Roommates – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Roommates

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1994

38%

WISE Score

An obscure 1994 AIDS-crisis drama that's more historical artifact than watchable movie—well-intentioned but deeply dated.

Roommates

movie

NR, 1994

38%

WISE Score

An obscure 1994 AIDS-crisis drama that's more historical artifact than watchable movie—well-intentioned but deeply dated.

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this is an obscure 30-year-old TV movie that almost no one is looking for in 2025.

The premise has heart—two guys from different worlds learning to see each other's humanity during the AIDS crisis. That's important subject matter. But a 6.8 IMDb rating and zero critical buzz suggest this is a clunky, dated execution of a worthy idea.

The 1990s were full of well-meaning but awkward attempts to humanize gay men and AIDS patients, often relying on the 'straight guy learns tolerance' trope that feels patronizing now. Without seeing it, I'd bet money this falls into that category.

If you want to explore this era with your teens, watch Philadelphia or How to Survive a Plague instead. This one's for completists and film history buffs only.

Age Fit

This is really for adults only—mature teens at the youngest (16+) who are studying LGBTQ+ history or the AIDS crisis. The subject matter is heavy, the execution is dated, and frankly, there are much better films about this era.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models friendship across differences and humanizes AIDS patients during a critical historical period. The premise centers on empathy and understanding, though the 'macho straight' setup relies on outdated stereotypes. Likely emotionally heavy given the AIDS crisis context.

Imaginative

A straightforward buddy drama with a social message. No evidence of creative storytelling, visual innovation, or imaginative world-building. The premise is grounded in serious real-world issues rather than inviting curiosity or creative exploration.

Safe

Deals with AIDS, terminal illness, and likely death—heavy trigger content. The halfway house setting and health crisis subject matter make this emotionally intense and potentially traumatic. Not appropriate for younger viewers who might stumble upon it. No content rating available to confirm specific concerns.

Enriching

Tackles important themes of prejudice, compassion, and the AIDS crisis with what appears to be good intentions. Could build empathy and historical understanding. However, the 6.8 IMDb rating suggests execution may be mediocre, and 1994 treatment of gay characters was often problematic by today's standards.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Addresses the AIDS crisis with apparent compassion during a time when stigma was rampant
Could spark conversations about prejudice, empathy, and LGBTQ+ history
The friendship-across-differences arc has potential emotional resonance
Available on multiple free streaming platforms if you're curious

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What to Watch For

Heavy subject matter: terminal illness, death, and the AIDS crisis
1994 portrayals of gay characters often haven't aged well—expect stereotypes
Emotionally intense and potentially triggering content throughout
Honestly? This is probably just hard to watch—old, obscure, and middling reviews suggest it's not particularly good

Conversation Starters

"What did you know about the AIDS crisis before watching this?"
"How do you think attitudes toward people with AIDS have changed since the 1990s?"
"What made it hard for these two characters to become friends at first?"
"How can we show compassion to people who are different from us or facing serious illness?"

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