativity from earlier films is gone, replaced by speeches and strategy sessions. It's more cerebral than inventive, and the split into two parts means this half feels incomplete and setup-heavy.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 13+, with strong parental guidance recommended for 13-15 year-olds. Violence is present but less graphic than previous films—mostly aftermath scenes, bombing sequences, and disturbing images of war casualties. IMDb parents rate violence as 'moderate' with no profanity concerns. The real safety issue is the heavy psychological content: PTSD, manipulation, and sustained emotional distress. No sex, nudity, or language issues, but the trauma themes are intense and could be triggering.

Enriching

This is where Mockingjay Part 1 earns its keep. It's a sophisticated exploration of propaganda, media manipulation, political resistance, and the costs of war. Katniss grapples with being used as a symbol while dealing with real trauma. The film raises genuine questions about leadership, sacrifice, and how revolutions are marketed. For teens ready to engage with these themes, it's thought-provoking. But entertainment value suffers—it's slow and heavy.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Sophisticated exploration of propaganda, media manipulation, and how revolutions are sold to the masses
Strong performance from Jennifer Lawrence as a traumatized, reluctant symbol of rebellion
Raises real questions about the cost of war, political leadership, and being used by those in power
Darker, more mature themes that challenge teens to think critically about power structures
World-building of District 13 and the underground resistance adds depth to the Hunger Games universe

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What to Watch For

This is a heavy, slow film—Katniss is explicitly traumatized and unhappy throughout, with sustained focus on PTSD and psychological distress
Violence is mostly aftermath and bombing sequences, but disturbing images of war casualties and destruction are present
It's literally half a movie—ends on a cliffhanger and requires Part 2 to feel complete
The pacing drags; many kids (and adults) find it boring compared to the action-heavy earlier films

Conversation Starters

"How do you think Katniss feels about being turned into 'the Mockingjay' symbol? Would you want that responsibility?"
"The movie shows both sides using propaganda. How can you tell when leaders are manipulating people versus being honest?"
"Katniss is clearly dealing with trauma from the games. What do you think would help someone recover from something like that?"
"President Coin seems like she's on the good side, but do you trust her? Why or why not?"
"If you had to choose between being a symbol for a cause or staying out of it to protect yourself, what would you do?"

Deep Dive

The "Girl on Fire" is now the Girl in a Bunker

If your teen is circling back to this series because of the recent 2026 prequel news or the latest TikTok revival, they’re going to hit a wall with Mockingjay Part 1. The first two films were built on the "ticking clock" tension of the arena. This one is built on the boredom and claustrophobia of an underground military base.

It’s a jarring pivot. Instead of survival skills, we’re watching Jennifer Lawrence navigate a career as a state-sponsored influencer. The movie isn't interested in action; it’s interested in the optics of action. If your kid is binging the series, this is the chapter where they’ll likely start reaching for their phone. That 6.6 IMDb score isn't a fluke—it reflects a massive audience that felt bait-and-switched by a franchise that suddenly traded its bow and arrow for a teleprompter.

A masterclass in "Fake News"

While the pacing is a slog, the movie is surprisingly prescient about how media is used to manufacture consent. We see the "good guys" in District 13 stage-managing Katniss, trying to find the right lighting and the right script to make her look like a hero. It’s a cynical, smart look at how movements are sold to the public.

If you’re looking for a way to talk about media literacy, this is actually the strongest entry in the series for that. It moves the conversation beyond "who is going to win?" to "who is actually in control of the story?" For a deeper look at how these political layers play out across the whole series, our Parent’s Guide to the Hunger Games Franchise breaks down the shift from survival to revolution.

The "Part 1" friction

The biggest issue here is that this isn't a movie; it's a prologue. In 2014, the trend was to split final books into two films to double the box office, and Mockingjay suffers for it. There is no traditional three-act structure. It starts in the middle and ends right as things get interesting.

If you’re watching this at home, my best advice is to treat it as the first half of a four-hour epic. Don’t try to watch it as a standalone Friday night movie—you’ll end the night feeling unsatisfied. It’s better to pair it with Part 2 immediately or just acknowledge that this is the "required reading" portion of the marathon.

Is it too dark?

The violence here is different. It’s not kids-fighting-kids anymore; it’s the aftermath of total war. We see bombed-out hospitals and mass graves. It’s grim, and Katniss spends almost the entire runtime in a state of visible, vibrating trauma.

If you’re on the fence about whether your kid is ready for the jump in maturity from the first film, check out our Hunger Games Age Rating Guide. The PG-13 rating is doing a lot of work here, covering everything from psychological torture to the sight of skeletal remains. It’s a heavy lift for a 13-year-old who just wanted to see more cool archery.

Ultimately, this is the "homework" movie of the series. It’s necessary for the legacy of Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss, but it’s the one you endure rather than the one you enjoy.

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