Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen superhero fantasy has adventure, action, and peril.
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Secret Society of Second-Born Royals
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 41 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a mixed bag, often praised for its entertaining concept involving second-born royals discovering their powers and emphasizing teamwork and self-acceptance. While many younger viewers enjoyed the film, appreciating its humor and relatable characters, older audiences noted issues with predictability, questionable role models, a lack of depth in character development, and concerns over some of the messages about rebellion and appearance.
- fun plot
- mixed reviews
- relatable characters
- questionable role models
- appropriate for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Samantha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is a guitar-playing teenager who rebels against her small European country's monarchy, even though her sister is about to be crowned queen, in SECRET SOCIETY OF SECOND-BORN ROYALS. Sent to summer school, ostensibly as punishment for her troublesome behavior, Sam finds herself in a training academy with five other teenagers, all "second-born royals." They all have a special gene that gives them superpowers. The teens are told by their instructor (Skylar Astin) that they have to discover their individual powers and then learn how to wield them for the good of their country. Their training is interrupted when a highly dangerous criminal (Greg Bryk) escapes prison, and the second-borns are wrapped up in his evil plot to end all monarchies by killing the first-born royals. Sam doesn't know it yet, but the criminal has a personal connection to her, and his plot revolves around the coronation ceremony of her sister, Eleanor (Ashley Liao). The second-borns will need to work together in time to save the world's royalty.
Is It Any Good?
This is a great idea for a Disney franchise or series, but as a stand-alone film it falls a little flat. Though a narrator tells us this isn't your typical "princess story," Secret Society of Second-Born Royals does follow what feels like a formula of rebellious teen turned empowered superhero, complete with princess status (and ball gown). The diverse cast's teen actors are charismatic enough, but the script paints their characters in very broad strokes, relying on some superficial stereotypes to give them personalities (shallow Instagrammer, popular party boy, invisible guy, rebellious teen, etc.) and life problems that are too easily resolved. A key bonding scene, where the teens open up to each other, comes too soon, and an awkward "day off" montage later seems to want to compensate for that. This, along with other questionable decisions concerning the faux European setting and a mixed bag of accents, makes this film more likely to find an audience with younger viewers than with teens.
What might go over their heads, however, is the theme of questioning the validity of monarchies in contemporary societies. There are also some references to real life that younger viewers might not catch, including portraits of actual second-born royalty in a palace hall. One is of England's Prince Harry, who -- in a curious life-imitating-art twist -- renounced his royal duties.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different superpowers the teens discover that they have in Secret Society of Second-Born Royals. If you could have a superpower, what would it be, and why?
Sam rebels against her family's traditions and the idea of a monarchy, but seems to come around to understanding her sister's role and responsibilities. What do you think of the idea of royalty?
Were any of the main characters role models? What character strengths did they have?
Did this film remind you of other superhero films or other Disney movies? Which ones?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 25, 2020
- Cast : Peyton Elizabeth Lee , Skylar Astin , Olivia Deeble
- Director : Anna Mastro
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Disney+
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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