Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2025

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Bruce grapples with fame and demons while creating Nebraska—a slow-burn biopic that music nerds will love and everyone else will find... fine.

60%

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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

movie

PG-13, 2025

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Bruce grapples with fame and demons while creating Nebraska—a slow-burn biopic that music nerds will love and everyone else will find... fine.

60%

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60%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: if your teen is into music history, songwriting, or already knows who Bruce Springsteen is, this could be a genuinely enriching watch that sparks great conversations about art, mental health, and integrity. The 82% audience score tells you it works for the people it's meant for.

But let's be real—the 60% critic score and middling IMDb/Letterboxd ratings suggest this is a pretty standard biopic that doesn't transcend its genre. It's not bad, but it's not essential viewing either. For most teens, this will feel like homework disguised as entertainment.

The gap between critic and audience scores is telling: fans of The Boss will find it moving and authentic; everyone else will wonder why they're watching a sad guy record songs in his bedroom for two hours. It's safe, thoughtful, and well-intentioned—just not particularly exciting unless you're already bought in.

Age Fit

Best for high schoolers (14+) with an existing interest in music, biography, or classic rock. Younger teens might find it slow; older teens not into Springsteen will likely zone out. This is niche.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A biographical drama about artistic struggle and reconciling success with personal demons shows emotional depth and mature themes about mental health, creativity, and authenticity. The focus on Springsteen's internal journey during the Nebraska album period suggests introspective, emotionally honest storytelling rather than sensationalism. However, the 'ghosts of his past' and pressure themes may be heavy for younger viewers.

Imaginative

Explores the creative process behind one of rock's most stripped-down, haunting albums. The film's premise—capturing an artist at a crossroads—offers insight into how great art emerges from struggle. However, as a biographical drama, it's inherently constrained by real events and doesn't invite active participation or creative expression from viewers. The 'Nebraska' album itself was wildly imaginative, but watching a movie about making it is one step removed.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 13+, and mixed critical reception (60% RT critics, 59 Metacritic) suggests mature but not shocking content. Biographical music dramas typically avoid graphic content, though this era of Springsteen's life dealt with depression and darkness. No MPAA rating available yet, but likely PG-13 territory—some thematic weight around mental health struggles, possibly alcohol use, but unlikely to contain surprise violence, gore, or sexual content inappropriate for teens.

Enriching

Offers a window into the artistic process, perseverance through mental health challenges, and the tension between commercial success and artistic integrity. For teens interested in music, creativity, or biography, this provides real insight into what it takes to create meaningful art. The 82% audience score suggests it resonates emotionally. However, the 6.9 IMDb and 3.2/5 Letterboxd ratings indicate it's good-not-great—enriching for the right viewer, but not transcendent.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Authentic look at the creative process behind one of rock's most raw, influential albums
Tackles mental health, artistic integrity, and the cost of fame with emotional honesty
82% audience score suggests it connects deeply with viewers who get it
Could spark genuine interest in music history and the craft of songwriting
Shows that even icons struggle—humanizing success in a way teens might find relatable

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What to Watch For

Heavy themes around depression and existential struggle—not a light watch
The 60% critic score and 6.9 IMDb rating suggest uneven pacing or execution
Really works best if your kid already cares about Springsteen or 80s music history
May feel slow or dated to teens expecting modern biopic energy (think Bohemian Rhapsody pacing, not)

Conversation Starters

"What do you think it means to 'sell out' as an artist? Is commercial success always at odds with staying true to yourself?"
"Have you ever felt pressure to be something you're not? How did you handle it?"
"The Nebraska album was recorded on a 4-track in a bedroom—do you think limitations can actually help creativity?"
"Why do you think the audience loved this way more than critics did?"

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