WOKEOMETER.app

The definitive guide to cultural themes in modern entertainment.

Follow @wokeometerr on X

The Woke Report

New scores and the context behind them. A free Friday roundup, when there’s news to share.

Pro MembershipBuy Us a Coffee

Browse Media

  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Games
  • Books

Rankings

  • Platforms
  • Franchises
  • Studios
  • Hall of Fame

Company

  • About
  • Mission
  • How We Define Woke
  • Developers
  • Sponsor Wokeometer
  • Feature your work

Support

  • Daily Challenge
  • Calibrate Dial
  • Pro Membership
  • Buy Us a Coffee
  • Contact
Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyAffiliate information

© 2026 Wokeometer

Film data fromTMDB

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. Our scores and analysis are independent.

  1. Wokeometer
  2. Movies
  3. Scales
Scales
Shop this title

Shop this title

Scales

We may earn a commission from purchases through these links.

Digital video
Amazon — Digital video. Search this format: Scales. Opens in a new tab
DVD & Blu-ray
Amazon — DVD & Blu-ray. Search this format: Scales. Opens in a new tab

Search US stores by format. Check the title and edition before buying.

Explore Prime Video — Opens in a new tab

Catalog availability and subscription terms vary.

Scales

Scales

movie·PG·Jul 21, 2017·
Shop

Shop this title

Scales

We may earn a commission from purchases through these links.

Digital video
Amazon — Digital video. Search this format: Scales. Opens in a new tab
DVD & Blu-ray
Amazon — DVD & Blu-ray. Search this format: Scales. Opens in a new tab

Search US stores by format. Check the title and edition before buying.

Explore Prime Video — Opens in a new tab

Catalog availability and subscription terms vary.

Scales

movie
PG
July 21, 2017
Wokeometer Rating
1Based
0/10
Audience Woke Score
No Ratings Yet
Scale: 0 = not woke, 10 = maximally woke

TL;DR Verdict

Scales earns its low 1/10 woke score as pure family fantasy centered on friendship, family support, and mermaid heritage with zero identity politics or activist framing.

Get the next Woke Report ↓
Paid creator placementsFeature your article or video on this page

Detailed Analysis

The 2017 family fantasy film Scales: Mermaids Are Real centers on original protagonist Siren Phillips, who learns on her twelfth birthday that she is destined to transform into a mermaid and must navigate hunters while transitioning to the sea with help from her adopted mother and friends.

The premise draws on classic mermaid lore and coming-of-age tropes without any framing of systemic oppression, identity politics, or critiques of traditional norms. Casting features Emmy Perry as Siren alongside supporting actors like Jack Dylan Grazer and Elsie Fisher in roles justified by the story's small-town American setting and plot needs; no established characters are altered for diversity mandates.

Creator intent and reception show a straightforward PG adventure focused on friendship, family support, and fantastical heritage, with no documented activist statements, lecture moments, or audience backlash tied to progressive messaging. As children's media, the absence of such elements keeps the score minimal rather than elevated.

Key Factors

  • Traditional mermaid coming-of-age fantasy with no social justice framing
  • Original characters and plot with no race/gender swaps or forced representation
  • Family adventure emphasis on personal transition and community support, free of ideological themes

Methodology: Each score synthesizes audience discourse, critic and aggregator reception, and press coverage — weighed against the work itself, not any single source.

Detailed BreakdownPro

Identity Politics & Racial Essentialism
Gender Ideology & LGBTQ+ Themes
DEI Casting & Representation Mandates
Preachiness & Message-First Agenda
Corporate & Creator Activism

See how this title scores across all 5 woke subcategories with detailed explanations.

Unlock with Pro

From $3/month · 3-day trial for $1

The Woke Report

A curated roundup of newly scored movies, shows, and games, with the context behind the scores. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.

Privacy policy

Directed by

  • Kevan Peterson

Is Scales Woke?

We've run a full content analysis on Scales and scored it 1/10 on the woke scale. Read our detailed breakdown above to see exactly what we found.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of woke content is in Scales?

Our analysis checks for themes like identity politics, race-swapping, gender ideology, environmental activism, anti-religious messaging, and other progressive agenda elements. The score breakdown above shows which specific categories were flagged and how heavily they factor into Scales's overall score.

Is Scales family-friendly?

Wokeometer focuses on ideological content rather than traditional ratings (violence, language, etc.). Scales is rated PG. For a full picture, combine our woke analysis with the age rating to decide if it's right for your family.

How does Wokeometer score movies?

We evaluate media across multiple ideological categories on a 0–10 scale. Scores of 0–3 mean story-first, 4–6 have moderate elements, and 7–10 flag heavily agenda-driven content. Learn more about our methodology →

Enjoy Wokeometer? Help keep independent media analysis alive. Support us →

Browse Wokeometer by service

Fandango at Home FreeHooplaPrime VideoThe RokuTubi

Browse Wokeometer by service

Fandango at Home FreeHooplaPrime VideoThe RokuTubi

Top Cast

Emmy Perry
1Based

Emmy Perry

Siren Phillips

Morgan Fairchild
1Based

Morgan Fairchild

Principal Strauss

Elisabeth Röhm
1.3Based

Elisabeth Röhm

Tiffany

Jack Dylan Grazer
2.5Based

Jack Dylan Grazer

Adam Wilts

Nikki Hahn
1Based

Nikki Hahn

Crystal

Stephen Snedden
1Based

Stephen Snedden

Gary Wilts

Sterling Sulieman
1Based

Sterling Sulieman

Brodie

Mason Cotton
1Based

Mason Cotton

Martin

N
1Based

Noree Victoria

Amber

Elsie Fisher
2.3Based

Elsie Fisher

Hayden

You Might Also Like

Similar titles you might enjoy

Peter Pan

Peter Pan

movie · G

The Christmas Chronicles

The Christmas Chronicles

movie · PG

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

movie · PG

Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

movie · G

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two

movie · PG

Flora & Ulysses

Flora & Ulysses

movie · PG

Thomas and the Magic Railroad

Thomas and the Magic Railroad

movie · G

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

movie · PG

Audience Reviews

No reviews yet

Be the first to share what you thought of Scales.