The Americas – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Americas

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2025

88%

WISE Score

8.1

TMDB

Tom Hanks takes you on a stunning tour of North and South America's wildlife and ecosystems—basically Planet Earth but make it Western Hemisphere.

8.1

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The Americas

show

2025

88%

WISE Score

8.1

TMDB

Tom Hanks takes you on a stunning tour of North and South America's wildlife and ecosystems—basically Planet Earth but make it Western Hemisphere.

8.1

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8.1

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Screenwise Verdict

This is exactly what quality family screen time looks like. A 2025 nature documentary about the Americas hits the sweet spot of educational, gorgeous, and actually watchable for the whole family.

The Tom Hanks factor elevates it beyond typical nature doc narration—he's got that Mister Rogers energy but for wildlife. The focus on our own continents makes it more immediately relevant than yet another African safari series.

Yes, there will be animals eating other animals. Yes, there will be talk about habitat loss and climate change. That's not a bug, it's a feature. This is how kids learn that nature is beautiful AND brutal AND worth protecting.

The lack of official ratings and limited review data keeps this from being a perfect score, but the genre conventions are solid enough. If your family enjoyed Planet Earth, Our Planet, or any BBC nature series, this is a no-brainer addition to your queue.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 6+ who can handle the realities of nature (yes, the jaguar catches the capybara). Upper end is unlimited—nature documentaries are genuinely entertaining for adults, especially with modern cinematography and Hanks' narration.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Nature documentaries inherently model cooperation and interconnectedness of ecosystems. Tom Hanks as narrator brings warmth and gravitas. Focus on 'wonders, secrets and fragilities' suggests balanced, thoughtful pacing rather than sensationalized content. No indication of inappropriate tone or content.

Imaginative

Showcasing the 'secrets' of two continents invites curiosity and wonder about the natural world. Nature documentaries spark questions about biodiversity, geography, and ecology. However, as a straight documentary format (vs interactive or narrative-driven), it's more observational than participatory creativity.

Safe

Nature documentaries typically show predator-prey dynamics and animal deaths, which can be intense but are educational and expected in the genre. Kids mode available on platform is a positive signal. No indication of graphic content beyond typical nature footage. Lack of official content rating creates some uncertainty, but the BBC/nature doc format is generally family-friendly with predictable content.

Enriching

Exceptionally educational content about biodiversity, ecosystems, geography, and conservation. The focus on 'fragilities' suggests environmental awareness and stewardship messaging. TMDB rating of 8.067 indicates strong viewer engagement. Nature documentaries build scientific literacy, empathy for living things, and global awareness. Tom Hanks narration adds storytelling quality that makes learning accessible.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Fresh 2025 production means gorgeous 4K/8K cinematography that'll make your TV worth the money you spent on it
Tom Hanks narration brings that perfect blend of warmth and authority—he could make watching paint dry feel meaningful
Focus on 'fragilities' teaches environmental stewardship without being preachy or doom-and-gloom
Covers familiar territory (literally—your own continents!) which makes it more relatable than distant African savannas
Nature documentaries are proven conversation starters about science, conservation, and the world beyond screens

⚠

What to Watch For

Standard nature documentary fare: predators hunting, animals dying, circle of life stuff—it's educational but can be intense for sensitive kids
Some younger viewers might get restless during slower, observational sequences (though that's kind of the point)
Without a content rating yet, you're going in semi-blind, but the genre is pretty predictable

Conversation Starters

"Which animal from the show would you want as a (totally hypothetical, never happening) pet and why?"
"What can our family do to help protect some of these ecosystems?"
"Did anything surprise you about animals or places you thought you already knew about?"
"How is climate change affecting the places we just watched? What did the show say about fragility?"

Stills

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