Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent monster thriller is empowering to girls.
Parents Need to Know
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Worldbreaker
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WORLDBREAKER, monsters that emerged from Earth's core after humanity's abuse of the planet weakened the ground have overtaken the world, intent on annihilating the human race. Known as Breakers, they look like enormous crabs with human-type torsos and heads. Fifteen-year-old Willa (Billie Boullet) and her battle-weary father (Luke Evans) escape to a remote island where they prepare, in peace, for the moment when Willa must join the front lines with her mother (Milla Jovovich), the leader of the primarily female war effort (the monsters' poison attaches to the Y chromosome, making men more apt to transform into hybrids). But when a mysterious girl washes up on the island, that moment may find them earlier than they expected.
Is It Any Good?
The Breakers' chitter may be a warning to humans to stay away, but for teen girls, it might serve as a siren song, even if the film doesn't completely come together. Worldbreaker shows girls a society, as dystopian as it might be, where traditional gender roles are flipped, where the armies are made up of formidable but loving women and a dad is a nurturing full-time parent and tough and heroic. In this terrifyingly discordant situation, humans all work together in harmony. And Willa, the 15-year-old girl at the heart of the story, is afraid of the monsters out in the world but also believes she can take them on.
The monsters are icky, yes, but most teens will be able to handle them. And it's not coincidence that the "hybrids" were regular people—even friends and neighbors—who have transformed into monsters. On the surface, Worldbreaker is a mediocre creature feature, but just beneath that surface is a vibrant metaphor, waiting for adults to pick it up and point it out. Life can be scary and unpredictable, and sometimes the people you like and trust may turn on you (many teen girls are likely all too familiar with this), but you'll get through it ... and it's up to the adults who love you to make sure that you're ready for whatever might come your way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Worldbreaker. How does it compare to what you might see in a film with a premise more rooted in reality? Which type of violence has more impact, and why?
Did you find the movie's monsters scary? Why, or why not? Why do you think monster movies are a popular genre?
Why do you think the movie is about a teen girl? Who do you think is the target audience for this film? How would you describe its message?
Historically, what is the purpose behind the fables and myths that are often told to kids? How does Worldbreaker illuminate our need to believe in heroes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 30, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : February 20, 2026
- Cast : Billie Boullet , Luke Evans , Milla Jovovich
- Director : Brad Anderson
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Aura Releasing
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Dystopia , Family Stories
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Perseverance
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violent content
- Last updated : February 8, 2026
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