Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Icky sci-fi thriller has language, violence, sex, nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Wifelike
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WIFELIKE, a near-future society allows men to purchase AI companions who are programmed to behave like their perfect wives. Grieving detective William (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is given a companion (Elena Kampouris) to act like his late wife Meredith, and she begins to learn the ways of their relationship. But when past memories start to haunt her dreams, and strangers appear begging her to remember, can she understand the dark forces at play and discover the truth in a world where the very nature of reality is in question?
Is It Any Good?
Whatever misguided intentions about messages of freedom, choice, or even feminism, there's no getting away from the oversexualization of women in this sci-fi thriller. Wifelike plays out like a late-night adult film from the 1980s for much of its screen time. Writer-director James Bird has created a world where men purchase lifelike AI women and program their every behavior, right down to their sex drive. If he's looking to make a point about the patriarchy, it's odd that the film is mostly seen from a male POV, and so much time is taken on the camera roving over women's near-naked bodies. Kampouris does what she can with a difficult role, while Doran Bell provides some much-needed energy and likability as William's partner, Jack. But Meyers makes little impact in the lead role. Add to that the slightly convoluted plot and general feeling of creepiness, and Wifelike proves a high-concept sci-fi thriller that ends up wildly off target.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way women were depicted in Wifelike. Were there parts of the film that seemed gratuitous or exploitative? Were there parts that had a feminist message? How did you think the two were balanced? How can I find positive gender representations in movies and on TV?
The movie raises questions around the ethics of AI, as well as freedom and autonomy more generally. How do you feel about the idea of AI living among us? What rights do you think they should or shouldn't have and why?
Talk about the film's violence. Did you find it scary or unexpected? Did it seem more realistic than other movie violence you've seen? Do some types of media violence have a different impact than others?
Discuss the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 12, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : August 12, 2022
- Cast : Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Elena Kampouris , Doron Bell
- Director : James Bird
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : STEM
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, nudity, violence and language
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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