The Medallion – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Medallion

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2003

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jackie Chan's 2003 action-fantasy stumbles with dated CGI, formulaic plot, and critics who gave it a collective shrug.

17%

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The Medallion

movie

PG-13, 2003

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jackie Chan's 2003 action-fantasy stumbles with dated CGI, formulaic plot, and critics who gave it a collective shrug.

17%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Jackie Chan is a legend, but The Medallion is not his finest hour. The 2003 CGI looks like a PlayStation 2 cutscene, the plot is paint-by-numbers, and critics absolutely savaged it (17% on Rotten Tomatoes is brutal). The action sequences have Chan's signature flair, but they're buried under a formulaic script and over-the-top effects that haven't aged well.

For families, it's PG-13 for a reason—moderate violence, some sexual humor, and mild profanity mean it's best for kids 12 and up. Younger viewers might be scared by the fighting or confused by the mystical immortality stuff. But even for the target age, this is a tough sell in 2025. Modern kids raised on Marvel and high-budget fantasy will find this clunky and boring.

If your kid is a Jackie Chan superfan or you're looking for free background noise on Tubi, fine. Otherwise, skip it and watch Kung Fu Panda or Shang-Chi instead—better action, better story, and actually watchable.

Age Fit

Best for kids 12+ who can handle PG-13 action violence and appreciate Jackie Chan's stunt work despite a weak plot. Younger kids (under 10) may be scared by the fighting and mystical elements; older teens will likely find it too dated and formulaic to enjoy.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

PG-13 action comedy with moderate violence (shooting, stabbing, kicking, punching), brief sexual humor, and some profanity. The tone is comedic and stunt-driven rather than emotionally grounded, and the 'mystic worldview' with immortality themes lacks meaningful depth. Models typical action-hero tropes but doesn't offer much in terms of kindness or cooperation beyond surface-level buddy-cop dynamics.

Imaginative

Blends martial-arts choreography with CGI-enhanced fantasy and ancient medallion mythology, but the execution is formulaic and dated. The 'immortal warrior' premise had potential in 2003 but feels uninspired now, with over-the-top stunts that don't invite curiosity or creative thinking. The Buddhist symbolism is window-dressing rather than thoughtfully explored. Critics and audiences alike found it derivative (17% RT critic, 27% audience).

Safe

PG-13 rating is appropriate—moderate action violence (fights, weapons, but not graphic), brief sexual humor, and mild profanity. No gore, nudity, or truly disturbing content, but the frequency of fighting and supernatural elements (immortality, mysticism) require parental context for younger viewers. Common Sense Media recommends age 12+, which aligns with the rating. Not shocking or traumatic, but parents should preview for sensitivity to fantasy violence.

Enriching

Minimal cognitive or ethical growth. The film is pure popcorn entertainment with Jackie Chan's signature stunts, but the plot is thin, the humor is broad, and there's little meaningful takeaway about heroism, culture, or consequences. The Buddhist symbolism and medallion lore could spark conversation, but the film doesn't develop these ideas. As entertainment, it's hampered by poor reviews (5.2 IMDb, 2.4 Letterboxd, 38 Metacritic) and dated CGI that makes it hard to enjoy even on a fun-action level.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Jackie Chan's trademark stunt work and physical comedy are still fun to watch, even if the movie around them isn't
The medallion mythology and Buddhist symbolism could spark conversations about cultural beliefs and immortality myths
PG-13 action violence is moderate—no gore or graphic content, making it accessible for tweens who can handle fantasy fights
Streaming free on Tubi and Roku, so it's a low-commitment option if your kid is a Chan completist

⚠

What to Watch For

Frequent fighting (shooting, stabbing, kicking, punching) and mystical themes that younger kids may find confusing or scary
Brief sexual humor and mild profanity (nothing extreme, but worth noting for sensitive families)
The 2003 CGI and broad humor haven't aged well—expect eye-rolls from modern kids used to Marvel-level effects
Critics hated it (17% on RT), and audiences weren't much kinder (27%)—this is a skip unless you're a die-hard Chan fan

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the medallion gives people immortality? What would you do if you couldn't die?"
"Jackie Chan does a lot of his own stunts—how do you think they filmed those fight scenes safely?"
"The movie uses Buddhist symbols and ideas about life and death. What do you think happens after we die?"
"Did the movie's humor land for you, or did it feel outdated? What makes action movies funny versus just cheesy?"

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