SKYSCRAPER
A tense, heartfelt rescue thriller with strong family convictions.
Should You Watch It?
SKYSCRAPER delivers what an action movie should. Its stunts and action sequences are incredible, the danger stays tense, and Dwayne Johnson’s charisma helps you accept the movie’s larger-than-life situations. More importantly, the story gives you a family worth rooting for: a husband fighting to save his wife and children, and a wife who refuses to give up on them.
The film’s weak writing keeps it from being perfect. Dialogue becomes less interesting when characters stop fighting, exposition weighs down some scenes, and the security system’s dependence on one tablet creates a glaring plot hole. The moderate foul language, including one f-word, also requires discernment.
If you and your teenagers can handle the content, WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESWill Sawyer, a former FBI Hostage Rescue Team member who lost a leg in the line of duty, now works as a security assessor. While evaluating the world’s tallest structure in Hong Kong, he has his wife and two children living inside the building.
Then highly trained criminals seize control of the skyscraper and set it on fire. Will is trapped outside, his family is inside, and the police believe he is responsible. He must fight through fire and criminals to reach the people he loves.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means SKYSCRAPER succeeds as a piece of entertainment, even though its writing is weak. The movie is undeniably tense, with incredible stunts and action sequences that keep the danger immediate. Dwayne Johnson brings enough charisma to make the impossible feel watchable while keeping you invested in the characters’ outcome.
The movie takes inspiration from The Towering Inferno and the first Die Hard, while its softer, more heartfelt approach is closer to the Korean disaster movie The Tower. The dialogue includes too much exposition, and the movie becomes less interesting when people are talking. Still, its action, energy, and emotional commitment to family make it a highly entertaining film.
The Worldview
SKYSCRAPER has a strong moral worldview centered on family. Will goes to incredible lengths to save his wife and children, while Sarah never gives up on her husband or their children. The family displays bravery, courage, selflessness, and love for one another.
The film also honors veterans who have suffered terrible injuries and lost limbs. Will’s determination after losing his leg gives that theme a personal place in the story. The movie additionally celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and capitalist achievement, portraying the skyscraper’s owner positively. It includes a couple of “thank God” mentions and a reference to the Tower of Babel.
The film’s central belief in selfless love for family aligns with Scripture’s honor for sacrificial love. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong moral worldview as main character goes to incredible lengths to save his wife and children, the entire family exudes bravery, courage, selflessness, and love for each other; a couple “thank God” mentions, a reference to the tower of babel; strong patriotic worldview as the whole movie honors veterans who have been severely injured and have lost limbs; light pro-capitalist elements as the skyscrapers owner is portrayed in a positive light
Foul Language
Ten obscenities (including a few s-words and one f-word), and six profanities (mostly OMG, but one strong JC)
Violence
Moderate action violence, with very brutal fight scenes with punching, kicking, throwing and using random objects as fighting objects, several shootouts with many people getting shot, people are also cut and stabbed at times, a man blows himself up with a suicide bomb, killing his son with him, man pulls a shrapnel from his chest, many explosions, dangerous stunts, and perilous moments involving a raging fire
Sex
No sexual content
Nudity
Upper male nudity, and woman wears a top that sometimes reveals cleavage
Alcohol Use
Light drinking
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug use
Miscellaneous Immorality
Betrayal, and a man harms his family.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Will risks everything to save his wife and children. What does sacrificial love look like in ordinary family life?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4Sarah refuses to give up on her husband or children. When is faithful perseverance difficult, and how can Christians encourage one another to remain faithful?
Galatians 6:9–10 · Hebrews 10:24–25The film honors veterans who have suffered severe injuries. How should Christians respond to people who carry visible or invisible wounds from service?
Romans 12:15 · Galatians 6:2The story portrays courage and selflessness under pressure. How is biblical courage different from simply refusing to be afraid?
Joshua 1:9 · Psalm 56:3–4The Final Word
SKYSCRAPER is intense, entertaining, and surprisingly heartfelt. Its weak dialogue and plot holes are real, but its action and commitment to family carry the film. For teenagers and adults who can handle the content, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
