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Parents' Guide to

On Wings of Eagles

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Reverent tribute to Olympic champ has some violence.

Movie PG-13 2023 108 minutes
Collage of a closeup of a bedraggled White man in front of an East Asian man in uniform, both above a backlit man running on railroad tracks. Behind are images of bomber planes, explosions, soldiers, and military vehicles.

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • A White man and an East Asian man in tattered clothing crouch among trees.
  • A White man leads a diverse group running on an urban, tree-lines street.
  • A White man and an East Asian man stand together

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What's the Story?

ON WINGS OF EAGLES tells the story of the later life of Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell (Joseph Fiennes), famously called "The Flying Scotsman," who competed for Britain in track and field in 1924. After the Olympics and completing his education, he returned to China, where he was born to missionary parents and where his faith called him to teach chemistry and English. When Japan invaded China, Liddell sent his family back to Great Britain while he stayed on to help those most impacted by the invasion. When World War II broke out, Liddell was placed in an internment camp. Despite many hardships, his faith never wavered, and he never hesitated to put others first, even at great cost to himself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This movie treats its subject with a great deal of reverence, but it falls short of really showing viewers who Eric Liddell really was. On Wings of Eagles credits three writers and two directors, which might be why some of the events and characters are hard to follow or place in context. The acting and production quality are overall very good, but many viewers might feel like they're watching character types do pretty much what you'd expect them to do instead of helping us get to know them. Viewers who share Liddell's belief in the power of prayer may not mind the shortcomings and be able to appreciate Liddell's nearly flawless example of keeping the faith.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in On Wings of Eagles. How much is too much? Is it there for a reason, like to help tell the story, or is it gratuitous? Why?

  • Is Eric Liddell a positive role model? What are his character strengths and weaknesses?

  • How much did you know about events in China during the 1930s and 1940s? Did you know that Japan invaded China? Did any of the events in the story surprise you? Where could you go to learn more?

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.

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