The Old Man – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Old Man

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2022

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jeff Bridges plays a retired CIA operative dodging assassins—basically a slow-burn spy thriller for the AARP crowd, not your kids.

7.5/10

80%

7.2

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The Old Man

show

TV-MA, 2022

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jeff Bridges plays a retired CIA operative dodging assassins—basically a slow-burn spy thriller for the AARP crowd, not your kids.

7.5

80%

7.2

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7.5/10

80%

7.2

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a show for parents, not kids. It's a CIA thriller with a veteran actor playing a veteran spy—think slow-burn tension, violence, and moral complexity rather than family movie night.

The premise (ex-CIA guy hiding out gets hunted by assassins) guarantees violence, likely deaths, and mature themes. Without a content rating visible in the data, but given the genre and synopsis, assume TV-MA or at minimum TV-14.

The 7.2 TMDB rating suggests it's competently made but not groundbreaking. If you're into character-driven spy thrillers and want something less cartoonish than Jason Bourne, this might work for you personally. But it has zero business on a family recommendations list.

For Screenwise purposes: this scores low because it's adult content that offers little developmental value for kids and contains elements that would be inappropriate and potentially disturbing for younger viewers. Save it for after bedtime.

Age Fit

This is for adults and possibly mature 16-17 year olds who can handle violence and complex moral themes. Realistically, most teens would find it slow and prefer faster-paced action. Not for anyone under high school.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

CIA thriller featuring assassins, violence, and a protagonist on the run reconciling a dark past. While likely character-driven given the premise, the core themes revolve around espionage, combat, and moral ambiguity rather than cooperation or kindness. The tone is mature and serious, not emotionally healthy for younger viewers.

Imaginative

Spy thriller format with a veteran operative premise offers some intrigue and strategic thinking, but follows well-worn genre conventions (ex-CIA agent, assassins, living off the grid). The 'old man' angle adds a twist to typical action fare, but doesn't invite creative expression or exploration—it's a watch-and-consume experience in a familiar genre.

Safe

Action/thriller with assassins attempting to kill the protagonist signals significant violence. Genre expectations include gunfights, combat, likely injuries or deaths, and tense/frightening sequences. Without a content rating visible and given the CIA/assassin premise, this contains multiple elements inappropriate for younger viewers. The 7.2 TMDB rating suggests mature audience appeal. Not safe for unexpected family viewing.

Enriching

Character study of a man confronting his past could offer themes about consequences, aging, identity, and moral complexity. The 'reconciling his past' element suggests some depth beyond pure action. However, limited data on execution quality and whether it delivers meaningful insights beyond genre entertainment. TMDB 7.2 suggests solid but not exceptional viewer reception.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Character-driven thriller that focuses on an aging protagonist dealing with consequences rather than just explosions
Could spark discussions about choices, consequences, and how our past shapes us (for mature teens)
Slower pacing might appeal to viewers tired of frenetic Marvel-style action
Jeff Bridges brings gravitas to roles—likely elevates material beyond generic spy fare

⚠

What to Watch For

Violence and combat scenes involving assassins trying to kill the protagonist
Mature themes around CIA operations, espionage, and moral ambiguity
Likely contains deaths, injuries, gunplay, and intense/frightening sequences
Slow-burn pacing may bore younger viewers expecting constant action
This is adult entertainment—not remotely appropriate for kids under high school age

Conversation Starters

"Do you think people can ever really escape their past, or does it always catch up?"
"What would make someone go 'off the grid' and hide from their former life?"
"How do you think the character's age changes the way he deals with danger compared to younger action heroes?"
"What responsibilities do people have for things they did in the past, even if they were following orders?"

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