Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Giant robots punch each other in 1990s Brooklyn—louder and longer than you remember wanting.

6/10

51%

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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

movie

PG-13, 2023

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Giant robots punch each other in 1990s Brooklyn—louder and longer than you remember wanting.

51%

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6/10

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a Transformers movie. You know what you're getting: giant robots, explosions, a paper-thin plot, and approximately 47 scenes of metal clanging against metal. Rise of the Beasts is better than some of the Michael Bay entries (lower bar than limbo), but it's still exhausting.

The critics-vs-audience split tells the story: critics gave it 51% because it's derivative and hollow; audiences gave it 91% because sometimes you just want to watch a robot gorilla fight a robot falcon and not think too hard. Both are valid.

For families, it's safe-ish (typical PG-13 action violence, nothing shocking) but not particularly worthwhile unless your kid is already obsessed with the franchise. The Maximals are cool, the 90s setting adds some flavor, and it's not offensively bad—it's just loud, long, and forgettable. If you need two hours of robot babysitting on a rainy Saturday, you could do worse. But you could also do a lot better.

Age Fit

Best for kids 10-14 who are already into Transformers or action-heavy blockbusters. The 11+ Common Sense rating feels right—younger kids may find it too intense and loud, while older teens will likely find it formulaic and dull unless they're franchise devotees.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Standard blockbuster action fare with some positive themes of teamwork and heroism, but emotionally shallow with minimal character development. The pacing is relentlessly action-heavy with little breathing room for emotional beats or genuine connection. Models basic cooperation between humans and Autobots, but relationships feel perfunctory. The 90s nostalgia angle adds some warmth, but overall this is more about spectacle than emotional health.

Imaginative

Introduces the Maximals (beast-mode Transformers) which adds a fresh visual element to the franchise, and the 90s Brooklyn/Peru settings offer some geographic variety. However, this is the seventh Transformers film and the formula is wearing thin—giant robots fighting, MacGuffin hunting, world-ending stakes. It doesn't invite creative expression or genuine curiosity; it's more spectacle than imagination. The beast transformations are visually interesting but underutilized in the narrative.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for 11+, which aligns with PG-13 expectations. Typical franchise violence—lots of robot combat, explosions, property destruction—but no gore, minimal language, no sexual content. The action is intense and loud but not genuinely frightening or traumatic. Some peril and destruction of robot characters, but deaths aren't dwelled upon. The main safety concern is the sheer intensity and volume of action sequences, which can be overwhelming for sensitive kids. No surprise inappropriate content.

Enriching

Minimal enrichment value. Surface-level themes about protecting Earth and working together, but no real ethical complexity or character growth. The historical/cultural elements (90s Brooklyn, Peruvian archaeology) are window dressing rather than meaningful exploration. Doesn't build skills, doesn't offer genuine insight into relationships or moral questions. It's pure popcorn entertainment without substance—which is fine, but not enriching. The diverse cast is a plus, but representation alone doesn't make something enriching if the characters are paper-thin.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The Maximals (beast-mode Transformers) add visual variety and are genuinely cool-looking for kids who love animal-robot hybrids
90s nostalgia hits different if you grew up in that era—the soundtrack and Brooklyn setting have authentic flavor
Diverse cast with Anthony Ramos as the lead brings fresh energy to the franchise
If your kid is deep in a Transformers phase, this scratches that itch with competent CGI spectacle
Audience score of 91% suggests it delivers what fans want, even if critics rolled their eyes

⚠

What to Watch For

Intense, sustained action sequences with lots of explosions and robot destruction—can be overwhelming for kids under 10
It's LOUD. Like, bring-earplugs-to-the-theater loud. Sensory-sensitive kids may struggle
The plot is forgettable MacGuffin-hunting—don't expect narrative coherence or emotional payoff
Two-hour runtime feels longer because it's mostly just fighting with thin connective tissue between battles

Conversation Starters

"Which Transformer would you want on your team in a fight—an Autobot or a Maximal? Why?"
"The movie is set in the 90s before smartphones. How do you think that would change your daily life?"
"Why do you think the robots care so much about protecting Earth when it's not even their home planet?"
"If you could transform into any animal like the Maximals, what would you pick and what would your special ability be?"

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