Movie review
April 2, 2020 · 94 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The New Mutants.
Woke representation / casting
Diverse ensemble with Native American lead matching character heritage and a visible queer romance between main female characters that stands out in reviews; some comic ethnic mismatches exist but were not marketed as statements.
Woke political dialogue
No explicit activist speeches, lectures, or modern social-justice language in the story or characters.
Identity-driven story themes
Personal trauma, guilt, and self-acceptance form the core, with the queer romance as a clear but secondary character element; not centered on systemic identity politics or representation-first messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Secret facility acts as a horror antagonist in a standard plot device, without framing around patriarchy, toxic masculinity, anti-conservative norms, or current-day institutional attacks.
Review
The New Mutants follows five young mutants discovering their powers while trapped in a secret facility, where they confront terrifying visions of their past traumas and fight to escape. The story mixes superhero action, teen drama, and horror as the characters process guilt and learn to control abilities that manifest their fears. It includes a clear queer romance between two lead female characters and a diverse cast, though the focus stays on personal stories rather than group politics or messaging.
Woke character or canon changes
Explicit romantic relationship added to Dani and Rahne (building on comic subtext) and minor origin tweaks for film; not driven by ideological swaps.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No meaningful right-leaning complaints or campaigns accusing the film of pushing woke, DEI, or identity politics messaging.
Creator track record context
Key producers carry mild X-Men franchise leanings, but director and co-writer show no repeated activist, identity-driven, or social-justice patterns in their work.
Production
