Movie review
September 19, 2025 · 130 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Lost Bus casts America Ferrera as the teacher in a role based on a real white woman from a mostly white rural California town. The story keeps blaming PG&E corporate negligence for the wildfire and drops hints about worsening environmental disasters. The father hero risks everything to save the kids while the teacher supports them on the bus. No queer elements or strong identity politics appear but the visible casting choice and corporate blame stand out.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Lost Bus.
Woke representation / casting
America Ferrera cast as real white teacher in majority white rural California town.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue criticizes PG&E corporate negligence.
Identity-driven story themes
Narrative driven by survival and hero redemption with no identity focus.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Highlights PG&E institutional failure as cause of the wildfire disaster.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Production
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Isolated mentions of diversity casting and mild lectures; no major backlash.
Creator track record context
Director has political film history but no strong identity-driven activist pattern.
