Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Watch

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Screenwise Verdict

Mortal Engines is one of those movies that looks amazing in the trailer and then... just doesn't deliver. The concept of predator cities is genuinely cool, and if your kid is into steampunk or post-apocalyptic worlds, the visual spectacle might hold their attention for a bit. But this is a two-hour slog that even adults found hard to care about.

The film flopped hard—it lost the studio over $100 million—and there's a reason. The characters are thin, the plot is predictable YA fare, and despite all the money thrown at CGI, it never makes you feel anything. For a movie about survival and revolution, it's surprisingly lifeless.

From a WISE perspective, it's got imaginative bones but not much else. The violence is probably PG-13 standard (we're missing official ratings here, which is annoying), but the bigger issue is that most kids just won't finish it. If you're looking for thoughtful sci-fi that explores resource scarcity and class divides, there are better options. If you want spectacle, watch Mad Max: Fury Road instead—at least that one's actually good.

Bottom line: Unless your teen is a completist for YA dystopian adaptations or really loves the books, you can skip this one without FOMO.

Age Fit

Best for teens 13+ who can handle intense action and won't mind a slow, derivative plot. Younger kids will be bored or overwhelmed; older teens might roll their eyes at the YA tropes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

55

Post-apocalyptic setting with cities literally devouring each other sets a dark, survival-of-the-fittest tone. While there's likely heroism and cooperation between the protagonists, the underlying world is brutal and resource-scarce. Pacing in action-heavy sci-fi can be frenetic. Limited data on emotional tone, but the premise itself isn't particularly warm or modeling kindness at a systemic level.

Imaginative

78

The concept of massive mobile cities on wheels hunting each other is genuinely creative and visually striking. Based on Philip Reeve's novels, it presents a unique steampunk-meets-dystopian future that invites curiosity about world-building and speculative technology. The wastelands and traction cities offer rich imaginative terrain, even if the execution in the film was criticized.

Safe

58

Action/adventure sci-fi with cities devouring each other likely includes significant violence, peril, and potentially some deaths. Without confirmed content ratings (MPAA missing), but given the PG-13 typical range for this genre and production scale, expect intense sequences, possible weapon use, and destruction. Not gory horror, but definitely not a surprise-free experience. The mysterious young woman and Tom's encounter suggests potential romantic elements but likely mild.

Enriching

48

While the film explores themes of resource scarcity, survival, and potentially class divides (mobile cities vs. wastelands), it was critically panned and commercially flopped. TMDB rating of 6.2 suggests mediocre audience reception. The spectacle may entertain but likely doesn't deliver meaningful character development or ethical depth. As a derivative YA adaptation that failed to connect, it's more visual noise than substance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely wild premise—mobile cities on wheels hunting each other is peak imaginative steampunk weirdness
Big-budget visual effects showcase creative world-building and production design
Could spark conversations about resource scarcity and environmental collapse in an accessible sci-fi wrapper
Based on beloved Philip Reeve novels, so the source material has depth even if the film doesn't capture it

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What to Watch For

Expect significant action violence, destruction, and peril—cities literally consume each other
The film bombed critically and commercially for a reason; it's long (128 min) and may lose kids' interest quickly
Post-apocalyptic settings can be emotionally heavy, with themes of survival and scarcity
Without clear content ratings provided, harder to gauge specific intensity—assume PG-13 territory

Conversation Starters

"If cities had to move to survive, what would that say about how we've treated the planet?"
"The movie shows a world where bigger cities eat smaller ones—does that remind you of anything in our real world?"
"Tom's whole life changes when he meets someone from outside his city—when have you learned something surprising from someone different from you?"
"What do you think would be the hardest part about living on a moving city?"

Stills