ANNAPOLIS
Patriotic, virtue-driven drama for teenagers and adults.
Should You Watch It?
Annapolis puts its values plainly on the screen. Jake must learn perseverance, commitment, loyalty, teamwork, and especially honesty while trying to become a midshipman at the Naval Academy. The story makes you root for him to acquire those virtues, and it clearly distinguishes right from wrong.
The movie is familiar and contains some foul language, intense boxing matches, hazing, and a suicide attempt. Still, the violence is not brutal, the cadet survives, and there is no sex despite a love interest. James Franco brings heart and soul to a story the source calls worthwhile entertainment.
If you are choosing for teenagers or adults, Annapolis is worth the trip; younger children should sit this one out.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJake grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, working in a shipyard with his father, who believes Jake has no future. After his mother’s death, Jake holds onto the dream they shared of his graduating from the Annapolis Naval Academy.
When a place opens in the freshman class, Jake receives an unexpected chance to attend. He soon discovers that academy life demands more than he imagined, especially when his shortcomings affect his entire team.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars here mean a highly worthwhile, heartfelt piece of entertainment, even though the source says the film is not great and its story is familiar. James Franco brings the film’s elements together with heart and soul.
The dramatic framework works because Jake’s growth makes the audience root for him. The movie presents perseverance, commitment, loyalty, teamwork, and honesty clearly, while its military setting gives those virtues concrete stakes. The boxing scenes are intense but not brutal, and the film’s persistent moral seriousness gives the familiar material weight.
The Worldview
Annapolis openly commends honesty, integrity, loyalty, teamwork, perseverance, commitment, and the other virtues associated with the Naval Academy. It presents these qualities through Jake’s process of growing up and learning how to become a man. Bad is bad, and good is good.
The film also treats honesty seriously. A roommate’s small lie has serious consequences, reinforcing the idea that integrity matters even when the falsehood seems minor. Beneath the sports drama and military discipline runs a strong current of righteousness.
The source notes that, contrary to what really goes on in the military and in America, the film contains very few nods to religion, except from some of the Black plebes. Its moral vision is therefore stronger than its explicit Christian content. It celebrates virtues that align with biblical wisdom, but it does not ground them fully in God.
The film’s call to perseverance connects with Scripture: “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral and patriotic worldview commending honesty, integrity, loyalty, teamwork and all the virtues espoused by the Naval Academy, with minor Christian content on the part of some of the characters, as well as some strong hazing, military discipline; 25 obscenities and 4 profanities; very intense boxing matches, but not brutal, a couple of slugfests but not brutal and of short duration, suicidal man jumps from window but fall is not shown and he recovers; discussions of sex and kissing, but very mild; upper male nudity; alcohol use and drunkenness; smoking; and, nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Jake must learn perseverance and commitment when his failures affect his whole team. What helps you keep going when your responsibilities become difficult?
Hebrews 12:1 · Galatians 6:9The film treats honesty as important even when a lie seems small. Why does Scripture care about truthfulness in ordinary situations?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22Jake learns loyalty and teamwork at the Naval Academy. How can your family or youth group practice serving one another instead of seeking individual recognition?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Ecclesiastes 4:9–10The movie presents the virtues clearly but offers few religious references. Why do good character and moral duty ultimately need God as their foundation?
Micah 6:8 · James 1:17The Final Word
Annapolis is familiar but heartfelt, with strong moral themes and performances that make its lessons engaging. Its language, boxing violence, and other content call for discernment, especially with younger viewers. For teenagers and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
