Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Earnest historical biopic has war violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Young Washington
What's the Story?
YOUNG WASHINGTON explores the untold, early years of George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller), who would eventually become the United States of America's first president. Thrown into the midst of war while also facing betrayal and hardship, Washington must learn from his mistakes and forge ahead to grow as a person—and a leader.
Is It Any Good?
This earnest historical biopic doesn't set the world on fire, but it has enough of a patriotic spark to potentially ignite new respect for the original "Father of His Country." Young Washington is a reminder that the United States' legendary first president was human, too—with big dreams and ambitions, as well as big mistakes and even bigger failures. While it's slightly overacted for entertainment purposes (e.g., cherry tree chopping to the next level), the raw battlefield scenes may instill new appreciation for Washington's early days.
If it encourages people of all ages to dust off a history book, this flawed but intriguing human-interest story will succeed. Because it's not about how Washington led troops to glorious victory, but rather how he got up again and again after defeat—with humility, growth, and honor. The accountability, hard-won respect, and courage under pressure demonstrated in Young Washington underline the timeless appeal of a good old-fashioned underdog.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how George Washington is portrayed in Young Washington. Why do you think the filmmakers chose to focus on his early years instead of his better-known historical contributions?
According to the film, what does good leadership look like? What qualities made Washington a good leader? What qualities showed him as a flawed leader?
Why do you think that films about historical events and figures are still made today? What can modern audiences learn from them?
Which parts of the film do you think were based on true events, and which were likely enhanced for entertainment? If you wanted to learn more about George Washington's early life and the real historical events from the film, how could you find reliable information and answers?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 3, 2026
- Cast : William Franklyn-Miller , Mary-Louise Parker , Ben Kingsley , Kelsey Grammer
- Director : Jon Erwin
- Studio : Angel Studios
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History ( Biopic , War: Other )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 125 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of strong war violence and some bloody images
- Last updated : July 8, 2026
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