Moonrise Kingdom – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Moonrise Kingdom

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2012

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Wes Anderson's precious diorama about 12-year-old runaways—visually stunning, emotionally complex, and definitely not for younger kids.

7.8/10

93%

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Moonrise Kingdom

movie

PG-13, 2012

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Wes Anderson's precious diorama about 12-year-old runaways—visually stunning, emotionally complex, and definitely not for younger kids.

7.8

93%

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7.8/10

93%

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Screenwise Verdict

Moonrise Kingdom is genuinely beautiful and emotionally intelligent—but it's also genuinely not for kids under 13, despite having 12-year-old protagonists. The content (partial nudity, violence, mature themes) combined with Wes Anderson's acquired-taste style makes this a tough sell for family movie night.

If you have a mature teen who loves quirky indie films or feels like an outsider, this could be meaningful and even formative. The message about finding your person and being unapologetically yourself is lovely. But if your kid expects action, conventional pacing, or isn't ready for complex relationship stuff, they'll check out in the first 10 minutes.

The critical acclaim is deserved—this is artful filmmaking. But 'artful' doesn't always mean 'watchable for families.' Know your kid, know your tolerance for awkward conversations about what 'second base' means, and proceed accordingly.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13-17 who can handle mature themes and appreciate unconventional storytelling. Younger kids will likely be bored by the pacing, and the content is genuinely too mature. Older teens might find it a bit precious but could appreciate the craft.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Wes Anderson's signature whimsical style creates a gentle, quirky tone around first love. The film models loyalty, courage, and authenticity as two misfit 12-year-olds support each other. However, the relationship includes some mature elements (kissing, underwear scenes, discussion of 'going to second base') that push boundaries for the characters' age. The adult characters show mixed modeling—some kindness, but also dysfunction and emotional distance. Pacing is deliberately slow and stylized, which works artistically but may feel odd to kids expecting conventional storytelling.

Imaginative

Anderson's meticulous visual world-building is incredibly distinctive—every frame is composed like a diorama. The film celebrates outsider creativity: Sam's wilderness survival skills, Suzy's fantasy books, their handmade maps and secret codes. The 1960s New England island setting feels like a storybook come to life. It invites kids to see adventure in ordinary landscapes and validates being different. The deliberate artificiality and symmetry might initially seem strange but opens up conversations about artistic choices and visual storytelling.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this 14+, and that's fair. The film includes: a scene where the young protagonists kiss in underwear on a beach (she's topless but filmed carefully), discussion of 'French kissing' and 'going to second base,' a violent scissors-stabbing incident during a child fight, a dog getting killed with an arrow, smoking and drinking by adults, mild profanity, and a suicidal character subplot. None of this is gratuitous—it's all handled with Anderson's detached, stylized approach—but it's definitely not content you'd want a young child stumbling upon unexpectedly. The violence in particular (scissors through cheek, arrow through dog) is shocking even if not gory.

Enriching

This is a genuinely thoughtful film about identity, belonging, and what it means to find your person. It validates kids who feel like outsiders and shows that being weird can be wonderful. The 1960s setting offers period detail without being preachy. It explores themes of family dysfunction, institutional care, and finding home in relationships rather than places. The classical music score (Benjamin Britten) and literary references (fantasy books as escape) add cultural depth. For teens ready for it, there's real emotional intelligence here about loneliness, loyalty, and self-determination. However, the slow pacing and quirky style mean entertainment value varies widely—some will find it boring, others will be enchanted.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Celebrates being weird and finding your people—perfect for kids who feel like outsiders
Visually stunning in that signature Wes Anderson way; every frame is a work of art that might inspire budding filmmakers or artists
Explores first love and loyalty with emotional honesty, showing that kids' feelings are real and valid
Classical music score and literary references offer cultural enrichment without being stuffy
Shows adults as flawed humans, which older kids often find refreshing and relatable

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What to Watch For

The beach scene with the young protagonists in underwear (she's briefly topless) and discussion of 'second base'—it's not exploitative but it's definitely awkward to watch with your kid
Violent moments that are shocking even if stylized: scissors stabbed through a boy's cheek, a dog shot with an arrow and killed
Themes of suicide, parental abandonment, and institutional care that require maturity to process
The pacing is SLOW and the style is WEIRD—this will bore many kids who expect conventional storytelling, so know your audience

Conversation Starters

"What did you think about how the movie looked? Why do you think the director made everything so symmetrical and colorful?"
"Sam and Suzy both felt like they didn't fit in. Have you ever felt that way? What helps when you do?"
"The adults in this movie aren't perfect parents or authority figures. What did you notice about how they handled things?"
"If you were going to run away to create your own perfect place, what would you bring and where would you go?"

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