TOMORROWLAND
Spectacle and magical thinking make this a home-viewing caution.
Should You Watch It?
TOMORROWLAND offers first-class special effects and an imaginative science-fiction setting. But the source review finds the story convoluted, with a slow first hour, little originality, and a humanist message that promotes magical thinking and mind over matter.
The violence is too intense for children. Human-looking robots are shot, beaten, decapitated, and struck by vehicles. The film also includes profanity, pagan content concerning a Cherokee myth, environmental themes including global warming, and an uncomfortable implied relationship involving a major age gap.
The movie may have enough spectacle for discerning adults, but it is not a good family choice. Wait for home, where you can control the experience and discuss its ideas.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESCasey is a brilliant teenager interested in space. After receiving a pin that transports her to the future, she becomes determined to find a place called Tomorrowland.
Her search leads her to collectors in Texas, where she discovers that the pin is valuable and dangerous. Athena, a mysterious little girl, rescues Casey and takes her toward Frank, a former space enthusiast who may be the only person able to help her reach Tomorrowland.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means TOMORROWLAND has real spectacle but falls short as a story. Its special effects are first class, and the film fills its science-fiction world with visual ambition.
The structure is much weaker. The opening moves through flashbacks involving different characters, and the first hour builds toward a goal that is not clearly mentioned. The plot becomes convoluted, while the movie leans on stereotypical science-fiction elements instead of original concepts. Casey is described as brilliant and creative, but the film does not show her creating anything.
The Worldview
TOMORROWLAND presents a strong humanist worldview. It implies that people can control their destinies: positive thinking produces positive outcomes, while negative thinking produces negative ones. The film also promotes mind over matter and magical thinking.
Casey repeatedly references the Cherokee legend of two wolves inside each person, one good and one bad, with the winning wolf being the one a person feeds. The source review identifies this as pagan content. The film also includes strong environmentalist comments and imagery concerning global warming.
This message departs from a biblical view of providence. Scripture recognizes human choices and responsibility, but it does not teach that people simply create their own destinies through thought. “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong humanist worldview where people create their destiny, with no mention of the supernatural, a false belief in mind over matter and some other pagan content concerning a Cherokee myth about the origin of good versus evil, plus strong environmentalist content and comments, including global warming shown and mentioned; five light obscenities, three profanities; strong violence including robots who look like humans with woman and man’s head gets cut off and little girl holds up head, woman and man shoot at young girls, man’s hand gets cut off, main teenage girl beats man in the head with a bat, young girl gets hit by a car going at high speed, girl falls down stairs, men fist fight, young girl martial art fights with man and woman; no sexual content but implied relationship between George Clooney’s character and a young girl, though Clooney’s character loved the girl as a child, and he still feels sad at an older age that she never reciprocated, and the young girl finally tells him she loved him though the age gap is multiple decades; no nudity; no drinking or alcohol use; no smoking or drugs; and, teenage girl lies, family with a single parent.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film suggests that positive thinking determines a person’s future. What does Scripture say about human responsibility, God’s sovereignty, and the plans we make?
Proverbs 16:9 · James 4:13–15The movie presents a conflict between good and evil within each person. How does that idea compare with the Bible’s teaching about sin and the need for a changed heart?
Jeremiah 17:9 · Ezekiel 36:26The film includes environmental concerns, including global warming. How should Christians think about caring for creation without placing their hope in human power alone?
Genesis 2:15 · Psalm 24:1The violence involves human-looking robots. Does the appearance of a character change how violence affects you as a viewer?
Philippians 4:8 · Psalm 101:3The Final Word
TOMORROWLAND delivers impressive spectacle but brings a tangled story, troubling violence, and a worldview that confuses positive thinking with truth. For discerning adults, it may be worth discussing at home. For families, our answer is WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY.
