Movie review
June 1, 2016 · 117 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The BFG is a 2016 live-action fantasy film directed by Steven Spielberg, adapting Roald Dahl's 1982 children's novel. It centers on orphan Sophie who befriends the Big Friendly Giant, a dream-catcher who enlists her help to stop other giants from preying on humans, culminating in an alliance with the Queen of England. The narrative drives through their cross-world friendship, bravery, and whimsical adventure in Giant Country. Themes of empathy, imagination, and good triumphing over evil structure the story without modern political overlays.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The BFG.
Woke representation / casting
Casting matches the British 1980s-inspired setting and Dahl source exactly with no forced diversity, gender swaps, or unearned competence signaling.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue stays whimsical with invented words and focuses on personal bonds and adventure plans, containing zero activist or ideological content.
Identity-driven story themes
Core story engine is friendship between human child and giant plus battle against literal cannibal giants, with no identity politics, representation arcs, or modern gender/queer framing.
Western institutional / cultural critique
No critiques of patriarchy, capitalism, colonialism, or Western institutions; the Queen and human authorities appear as positive allies in a straightforward good-versus-evil fantasy conflict.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant | Film adaptations adjust pacing and add London visuals but make no identity-based changes to Dahl characters or real figures like the Queen.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Zero backlash or complaints framing the title as pushing woke, identity, or left-wing content; discussion stayed on entertainment merits and box office.
Creator track record context
No cited prior work by Spielberg, Kennedy, or Mathison shows a pattern of activist or identity-driven projects applied to this family fantasy production.
