Movie review
September 16, 2022 · 135 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Woman King is a 2022 historical action drama about the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit protecting the Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1820s, as General Nanisca trains recruits and leads battles against the rival Oyo Empire. The story focuses on the women's training, personal arcs, camaraderie, and combat victories. It features strong recurring themes of female empowerment and sisterhood as central drivers of the narrative.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Woman King.
Woke representation / casting
Strong identity signaling in emphasis on all-Black female cast as fierce, physically dominant warriors.
Woke political dialogue
Light dialogue supporting female independence and strength.
Identity-driven story themes
Strong recurring emphasis on female empowerment and sisterhood as core to story and arcs.
Western institutional / cultural critique
No significant modern activist framing; historical setting-appropriate conflicts only.
Woke character or canon changes
Production
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Woke complaints and backlash labeling it as feminist propaganda and girlboss revisionism of history.
Creator track record context
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood has a pattern of projects focused on Black women’s empowerment and representation.
