Star Kid – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Star Kid

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1997

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A shy kid finds an alien robot suit in a junkyard—sounds cool until you see the 1997 special effects and realize it's basically unwatchable.

43%

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Star Kid

movie

PG, 1997

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A shy kid finds an alien robot suit in a junkyard—sounds cool until you see the 1997 special effects and realize it's basically unwatchable.

43%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Star Kid has its heart in the right place. Shy kid, alien suit, confidence boost—it's a tale as old as time. But here's the brutal truth: this movie is nearly unwatchable in 2025.

The special effects look like a middle school play. The pacing is glacial. The dialogue is stilted. And with a 36% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.3 on IMDb, it's not just me being harsh—audiences genuinely don't enjoy this.

Is it safe? Sure. Will it teach your kid something about standing up to bullies? Maybe, if they can stay awake long enough. But there are dozens of better options that deliver the same messages with actual entertainment value. Unless you're specifically doing a '90s nostalgia night and want to show your kids how rough we had it, skip this one.

The WISE score reflects reality: it's not harmful, but it's not worth your family's time when there are so many better options available on the same streaming platforms.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media pegs this at 9+, which tracks for content safety. However, realistically, even 9-year-olds today will struggle to engage with the dated production. Best for nostalgic parents who want to show their kids what 'cool' looked like in 1997—and don't mind the inevitable 'this is boring' complaints.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic underdog story about a shy seventh-grader gaining confidence through an alien suit. Models themes of courage and standing up to bullies. However, the execution is cheesy and dated, with stilted dialogue and low production values that undermine the positive messaging. The emotional beats are there but delivered in a way that feels forced by 2025 standards.

Imaginative

The premise of a kid finding an alien cybersuit in a junkyard has potential, but the 1997 execution is painfully limited by budget constraints and dated special effects. The robot suit looks more like cardboard than cutting-edge alien tech. While it invites some 'what if I had superpowers' thinking, it doesn't inspire much creative engagement beyond that basic premise. Kids today have seen Iron Man and won't be impressed.

Safe

Generally safe content appropriate for middle-grade viewers. Common Sense Media rates it for age 9+. Some mild action sequences and bullying themes, but nothing graphic or traumatic. No inappropriate content, though there may be some sci-fi peril. The low ratings suggest it's more boring than problematic—always a safer bet than being edgy and problematic.

Enriching

Touches on themes of self-confidence, standing up to bullies, and finding inner strength—all valuable lessons. However, the execution is so dated and the storytelling so clunky that any enrichment value gets lost in the cringe. The 43% critic score and 36% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes tell the story: this isn't enriching entertainment, it's a slog. Kids won't engage enough to absorb any meaningful lessons.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Classic underdog narrative about a bullied kid finding confidence could resonate with middle schoolers dealing with similar issues
Safe, non-violent action that won't give anyone nightmares or require awkward conversations
The core premise of 'what if I found alien tech' taps into universal kid fantasies
Short enough that if your kid insists on watching, you won't lose an entire afternoon

⚠

What to Watch For

The special effects are laughably bad—think cardboard and duct tape, not Marvel CGI—which will likely prompt eye-rolls from modern kids
Pacing is slow and dated; kids raised on YouTube and TikTok may find it excruciatingly boring
Some mild bullying scenes that are meant to be overcome but might still be uncomfortable
The 36% audience score isn't a fluke—this is genuinely not entertaining by today's standards

Conversation Starters

"If you could have any superpower or special ability, what would help you most at school right now?"
"Spencer uses the suit to feel braver—what are some real ways people can build confidence without alien technology?"
"The movie is pretty old and cheesy—what makes movies from the '90s feel so different from what we watch now?"

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