Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

I Am Greta

By Jennifer Green, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Intimate portrayal of global activist has valuable lessons.

Movie NR 2020 97 minutes
I Am Greta Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

Bence H.
Bence H. Adult
November 9, 2023
age 2+
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

I AM GRETA follows Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg during the period in which she came to international prominence. The film combines home videos with intimate footage of Greta, often accompanied by her father, as her one-person school strike quickly grows into a global phenomenon. We learn about Greta's childhood and aspects of her Asperger's syndrome, from Greta as well as from her parents. We see Greta at home, with her pets, on the road, and eventually crossing an ocean, as she's invited to speak at marches, strikes, and summits around the world.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (6 ):

What I Am Greta lacks in dramatic tension, it makes up for in character. The documentary will find a natural audience among climate activists and those curious about the young girl from Sweden who launched a global youth movement, though it's decidedly more about the latter than the former. Viewers' curiosity will be sated with footage of Greta's home life, parents, school, early start as an activist, and some interactions with peers. The film explores her personality and the weight of responsibility she feels for both the climate and her symbolic status, and it touches on a challenging childhood that included years of selective mutism and social isolation.

There are clips from some of her biggest speeches and marches, including the U.N. summit where she angrily condemned adult inaction on climate change in her now famous "How dare you" speech. There's also quite a fascinating, if selective, montage of clips from TV commentators and world leaders questioning her authority, calling her a "brat" and "mentally ill" (in reference to her Asperger's syndrome) and telling her to "shut up" and "grow up." All along the way, including on a daunting wind-powered boat trip across the Atlantic, her father is with her, reminding her to eat, beseeching her to let go of the details of a speech, convincing her to go home to rest. Greta remains laser-focused throughout, underscoring her suggestion that the world might actually focus better on issues like climate change if everyone "had a little bit of Asperger's."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the issue of climate change fueling Greta's activism in I Am Greta. What do you know about how the climate is changing and how that affects humans? Where could you go for more information?

  • Greta's one-person climate strike transforms in a short amount of time into a global movement of student protests on almost every continent. Can you imagine yourself making such a difference on an issue? What would that issue be for you?

  • Greta has Asperger's syndrome. What do you know of this syndrome, and how do you see it affecting Greta in the film? Do you know anyone with Asperger's? How are they similar to or different from Greta?

  • Why are integrity, courage, and perseverance important in effecting change in the world?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate