Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

The Adam Project is that perfectly serviceable Netflix movie you put on for family movie night and everyone has a decent time without anyone getting too worked up about it. It's got heart, decent action, and Ryan Reynolds doing his thing without the R-rated edge.

The father-son grief stuff is genuinely touching and could spark good conversations with tweens navigating big feelings. The time-travel premise is fun enough, even if it doesn't reinvent the wheel. It's not going to blow anyone's mind—the Letterboxd 2.9 and Metacritic 55 tell you it's solidly middle-of-the-road—but it's also not trying to be Inception.

For families with kids 11+, it hits a sweet spot: exciting enough to keep attention, emotional enough to feel meaningful, but light enough that you're not dealing with nightmares or tough questions about graphic violence. Just know that the parental death theme runs throughout, so if your kid is sensitive about loss, maybe save this one for later.

Bottom line: It's fine. It's fun. It'll entertain your middle schooler on a rainy Saturday and maybe even get them thinking about who they want to become. That's a win in the Netflix movie lottery.

Age Fit

Best for kids 11-15 who can handle PG-13 action and emotional themes about loss. Younger kids will be bored or scared; older teens might find it a bit lightweight but could still enjoy it as easy watching.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Models father-son relationships and family reconciliation themes, with emotionally resonant moments about grief and growing up. The 12-year-old protagonist learns from his older self about courage and standing up to bullies. Some language and adult humor lower the score slightly, but overall tone emphasizes cooperation, healing family wounds, and emotional growth. The pacing is action-movie quick but not chaotically overwhelming.

Imaginative

68

Time-travel premise with fighter jets from the future offers solid sci-fi imagination, and the concept of meeting your older self is inherently thought-provoking. However, execution leans heavily on familiar action-adventure tropes rather than pushing creative boundaries. It's more 'fun popcorn movie' than genuinely inventive storytelling. Doesn't invite much creative expression or exploration beyond watching.

Safe

65

PG-13 territory with sci-fi action violence (laser weapons, explosions, combat sequences) but no gore or graphic content. Some mild language and adult humor that parents should expect but won't shock. No sexual content or nudity. The emotional content around a deceased parent could be triggering for kids dealing with similar grief, but it's handled sensitively. Common Sense Media suggests 13+, which aligns with the action intensity and thematic weight. Not a 'surprise scary moment' movie, but definitely not for sensitive younger kids.

Enriching

66

Explores meaningful themes about processing grief, father-son relationships, self-acceptance, and how our past shapes our future. The premise of confronting your younger self offers natural opportunities for reflection about growth and choices. However, these themes are delivered through standard action-movie plotting rather than deep character work. Entertaining enough to hold attention (Ryan Reynolds doing his Ryan Reynolds thing), but won't profoundly change anyone's worldview. Decent emotional beats about family and loss.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely touching exploration of grief and father-son relationships that doesn't feel too heavy-handed
The 'meeting your older self' premise naturally sparks conversations about growth, choices, and self-acceptance
Action sequences are exciting without being gratuitously violent—sci-fi laser battles instead of bloody combat
Ryan Reynolds brings his signature charm without going full Deadpool, making it accessible for the tween crowd
Themes about standing up to bullies and processing loss are developmentally relevant for middle schoolers

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What to Watch For

A parent's death is central to the plot—could be tough for kids dealing with similar loss or family instability
PG-13 action violence throughout: explosions, laser weapon fights, people getting knocked around (no blood/gore though)
Ryan Reynolds delivers his typical quippy humor with some mild language and innuendo that younger kids won't catch but is there
The time-travel logic is pretty hand-wavy if you have a kid who gets annoyed by plot holes

Conversation Starters

"If you could meet yourself from the future, what do you think they'd tell you about your life?"
"The movie shows how losing a parent affects both versions of Adam differently—how do you think big losses change people as they grow up?"
"Young Adam gets bullied at school but older Adam learned to be confident—what helped you become braver about something you used to be scared of?"
"The dad in the movie made a choice that had huge consequences—when have you had to make a hard decision about doing the right thing even if it's difficult?"

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