Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a perfectly serviceable documentary about a massive data breach that exposed millions of people using a cheating website. If you're into true crime or cybersecurity, it covers the basics competently.

But let's be real: it's not particularly good. The 5.7 IMDb rating and 3/5 Letterboxd score tell the story—viewers found it informative but forgettable. There are better documentaries about hacks, privacy, and tech scandals out there.

For parents? This is obviously not for kids. It's rated severe across the board for sexual content, language, and intense themes. The subject matter alone—a platform designed for affairs—makes it completely inappropriate for young viewers. Even for older teens, you'd want to think carefully about whether this is the right entry point for conversations about digital privacy.

If you're an adult looking for a Friday night watch, there are more compelling options. If you're specifically researching the Ashley Madison case, it'll do the job. But don't expect to be blown away.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults. Common Sense Media says 15+ but honestly, even that feels young given the explicit themes and severe content ratings. Best for adults interested in true crime, cybersecurity, or tech ethics—not family viewing by any stretch.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

20

This documentary centers on infidelity, betrayal, and a platform designed to facilitate extramarital affairs. While it's journalistic rather than gratuitous, the core subject matter—cheating, broken marriages, and the fallout from exposed secrets—is fundamentally unwholesome. It's not modeling healthy relationships or emotional patterns; it's dissecting a massive scandal built on deception.

Imaginative

35

As a true crime/documentary series, it follows a fairly standard investigative format: interviews, archival footage, timeline of the hack and data breach. There's nothing particularly innovative in storytelling or presentation here. It's competent journalism but not creatively groundbreaking. The IMDb rating of 5.7 and Letterboxd 3/5 suggest viewers found it serviceable but unremarkable.

Safe

5

IMDb's parents guide rates this as 'Severe' for sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol/drugs, and frightening/intense scenes. Common Sense Media recommends 15+ and notes mature themes around marriage, monogamy, and infidelity. This is absolutely not content that should be stumbled upon by kids—it deals with explicit adult themes, likely contains strong language, and explores the devastating personal consequences of the breach including suicides. For an adult documentary, that's fine, but for the WISE 'Safe' metric (can kids encounter this unexpectedly?), it scores very low.

Enriching

55

There's genuine educational value here: cybersecurity, data privacy, the ethics of tech platforms, and the real-world consequences of hacks. The Metacritic score of 70 suggests critics found merit in the examination. It raises questions about morality, digital footprints, and corporate responsibility. For older teens and adults, it's a cautionary tale with meaningful takeaways about online privacy and ethical boundaries. But it's not particularly entertaining or engaging based on middling audience scores.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Solid primer on cybersecurity and the real-world consequences of data breaches
Raises important questions about digital privacy, corporate ethics, and what happens when secrets go public
Decent journalism that examines multiple perspectives on a massive scandal
Could spark discussions about online behavior, digital footprints, and the permanence of internet activity

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What to Watch For

This is 100% adult content—explicit discussion of infidelity, sexual themes, strong language throughout
Covers devastating personal consequences including suicides resulting from the breach
IMDb rates it 'Severe' across nearly every content category
Honestly pretty dry and forgettable based on audience scores—not exactly gripping television

Conversation Starters

"What do you think about companies that profit from helping people cheat? Where's the line between business and ethics?"
"The hackers said they were exposing immoral behavior—does that justify breaking the law and ruining lives?"
"How permanent do you think anything online really is? Even on 'private' or 'anonymous' platforms?"
"What responsibility do tech companies have for how their platforms are used?"

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The Ashley Madison Affair