Movie review
March 21, 2018 · 111 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Pacific Rim: Uprising is a 2018 science fiction action sequel set ten years after the first film. Jake Pentecost, son of a fallen hero, rejoins the global Jaeger defense force with a new team of young pilots including a teenage hacker and a rival to battle a returning Kaiju threat under Mako Mori's leadership. The story centers on legacy, redemption, and humanity uniting in giant robot battles against monsters, with no visible identity politics, activist dialogue, or social-justice messaging in the plot or characters.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Pacific Rim: Uprising.
Woke representation / casting
International and racially mixed cast including Black lead John Boyega in a story-logical family role; fits the established global PPDC premise and original film's international pilots without mismatches or signaling.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue stays on duty, legacy, fighting monsters, and saving the world; no activist speeches or identity-focused lines.
Identity-driven story themes
New generation of varied young pilots steps up, but themes stay on classic heroism, family reconciliation, and collective defense against aliens.
Western institutional / cultural critique
PPDC portrayed as necessary heroic force against existential threat; no modern critiques of patriarchy, capitalism, traditional norms, or Western institutions.
Woke character or canon changes
Continues lore with Mako in expanded leadership and new son character; no ideological reinterpretations of established elements.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Almost none; public conversation stayed on sequel quality and fun factor with virtually no claims of pushing woke or identity politics.
Creator track record context
Several figures (Sarah Halley Finn, John Boyega, Femi Oguns, Kira Snyder) have moderate-to-strong records on racial diversity promotion or justice advocacy, but core story, most writers, and other producers show no such emphasis.
Production
