If you’re scrolling through Disney+ and this pops up, you’re looking at a fascinating relic from the era when Hollywood was desperate to find the "next" Pirates of the Caribbean. It has that specific, over-saturated, 2010 orange-and-blue glow that defined big-budget action for a decade. It’s a movie that tries very hard to be charming, and while it doesn’t quite get there, it’s an interesting case study in how studios used to translate game mechanics to the big screen.
The "Rewind" Gimmick
The best thing about the original games was the ability to undo a lethal fall with a button press. In the movie, the Sands of Time dagger functions as a literal "get out of jail free" card. For a kid, this is actually the coolest part of the film. It creates these brief, visually dense sequences where the action folds in on itself.
If your kid is used to the high-stakes, "everyone can die" energy of the modern fantasy-television landscape, this will feel incredibly low-stakes. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a "safe" kind of tension where you know the hero can just hit the reset button if a jump goes sideways. It’s less about the plot and more about the choreography.
Parkour on a Budget (of Millions)
Before John Wick or the later Mission: Impossible movies set a new bar for stunts, this was Disney’s attempt at "cool" movement. The lead spends a lot of time running up walls and leaping across marketplaces. It’s very "Assassin’s Creed-lite."
If you have a kid who is currently obsessed with parkour videos or games like Roblox obbys, they’ll probably find the movement sequences engaging even if they tune out during the political betrayals and long-winded explanations about ancient gods. The action is "busy" rather than "visceral." You’ll see a lot of spinning swords and slow-motion jumps that feel very much like a product of its time.
The Media Literacy Moment
It’s impossible to ignore the casting. We’re looking at a story set in Persia where almost every major character is played by a white actor with a British accent. In 2010, this was a "wait, really?" moment; in 2026, it looks even more bizarre.
If you’re watching this with an older kid (12+), it’s a perfect, low-effort way to talk about how Hollywood used to "sanitize" stories for global audiences. You don't need to give a lecture—just a quick "Notice anything weird about the cast?" usually does the trick. It’s a clear example of how much the industry has shifted toward wanting at least a shred of authenticity in its world-building.
Is it worth the two hours?
If you’ve already burned through the MCU and the Star Wars back catalog, this is a decent "I need something on in the background while I fold laundry" movie. It’s better than most of the bottom-tier video game adaptations from that decade, but it lacks the soul of the games it’s based on.
If you’re looking for something with more narrative weight or actual stakes, you’re better off checking out our guide to the 2026 fantasy TV glut to find something that feels like it belongs in this decade. Prince of Persia is a popcorn flick that forgot the salt—perfectly edible, but you won't be craving it tomorrow.
