Is it too boring for a 14-year-old?

Surprisingly, no. Because it's shot like a thriller and the music is so driving, it holds attention much better than a standard PBS documentary. If they like 'how it's made' or strategy games, they'll likely be hooked.

Do we need to know a lot about the Vietnam War before watching?

Not really. The film gives enough context through archival clips to follow the narrative. It’s more about the process of decision-making than a chronological history lesson.

Is McNamara a reliable narrator?

That's actually the best question to ask your kid after watching. He's 85 in the film and definitely curating his legacy. Part of the 'fun' of the movie is deciding when he's being honest and when he's spinning the story.

How graphic is the war footage?

It's all archival—think black and white or grainy 1960s color film. You see explosions, planes, and the aftermath of firebombing, but it doesn't have the visceral, 'up-close' gore of a modern war movie like Saving Private Ryan.

The Fog of War

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2003

94%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Robert McNamara stares into the camera and explains how he almost ended the world. It’s the most gripping history lesson your teen will actually finish.

96%

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The Fog of War

movie

PG-13, 2003

94%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Robert McNamara stares into the camera and explains how he almost ended the world. It’s the most gripping history lesson your teen will actually finish.

96%

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Screenwise Verdict

This isn't your standard 'talking head' documentary. Errol Morris uses a device called the Interrotron so Robert McNamara is looking directly at you while he talks about firebombing cities and the brink of nuclear war. It's intense, beautifully shot, and incredibly smart.

It’s the kind of movie that makes you feel like your brain just leveled up. Even in 2026, the lessons about human error and the 'fog' of decision-making feel disturbingly relevant. If you have a teen who's into history, politics, or just likes a good deep dive into the 'why' of the world, this is the gold standard.

Age Fit

Best for 13 and up. It requires a decent attention span and an interest in how the world works, making it a perfect fit for high schoolers studying civics or history.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It deals with heavy historical failures and mass casualties, but it models profound self-reflection and the importance of learning from one's own history.

Imaginative

Errol Morris's 'Interrotron' technique and the way archival data is visualized set a new standard for the genre. It's visually arresting for a documentary.

Safe

Contains archival footage of war, including the firebombing of Tokyo and the Vietnam War. It's intense and somber, but contextually appropriate for mature teens.

Enriching

An absolute masterclass in ethics, history, and critical thinking. It challenges viewers to move beyond 'black and white' views of global conflict.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The 11 Lessons framework gives a clear, digestible structure to some of the messiest parts of 20th-century history.
Philip Glass's score keeps the tension high—this feels like a high-stakes political thriller, not a dusty school lecture.
It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary for a reason: the storytelling is flawless.
It forces kids to wrestle with moral ambiguity rather than settling for easy answers about 'good guys' and 'bad guys.'

⚠

What to Watch For

Archival war footage includes aerial shots of firebombing and grainy images of combat aftermath. It's not modern 'gore,' but the scale of destruction is heavy.
The discussion of the Cuban Missile Crisis is genuinely stressful. If your kid is prone to anxiety about global events, this will require some follow-up conversation.

Conversation Starters

"McNamara says 'proportionality should be a guideline in war'—did we follow that in Tokyo or Vietnam?"
"Do you think he's actually apologizing in this film, or just trying to explain his side of the story?"
"Which of his 11 lessons feels the most relevant to the conflicts we see in the news today?"
"How does seeing the person who made the decisions change how you think about history books?"

Deep Dive

Why it still hits hard in 2026

Most documentaries from 2003 feel like time capsules, but The Fog of War feels like a warning from the future. Robert McNamara was the 'whiz kid' who thought data and logic could solve everything, including war. Watching him recount how those same data points led to the Vietnam War is a chilling lesson for a generation growing up with AI and algorithmic decision-making.

The film is famous for its 11 Lessons, which range from 'Empathize with your enemy' to 'Be prepared to re-examine your reasoning.' These aren't just for military buffs; they're life lessons in critical thinking. Errol Morris doesn't let McNamara off the hook, but he doesn't turn him into a cartoon villain either. He just lets him talk.

For a parent, this is a great 'co-watch' because it moves fast. Between the Philip Glass soundtrack and the rapid-fire editing of archival footage, it never drags. It’s a great way to bridge the gap between 'history is a list of dates' and 'history is a series of choices made by people who were often guessing.' If you're looking for something that will actually spark a debate at dinner, this is it.

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The Fog of War – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise