The Little Giants – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Little Giants

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1994

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Underdog peewee football team proves misfits can win—if you can get past the '90s cheese and predictable plays.

50%

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The Little Giants

movie

PG, 1994

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Underdog peewee football team proves misfits can win—if you can get past the '90s cheese and predictable plays.

50%

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Screenwise Verdict

The Little Giants is a perfectly fine '90s family sports movie that checks all the underdog boxes: misfits, montages, big game, lesson learned. The gender equality message—girl fights to play football, dad stands up for her—was genuinely ahead of its time in 1994 and still holds up.

But let's be real: this movie is dated. The pacing drags, the jokes are corny, and if your kid has seen any modern sports movie, they'll predict every beat. It's not unwatchable, but it's also not must-see. The 6.5 IMDb rating and 50% critic score tell the story: it's fine, but not great.

If your kid is really into football or feels like an outsider, there's value here. Otherwise, you're probably better off with something that hasn't aged quite so much. Nostalgia goggles help if you grew up with it, but your kid didn't.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-12, especially kids into sports or who've felt left out. The gender equality angle still resonates, but the '90s pacing and predictable plot mean it won't blow modern kids away. Teens won't be interested unless they're babysitting.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic underdog sports story that champions inclusion and standing up for what's right. Danny forms a team for kids who got cut (including his daughter who was rejected just for being a girl), modeling advocacy and resilience. The sibling rivalry between Danny and his brother adds family tension but stays good-natured. Some mild rude language and pranks typical of '90s kids' movies, but the emotional core is solid—teamwork, believing in yourself, proving doubters wrong.

Imaginative

Follows the paint-by-numbers sports underdog formula without much innovation. Ragtag team of misfits, montage training sequences, big game finale—you've seen this exact structure in The Mighty Ducks, Bad News Bears, and a dozen others. The '90s charm and some creative kid antics keep it from being totally derivative, but there's no real creative spark or world-building that invites kids to imagine beyond the screen.

Safe

Rated PG for mild rude language and pranks—exactly what you'd expect from a '90s kids' sports comedy. Tackles in football scenes are age-appropriate roughhousing, not violent. A sweet elementary-school crush subplot is innocent. No gore, no scary content, no surprise mature themes. Parents know what they're getting: a straightforward family movie with some bathroom humor and kids being kids. IMDb and Common Sense parents confirm it's clean entertainment.

Enriching

Delivers solid messages about gender equality (a girl fighting for her right to play football in 1994 was genuinely progressive), perseverance, and teamwork. Shows kids that being different or not fitting the mold doesn't mean you can't succeed. The underdog narrative is emotionally satisfying and builds empathy. That said, it's not particularly deep—the lessons are surface-level and predictable. It's feel-good entertainment with some heart, not a transformative experience.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely progressive for 1994: a girl fighting to play football and forming a team of outcasts who got cut
Classic feel-good underdog story with heart—great for kids who feel like they don't fit in or aren't 'good enough'
Clean family entertainment with teamwork, perseverance, and sibling dynamics
Nostalgic '90s charm if you're into that Rick Moranis-adjacent energy

⚠

What to Watch For

Mild rude language and kid pranks (PG-rated, nothing shocking)
Very formulaic—if your kid has seen The Mighty Ducks or Bad News Bears, they've basically seen this
Dated pacing and '90s aesthetic may feel slow or corny to modern kids raised on Marvel movies
Common Sense says age 10, but honestly younger kids (6-7) who like sports could handle it fine

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Becky wasn't allowed to play on the first team? Do you think that was fair?"
"Have you ever felt like you weren't good enough at something? What did you do about it?"
"Danny and his brother are really competitive—do you ever feel that way with your siblings or friends?"
"What would you do if your coach or teacher said you couldn't do something just because of who you are?"

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