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Parents' Guide to

Secret Society of Second-Born Royals

By Jennifer Green, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Teen superhero fantasy has adventure, action, and peril.

Movie NR 2020 90 minutes
Secret Society of Second-Born Royals Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 10+

Based on 11 parent reviews

Carolyn F.
Carolyn F. Parent of 8-year-old
September 25, 2020
age 8+

Fun and empowering, though with bad science

I watched this movie with my eight year old, and she enjoyed it. Not as good as the Descendants movies, and about as harmless. A bunch of kids learn to work together and save the day. They are all princes and princesses, second in line to the throne, and so are candidates for a super secret society of crime fighters. Meanwhile some people are protesting the idea of still living in a monarchy, and oppose the idea of having a royal family at all. The bad science was a little annoying for me. The premise is that all second born royals inherit a gene that gives them superpowers when they reach puberty. And the bad guy's weapon is a device that can detect and target only the DNA of first born royals somehow. I guess if the monarchy finally does step down everyone's DNA would suddenly mutate as well? There is zero swearing and zero sex. There are a few fight scenes but they are just choreographed martial arts - very short and totally bloodless. I saw some other review talking about a dad getting murdered and someone getting killed with a shovel. Neither happens in this movie at all.
3 people found this helpful.
Wes O.
Wes O. Parent of 8-year-old
March 25, 2022
age 14+
Mom tells teenager to go straight home and she goes to a bar instead? How is this rated for 8 years old???
1 person found this helpful.
See all 11 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (11 ):
Kids say (40 ):

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

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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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