I AM NUMBER FOUR
Small-town values meet fun sci-fi action—with discernment for younger children.
Should You Watch It?
I AM NUMBER FOUR is a mostly fun blend of science-fiction adventure and teenage drama. Its strongest feature is its human element: the teenage characters are positive, mostly clean-mouthed, and involved in genuine romance rather than lewd activity. The movie also affirms forgiveness, traditional families, and the importance of fighting evil.
The tradeoff is uneven storytelling. The film jumps between sci-fi action, romance, and high-school drama, so some action scenes arrive abruptly. Plot holes and a somewhat disjointed structure keep the movie from being more than solid popcorn entertainment.
The content concerns are real but limited to the source’s stated issues: intense action, frightening alien creatures, and brief foul language. Middle schoolers and older teenagers may enjoy it, while younger children need a parent’s discernment. For older, media-wise viewers, this is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJohn Smith is not really human. He is Number Four, one of nine specially gifted young aliens hiding on Earth from the Mogs, enemy aliens determined to destroy his people and reclaim their planet.
After nearly being killed, John and Henri, his protector, relocate to Paradise, Ohio. There, John befriends Sam, falls in love with Sarah, faces school bullies, and discovers that hiding may not keep the Mogs away forever.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a fun, effective film with noticeable weaknesses. The action is entertaining, the effects are impressive, and the teenage characters are more appealingly drawn than the science-fiction plot. The romance is also portrayed as genuine rather than sex-obsessed.
The film’s genres do not always fit smoothly together. Its editing can feel disjointed, with action scenes seeming to crash into the teenage drama. Plot holes and a deus ex machina element in the climactic battle further limit the story. Still, it delivers effective popcorn fare for viewers who do not overthink its gaps.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong moral worldview centered on fighting evil forces bent on genocide and destruction. It values wholesome small-town life, traditional families, chaste dating, forgiveness, and friendship. The teenage characters are largely positive and moral, and the main romance avoids improper sexual activity.
The movie also includes deception by heroic characters who use false identities and disguises to stay alive for a noble cause. That choice is presented within a survival struggle rather than as simple dishonesty, but it remains part of the film’s moral landscape. The story’s science-fiction conflict and frightening creatures provide the main departure from an ordinary biblical setting.
At its best, the movie connects courage with protecting others and forgiveness with restored relationships. Scripture says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview of fighting evil genocidal forces, with a positive portrayal of wholesome small-town moral, chaste dating values and extolling the importance of traditional families, plus a redemptive element of forgiveness and some Romantic elements; 10 or 11 profanities and obscenities, including one use of “Jesus Christ”; frequent sci-fi/fantasy action violence, including frightening alien creatures who possess enormous monstrous beasts resembling a combination of dinosaurs and dogs that would frighten young children, several scenes involving violent hand-to-hand combat, as well as specially-powered knives used to stab people or aliens, fight scenes with numerous people and aliens being thrown viciously through indoor and outdoor settings, resulting in bouncing off trees, walls and other hard objects, two large explosions destroy a home and a school after they are intentionally set by an alien heroine, and one set explosion caused by evil aliens; no sex scenes but teenage romance scenes involve goodnight kisses, although they are passionate for a moment before female lead’s mother flashes light to make the couple stop; no nudity; no alcohol use; no smoking or drugs; and, deception used by heroic characters go into hiding, including false ID cards and disguises for the purpose of staying alive for a noble cause, teenage bully characters verbally and physically taunt and harass both alien hero and a teenage human outsider and one bully tries to scare ex-girlfriend into restarting relationship with him, but bully and heroes forgive and befriend each other in the end, plus another male character has an abusive stepfather who yells at him in a couple of brief scenes.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The heroes hide behind false identities to survive. When can protecting someone require secrecy, and how should truth still guide us?
Proverbs 12:22 · Ephesians 4:25John’s romance with Sarah is portrayed as genuine rather than lewd. What makes a relationship honorable and self-controlled?
1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 · Philippians 4:8Bullies and heroes eventually forgive and befriend each other. What does real forgiveness require, and how does it differ from pretending harm never happened?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13The young aliens must resist forces seeking to destroy their people. What does Scripture teach about standing against evil without becoming evil ourselves?
Romans 12:21 · Ephesians 6:10–13The Final Word
I AM NUMBER FOUR offers enjoyable action, impressive effects, positive teenagers, and a wholesome romance, even though its plotting and editing are uneven. Its strongest content concerns call for discernment with younger children. For middle schoolers and older viewers, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 12 AND UP.
