
Movie review
The Legend of Tarzan
Woke Score
Lower is better
- Release Date
- June 29, 2016
- Age Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 109 min
Where to Watch
United States · Last checked 5/13/2026
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Breakdown
Factors & Ratings
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Legend of Tarzan.
Representation / casting choices
Samuel L. Jackson portrays real historical Black figure George Washington Williams in a role that fits the story and history with no mismatch or signaling; Tarzan and Jane casting follows source material exactly with no forced diversity or audience-visible identity emphasis.
Political / ideological dialogue
Recurring dialogue and scenes directly condemn Belgian colonial enslavement, diamond theft, and genocide in the Congo; director statements tie these to contemporary environmental and anti-oppression values, making the political layer clearly noticeable.
Identity-driven story themes
Core story is Tarzan as heroic white ally aiding African tribes against foreign oppressors plus jungle harmony themes; presented as historical adventure rather than modern identity-group advocacy, representation focus, or group-based grievance.
Institutional / cultural critique
Strong, on-screen critique of Belgian state institutions as exploitative and genocidal; framed historically with noted present-day relevance but without reframing into current systemic critiques of whiteness, patriarchy, or Western capitalism.
