Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

78%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

The legendary Manchester United manager's life story—grit, glory, and the occasional well-placed F-bomb.

8.1/10

100%

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Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In

movie

PG-13, 2021

78%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

The legendary Manchester United manager's life story—grit, glory, and the occasional well-placed F-bomb.

8.1

100%

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8.1/10

100%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a solid, well-crafted documentary that does exactly what it sets out to do: tell the story of one of soccer's greatest minds. The 100% critic score isn't hype—it's genuinely moving and insightful.

That said, let's be real: this is for teens and adults, particularly those who care about soccer or leadership. Younger kids will be bored stiff by 90 minutes of interview footage and archival clips. The occasional F-word means it's not for family movie night with the little ones, but for a 14-year-old athlete or a parent who grew up watching Man United, it's gold.

The enrichment factor is real—Ferguson's insights about discipline, handling failure, and the mental game of competition are applicable far beyond the pitch. If your teen is into sports, leadership, or just figuring out what separates good from great, this is time well spent.

Age Fit

Best for ages 14+ due to occasional strong language and mature themes about career pressure and sacrifice. Soccer fans and teens interested in leadership, sports psychology, or biographies will get the most out of it. Adults will find it equally compelling.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A heartfelt biographical documentary that models resilience, dedication, and leadership. Ferguson's life story emphasizes perseverance through adversity, family values, and the importance of never giving up. The tone is reflective and emotionally mature without being manipulative. Some strong language (occasional F-bombs) keeps it from being squeaky clean, but the overall message is deeply positive.

Imaginative

As a biographical documentary, it's more observational than creative. It tells Ferguson's story competently but doesn't break new ground in documentary filmmaking. For soccer fans, it offers insight into the mind of one of the sport's greatest strategists, which has some imaginative appeal. But it's not inviting viewers to build, create, or explore—it's a straightforward life story.

Safe

Generally very safe with no violence, gore, sexual content, or triggering material. The main safety consideration is occasional strong language including 'f--k' and 'f---ing,' mostly used in sports contexts. Common Sense Media rates it 14+, IMDb Parents Guide notes 'mild' profanity and PG-13 rating. For a documentary about competitive sports, this is about as safe as it gets—no surprise content, just some adult language.

Enriching

Highly enriching for anyone interested in leadership, sports psychology, or overcoming adversity. Ferguson's journey from working-class Scotland to managing one of the world's most successful teams offers genuine lessons about discipline, strategy, and mental toughness. The documentary provides insight into what separates good from great, with practical wisdom about handling pressure and setbacks. Perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.1 on IMDb suggests it delivers meaningful content.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely inspiring look at what it takes to be great—not just talented, but relentlessly disciplined and mentally tough
Perfect score from critics (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) and beloved by audiences (96%, 8.1 IMDb) for good reason
Ferguson's working-class Scottish roots and rise to the top of world football offers real lessons about perseverance and leadership
Great conversation starter about handling pressure, dealing with setbacks, and the difference between good and exceptional
Even non-soccer fans find it moving—it's really about human resilience and the cost of greatness

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What to Watch For

Occasional strong language (F-words pop up in competitive sports contexts)—hence the PG-13 and Common Sense Media's 14+ recommendation
This is a talking-heads documentary, not an action-packed sports highlight reel—younger kids will likely find it slow
Most compelling for teens and adults who can appreciate the psychological and strategic elements of leadership

Conversation Starters

"What do you think made Ferguson so successful? Was it just talent or something else?"
"He talks about never giving up—can you think of a time when you wanted to quit but kept going? How did it turn out?"
"Ferguson was known for being really tough on his players. Do you think that's a good way to lead, or are there better approaches?"
"What's something you're working on that requires the kind of long-term dedication Ferguson showed?"

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