Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2019

65%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

2019's Nancy Drew reboot is perfectly safe and perfectly forgettable—like eating cardboard that's been shaped into a mystery novel.

5.7/10

76%

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Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

movie

PG, 2019

65%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

2019's Nancy Drew reboot is perfectly safe and perfectly forgettable—like eating cardboard that's been shaped into a mystery novel.

5.7

76%

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5.7/10

76%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this movie isn't going to hurt anyone. It's got a smart female lead, promotes friendship and problem-solving, and has zero content concerns. Your 9-year-old will probably enjoy it fine.

But let's be real: those audience scores (59% RT, 5.7 IMDb, 2.6/5 Letterboxd) are screaming "this is boring." Critics were kinder than actual viewers, which usually means it checks boxes without delivering entertainment. It's a 2019 movie that already feels dated because it plays everything so safe that there's no personality.

If your kid loves Nancy Drew books or is just getting into mysteries, sure, throw it on. But if you're looking for actually engaging family mystery content, you've got better options—Enola Holmes has more spark, even the old Spy Kids movies have more energy. This is the movie equivalent of plain oatmeal: nutritious enough, but nobody's asking for seconds.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-11 who are just getting into mysteries and want something completely safe. Older kids will roll their eyes at how sanitized it feels—there are better teen detective options out there.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Features a positive teen protagonist solving mysteries through cooperation and friendship. Models problem-solving and community engagement. The 'outsider fitting in' theme is handled with kindness. Common Sense Media's age 10 rating suggests appropriate emotional content. No reported toxic behavior or mean-spirited elements.

Imaginative

Mystery-solving premise invites curiosity and deductive reasoning. The hidden staircase concept offers some intrigue. However, this is a fairly standard teen mystery adaptation without particularly innovative storytelling—mixed reviews (59% RT audience, 5.7 IMDb, 2.6/5 Letterboxd) suggest it doesn't break new ground or inspire much creative thinking beyond basic mystery tropes.

Safe

Comedy-crime-drama genre suggests mild peril at most. Common Sense Media age 10 rating indicates no serious content concerns. No reported violence, gore, sexual content, or frightening elements that would surprise viewers. Standard mystery movie tension without traumatic content. Docked slightly for lack of specific MPAA rating data, but all signals point to family-friendly content.

Enriching

Promotes problem-solving, friendship, and community integration. Features a capable female lead in STEM-adjacent detective work. However, mediocre critical reception (55 Metacritic, 2.6 Letterboxd) suggests the execution is forgettable and doesn't deliver particularly meaningful insights. Entertainment value appears middling based on audience scores—it's not boring enough to skip, but not engaging enough to leave lasting impact.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Features a smart, capable teen girl solving problems through logic and teamwork—solid role model material
Addresses the 'new kid' experience and finding your place in a community, which resonates with middle schoolers
Zero content concerns: no violence, no scary stuff, no inappropriate material—you can leave the room without worry
Mystery-solving premise encourages critical thinking and paying attention to details

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What to Watch For

The gap between critic scores (76%) and audience scores (59%, 5.7 IMDb) tells you everything—adults think it's fine, kids find it meh
It's not bad, it's just... there. Like a store-brand cracker. Functional but unmemorable
Younger kids (8-10) might enjoy it more; tweens and teens will likely find it too sanitized and predictable

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you moved somewhere new and felt like an outsider? How did Nancy handle it?"
"If you could solve any mystery in our neighborhood or school, what would it be?"
"Nancy uses observation and logic to solve problems. When have you had to be a detective in real life?"

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