Tad, the Lost Explorer, and the Secret of King Midas – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Tad, the Lost Explorer, and the Secret of King Midas

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Spanish animated treasure hunt that sounds better on paper than it plays on screen—critics were not impressed.

33%

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Tad, the Lost Explorer, and the Secret of King Midas

movie

PG, 2017

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Spanish animated treasure hunt that sounds better on paper than it plays on screen—critics were not impressed.

33%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: this movie has all the ingredients for a fun family adventure—archaeology, mythology, treasure hunting, King Midas—but the execution just doesn't land. A 33% critic score and 54% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes tells you everything: this is forgettable at best.

The good news? It's on Hoopla, so if your kid is really into treasure hunts or begging for "one more movie," you can stream it for free and no one's out $20 if they lose interest. The themes are positive enough and it's age-appropriate action without anything truly concerning.

The bad news? This is the cinematic equivalent of cafeteria pizza—technically food, fills a need, but no one's writing home about it. There are so many better animated adventures out there (Moana, Encanto, even the first Lego Movie) that unless you've literally exhausted every other option, this one's a pass.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-12 who are into adventure stories and can handle some action intensity. The age 11 CSM rating suggests it's not quite as gentle as younger-skewing animated fare, but older kids may find it too juvenile given the mediocre execution.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Spanish animated adventure with a positive protagonist who dreams big and values friendship. The tone appears age-appropriate with themes of cooperation and perseverance. However, the mixed audience reception (54% RT audience, 2.7/5 Letterboxd) suggests the execution may be uneven or the pacing chaotic enough to impact emotional engagement.

Imaginative

The premise of archaeology, lost treasures, and King Midas mythology offers solid imaginative potential. However, this is a sequel in a franchise that critics gave only 33% on RT, suggesting derivative or formulaic storytelling rather than genuinely original exploration. The adventure setup invites curiosity about history and legends, but likely doesn't break new ground.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 11, suggesting some action sequences or mild peril typical of adventure films. No indicators of inappropriate content, gore, or unexpected trauma. As an animated family adventure, it should be predictably safe with standard treasure-hunt action beats. The age 11 rating likely reflects intensity rather than genuinely concerning content.

Enriching

While archaeology and mythology could be enriching, the poor critical reception (33% RT critics, 6.2 IMDb) strongly suggests this delivers minimal meaningful takeaways. The educational potential of King Midas and archaeological themes is likely surface-level at best. Entertainment value appears questionable given the lukewarm audience scores across multiple platforms.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Archaeology and mythology angle could spark interest in ancient history and legends
Positive themes about following dreams and friendship
Available on Hoopla means it's free with a library card—you're not out any money if they bail halfway through
Animated adventure format is accessible for elementary-aged kids

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What to Watch For

Action sequences intense enough for an age 11 CSM rating—expect treasure-hunt peril and chase scenes
Critics really didn't like this one (33% RT), so manage expectations—it may drag or feel formulaic
This is a sequel, so references to the first film might confuse kids (though treasure-hunt plots are usually self-contained enough)

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you could turn everything you touched into gold? Would that actually be cool or terrible?"
"Tad wanted to be an archaeologist but worked construction instead—have you ever had a dream that felt far away?"
"What's the coolest historical artifact or treasure you've learned about?"

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