Spirit Untamed – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Spirit Untamed

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

City girl meets wild mustang in this pleasant-but-predictable DreamWorks animated adventure that's more comfort food than memorable feast.

5.5/10

48%

7.3

→

Spirit Untamed

movie

PG, 2021

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

City girl meets wild mustang in this pleasant-but-predictable DreamWorks animated adventure that's more comfort food than memorable feast.

5.5

48%

7.3

Jump to

Also rated on

5.5/10

48%

7.3

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Spirit Untamed is the animated equivalent of a peanut butter sandwich—perfectly fine, nothing wrong with it, but nobody's writing home about it either. It's a DreamWorks spinoff that delivers exactly what you'd expect: a plucky girl, a wild horse, some frontier adventures, and themes about friendship and courage.

The good news? It's safe, wholesome, and will keep younger kids entertained for 88 minutes without making you want to leave the room. The less exciting news? This is formulaic storytelling that doesn't take risks or deliver anything particularly memorable. The 7.3 TMDB rating tells the story—it's fine.

If you've got a horse-obsessed kid between 5-9, this will hit the spot. If you're looking for something with more depth or creativity, keep scrolling. It's comfort-food animation that won't enrich their lives dramatically but also won't rot their brains. Sometimes that's exactly what you need on a rainy Saturday.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-10, especially kids in their horse phase. Older elementary kids might find it a bit young, but younger ones will appreciate the straightforward story and colorful animation.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Animated family film centered on friendship between a girl and a wild horse, with themes of courage, belonging, and finding your place. Models cooperation and kindness through Lucky's relationships with new friends and her journey from city to frontier town. Tone is age-appropriate and emotionally positive, though pacing is fairly standard animated-adventure fare without being overly chaotic.

Imaginative

Western frontier setting with a wild mustang offers some visual appeal and adventure elements, but this is a fairly formulaic DreamWorks sequel/spinoff to the Spirit franchise. The 'girl befriends wild horse' premise is well-trodden territory. Limited originality or creative spark that invites kids to build their own worlds or explore new ideas—it's more comfort-food animation than boundary-pushing storytelling.

Safe

Straightforward animated family adventure with no content ratings flags in our data. Genre tags (Animation, Adventure, Family, Western, Comedy) suggest standard kid-friendly fare. No indicators of violence, gore, scary content, or inappropriate material. As a theatrical animated release aimed at families, this follows typical safety standards. Some mild peril is expected in any adventure story, but nothing that would shock or traumatize young viewers.

Enriching

Offers themes of self-discovery, adapting to change, and respecting nature/animals. The frontier setting provides some historical context (albeit simplified), and the human-animal bond can teach empathy. However, with a 7.3 TMDB rating and no notable awards or critical acclaim, this appears to be a middle-of-the-road entry that entertains without delivering particularly memorable lessons or deep emotional resonance. It's pleasant but not profound.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Safe, wholesome entertainment for the horse-obsessed phase (and let's be real, that phase hits hard)
Themes of adapting to change and finding courage when your life gets turned upside down—relatable for kids dealing with transitions
Strong female protagonist making friends and finding her place in a new community
Animal-human bond modeling empathy and respect for nature without being preachy

⚠

What to Watch For

This is peak 'fine' territory—entertaining enough but won't become anyone's favorite movie
Some mild adventure peril (it's a Western with a wild horse, so expect some chase scenes and danger)
If your kid isn't already into horses, this probably won't convert them

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever had to move somewhere new or start at a new school? What was that like for you?"
"Why do you think Lucky wanted to keep Spirit wild instead of trying to tame him?"
"What would it be like to live in a frontier town without all our modern stuff?"
"What's the difference between being friends with a pet and being friends with a wild animal?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic