See You Yesterday

See You Yesterday

movie

TV-MA, 2019, Action, Adventure

WISE
48%

WISE Score

93

Avg. Tomatometer

Brooklyn teens build time machines to stop a police shooting—heavy sci-fi with heavier themes that critics loved but audiences found hard to watch.

IMDb5.3
RT Critics93%
MC74
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: critics loved this movie (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), but regular viewers hated it (38% audience score, 5.3 on IMDb). That gap tells you everything.

The premise is cool—two Brooklyn teens build time machines to save C.J.'s brother from being killed by police. But the execution is emotionally punishing. You watch these kids fail over and over, and the film doesn't offer much hope or catharsis. It's important subject matter handled with good intentions, but it's just not an enjoyable watch for most people.

If you have a mature 15- or 16-year-old who's already engaged with conversations about police brutality and systemic racism, this could spark meaningful discussion. But be prepared: it's heavy, it's sad, and based on audience reactions, it may feel more like homework than entertainment. There are better ways to explore these themes with teens—this one's a tough sit.

Age Fit

This is strictly for ages 15 and up, and even then, it requires teens who are ready to engage with police violence and systemic racism. It's not entertainment in the traditional sense—it's more of a conversation starter about injustice. Adults who appreciate socially conscious sci-fi may find value here, though the poor audience scores suggest many viewers found it heavy-handed.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
45

The film centers on police brutality and the wrongful killing of a Black teenager by police, which is emotionally heavy and traumatic. While it models sibling love and determination, the core content involves grief, anger, and systemic injustice. The repeated attempts to save Calvin create a cycle of trauma. Not emotionally healthy viewing for most kids.

Imaginative
72

Two teenage prodigies building time machines from scratch is genuinely creative sci-fi. The premise invites curiosity about physics, causality, and the butterfly effect. The Brooklyn setting grounds the fantastical elements in a real community. Spike Lee produced it, which signals some creative vision. The time-loop structure offers narrative complexity.

Safe
35

This is fundamentally unsafe for younger viewers. The film depicts a police shooting death of a young Black man, which is both violent and deeply triggering. Common Sense Media rates it 15+. The emotional trauma of watching a character die repeatedly, combined with themes of police violence and systemic racism, makes this inappropriate for children. Parents would need significant preparation before teens watch this.

Enriching
68

The film tackles police brutality, systemic racism, and the Black experience in America head-on. It showcases Black teens as STEM prodigies, which is powerful representation. The time-travel conceit raises questions about fate, choice, and unintended consequences. Critics loved it (93% RT, 74 Metacritic), suggesting meaningful storytelling. However, the 38% audience score and 5.3 IMDb rating indicate it may not land emotionally for many viewers.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Shows Black teenagers as brilliant STEM students and inventors, which is fantastic representation
  • Tackles police brutality and systemic racism directly, not shying away from difficult conversations
  • The time-travel mechanics raise interesting questions about causality, choice, and whether we can change fate
  • Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and Spike Lee produced it, so there's real craft here
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What to Watch For

  • A police officer shoots and kills a young Black man on screen—this is the central trauma of the film
  • The teens repeatedly try to save him and fail, creating a cycle of grief and loss that's emotionally brutal
  • The 55-point gap between critic and audience scores (93% vs 38%) suggests this is a tough watch that may feel preachy or emotionally manipulative to some
  • This is not a fun time-travel romp—it's a film about injustice and powerlessness

Conversation Starters

  • "If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be? What might go wrong?"
  • "Why do you think the movie shows C.J. failing over and over to save her brother?"
  • "How does it feel to see teenagers who look like scientists and inventors instead of the usual movie stereotypes?"
  • "What does this movie say about whether one person can change a broken system?"

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