Safe – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Safe

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2012

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jason Statham punches his way through a forgettable mob thriller—strictly for adults who need background noise while folding laundry.

59%

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Safe

movie

R, 2012

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jason Statham punches his way through a forgettable mob thriller—strictly for adults who need background noise while folding laundry.

59%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Safe is fine if you're an adult scrolling through Hulu at 10 PM and you want to watch Jason Statham do his thing without thinking too hard. It's competent, forgettable, and entirely by-the-numbers.

But for families? Absolutely not. Common Sense Media pegs this at 17+ for good reason—it's violent, intense, and features a kidnapped 12-year-old caught in mob crossfire. The 'wholesome' score is in the basement, and there's nothing imaginative or enriching here to justify the mature content.

Even for adults, the middling reviews (59% critics and audience on RT, 2.9/5 on Letterboxd) tell the real story: this is a B-grade action flick that won't stick with you past the credits. If you're a Statham completist, go for it. Otherwise, there are better ways to spend 90 minutes.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults (17+). The violence is relentless, the themes are mature, and a child is in peril throughout. If you're looking for family-friendly action, this ain't it—try a Marvel movie instead.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a hard-R action thriller with relentless violence, corrupt authority figures, and organized crime as the central framework. A 12-year-old girl is kidnapped and caught in crossfire between Triads, Russian mafia, and dirty cops—not exactly modeling kindness or cooperation. The tone is gritty, cynical, and brutal. Jason Statham does his typical lone-wolf vigilante thing, which is fine for adults but offers zero emotional health or age-appropriate modeling for kids.

Imaginative

It's a formulaic action-thriller: ex-agent, kidnapped kid, three-way mob standoff, corrupt NYC officials. The plot is serviceable but entirely paint-by-numbers—Statham has done this exact movie half a dozen times. No creative spark, no world-building, no invitation to think differently. Letterboxd's 2.9/5 and middling critic scores (59% RT, 55 Metacritic) reflect that it's competent but forgettable. It doesn't inspire curiosity or exploration; it's just a B-grade shoot-'em-up.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this at 17+, which tells you everything: intense violence throughout, strong language, organized crime, a child in constant peril, and likely some gore. This is absolutely not something a younger kid should stumble into. It's designed for adult action fans who know what they're signing up for. For a family movie night or anything a kid might click on accidentally? Hard pass. The 'Safe' title is darkly ironic here.

Enriching

There's a thin thread of 'protect the innocent' and redemption-through-action, but it's buried under gunfire and mob politics. You could argue it shows the consequences of corruption or the value of standing up for the vulnerable, but honestly, it's not here to teach—it's here to deliver adrenaline. No meaningful skill-building, minimal empathy development, and the ethical takeaways are murky at best. Adults might enjoy the escapism, but enrichment? Nah.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If you're a die-hard Statham fan, you'll get exactly what you expect: fists, guns, and a scowl
The premise of protecting a vulnerable kid from multiple crime syndicates has potential (even if the execution is meh)
Decent background entertainment for adults who enjoy B-grade action without needing a complex plot

⚠

What to Watch For

Rated 17+ for a reason—intense violence, strong language, and a child constantly in danger
Zero originality: if you've seen one Statham vehicle, you've seen them all
The title 'Safe' is misleading—this is anything but safe for kids to watch
Forgettable and generic; even action fans found it middling (59% on RT, 2.9/5 on Letterboxd)

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the filmmakers chose to center the story around protecting a child, and does that make the violence feel different?"
"What do you think motivates someone to risk their life for a stranger? Is that realistic or just movie stuff?"
"How does this compare to other action movies you've seen—does it bring anything new to the table?"

Deep Dive

The "Human MacGuffin" problem

The central hook of Safe is a 12-year-old girl who functions more like a flash drive than a character. She’s a mathematical prodigy who has memorized a long, high-stakes numerical code, which is why every criminal organization in New York is chasing her. Because there is a child at the center of the frame, parents often wonder if this is one of those "gritty but heart-of-gold" movies they can watch with a mature middle-schooler.

It isn't.

While the plot mirrors the "protector" dynamic we see in movies like Logan or The Professional, Safe lacks the emotional resonance or artistic flair of those films. It’s a cold, efficient delivery system for Statham’s specific brand of close-quarters combat. The violence isn't stylized or cartoonish; it’s mean, loud, and constant. When you see a 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s not because the movie is incompetent—it’s because it’s a generic exercise in "tough guy beats up the room" that we’ve seen dozens of times before.

The friction of child peril

There is a specific kind of tension that comes from watching a child being hunted by the Russian Mafia and Triads. In a standard Statham flick, you’re just waiting for him to kick a guy through a window. Here, you’re forced to watch a kid navigate kidnapping, threats of torture, and high-speed shootouts.

For many viewers, this adds a layer of "unfun" to the action. It raises the stakes in a way that feels heavy rather than exciting. If you’re looking for a movie where the hero saves the day and everyone goes home happy, this fits the bill technically, but the journey there is grubby and cynical. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a gray Tuesday in November.

Better ways to get your Statham fix

If you’re a fan of the leading man but want something that doesn't feel quite so oppressive—or something you might actually be able to watch without shielding a younger viewer's eyes—you have better options. Statham has carved out a niche in massive franchises that trade the "grimy crime" vibe for "over-the-top spectacle."

Before you settle on this one, check out our breakdown of Jason Statham movies ranked for families. You’ll find that his work in the Fast & Furious universe or The Meg offers the same physical charisma but with a much higher "fun" factor and a more manageable WISE score.

If you have a kid who is obsessed with action and you’re trying to figure out which ones are actually OK for 10-year-olds, Safe should stay at the bottom of your list. It’s a movie for adults who want to turn their brains off and watch a professional work, but it offers zero rewards for anyone else. It’s mid-tier Statham: functional, forgettable, and far too intense for the family room.

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