Movie review
May 31, 2023 · 140 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The core story is Miles Morales fighting to define his own path as Spider-Man against the multiverse’s “canon events” rules, with heavy focus on his Afro-Latino family identity and Gwen’s personal struggles. A quick “Protect Trans Kids” sign appears in Gwen’s room and her arc has been widely read as a trans allegory. Diverse Spider-People from different races, genders, and cultures are spotlighted as a strength. These identity and representation beats are noticeable and recurring in the narrative but wrapped in a high-energy multiverse adventure rather than nonstop lectures.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Woke representation / casting
Noticeable and recurring emphasis on racial, ethnic, cultural, and queer-signaling diversity in casting and character framing.
Woke political dialogue
Very light; almost no explicit activist speeches or lectures.
Identity-driven story themes
Central narrative driver—Miles and Gwen’s arcs revolve around forging personal identity against external rules and expectations.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Mild pushback against rigid multiverse “canon” authority as stifling individuality.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Some targeted backlash over the trans sign and identity focus, but limited and not dominant.
Creator track record context
Supports context via Kemp Powers’ identity-themed prior work.
Production
