SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND BORN ROYALS
A polished superhero adventure with moral lessons, but adults only.
Should You Watch It?
SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND BORN ROYALS is a well-made, entertaining Disney+ adventure with good acting and strong moral lessons. Its young heroes learn to use their powers to defend other people rather than rule them. They also learn that their choices have consequences.
The movie’s weakness is its writing. The relationships between the young royals feel rushed, and the main character’s connection to the villain needs more emotional development. The content also brings action violence and a reference to a man’s boyfriend, along with other minor issues.
The practical answer is simple: discerning adults can take the trip, but parents should choose something else for children and young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESSam, the rebellious second-born daughter of the royal family of Illyria, is sent to what she thinks is summer school. There, she meets four other royal children and discovers that second-born royals receive unique superpowers.
Under their teacher, James, the teenagers must learn to control their abilities and work together. Their training becomes urgent when an escaped prisoner threatens Sam and royal families around the world.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a solid, entertaining film with noticeable weaknesses. SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND BORN ROYALS develops each teenager’s unique power effectively, and the movie includes good acting, action, and worthwhile life lessons.
The script does not give the relationships between the young royals enough time to develop. The main character’s connection to the villain also needs more detail and emotional weight. The result is enjoyable but less developed than it could have been.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong moral worldview. The teenagers learn that their powers should be used to defend other people, not to rule them. They are taught that every person is unique and special, that teamwork can defeat evil, that failure can lead to success, and that actions have consequences.
The movie also explores questions about monarchy. Sam initially wants to end her country’s monarchy so the people can rule, while the villain wants to destroy the world’s royal families, even if that means hurting his own family. The story ultimately presents a constitutional monarchy with a parliament as a possible positive compromise. It also includes a feminist element through a slogan on one girl’s shirt and her resistance to traditional expectations for a princess. A comment about a man having a boyfriend introduces a homosexual element.
The film’s emphasis on using gifts for service rather than domination aligns with the biblical call to humility and responsible stewardship. Scripture says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview as teenagers learn to use their powers to defend others and not to rule them, they’re taught that they’re all unique and special and if they use the talents they are given along with teamwork they can defeat the bad guy, learn to fail to succeed and that actions have consequences, some anti-patriotic elements (one girl wants to end her country’s monarchy so the people can rule, but learns that a constitutional monarchy with a parliament can be a positive compromise, and villain will do whatever it takes to end the monarchy, including hurting own family), plus a feminist element as one girl wears a shirt with a feminist slogan written on it and doesn’t want to conform to how a princess should be, and a homosexual element when a comment is made that a man has a boyfriend
Foul Language
No obscenities but four light exclamatory profanities (all OMG), plus a comment about a boy being a fungus
Violence
Girl falls off skateboard, teenagers go through a laser maze and are hit by lasers but end up being okay after a few seconds, teenagers learn how to shoot bows and arrows, a weapons arsenal seen, a guy is punched in the face, some fist fighting, bag falls girls head and knocks her out, man throws things at girl to hurt her, guy trapped in a device
Sex
None
Nudity
No explicit nudity, but some female midriffs shown, and teenage girls appear in bikinis
Alcohol Use
None
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
None;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Lying, rebellion, deceit, breaking in, kidnapping, greed, and some dysfunctional family elements where two sisters disagree on how to rule and if there should even be a monarchy, but they end up fixing their disagreement by the end.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The young royals learn that their powers should serve others rather than control them. How can your gifts serve people around you?
1 Peter 4:10 · Philippians 2:3–4Sam and her sister disagree about monarchy and how their country should be ruled. How should Christians respond to governing authorities while still seeking what is right?
Romans 13:1 · Micah 6:8The teenagers learn that their actions have consequences. When have you seen that truth in your own life, and how does God meet us when we fail?
Galatians 6:7 · 1 John 1:9The heroes succeed through teamwork. What makes cooperation difficult, and what does Scripture teach about using different gifts together?
Romans 12:4–8 · Ecclesiastes 4:9–10The Final Word
SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND BORN ROYALS is entertaining, well-acted, and built around the worthwhile idea that power should protect rather than rule. But its action violence and other content make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For younger viewers, see our family-friendly picks.
