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  1. Wokeometer
  2. Movies
  3. The Master
The Master
Box Office
Flop · 0.9x
Budget$32M
Worldwide Gross$28.3M
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The Master

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The Master

The Master

movie·R·Sep 21, 2012·
Box OfficeFlop · 0.9x
$32M
Budget
$28.3M
Gross
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Shop this title

The Master

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

movie
R
September 21, 2012
Wokeometer Rating
1Based
0/10
Audience Woke Score
No Ratings Yet
Scale: 0 = not woke, 10 = maximally woke

TL;DR Verdict

The Master delivers a pure character study of trauma, authority, and influence with zero modern identity politics or social justice overlays, earning a safe 1/10 woke score.

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Detailed Analysis

The Master (2012) is a period psychological drama centered on Freddie Quell, a troubled WWII Navy veteran with PTSD and alcoholism, who forms a volatile bond with Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic founder of the fictional cult-like movement The Cause.

The story explores master-disciple dynamics, post-war alienation, and the appeal of pseudoscientific self-improvement systems modeled loosely on early Scientology, with no engagement in contemporary identity politics, systemic oppression narratives, or critiques of traditional norms. Its original screenplay introduces no established characters altered for diversity or ideology, and the 1940s-1950s American setting receives period-accurate casting and presentation. Core themes of personal trauma, authority, and belonging emerge through intimate character study rather than social justice messaging, keeping progressive framing entirely absent.

This approach treats the central relationship between Quell and Dodd as a pure examination of influence and self-invention, free from modern activist overlays. The result is a work whose entertainment value rests on psychological depth and historical texture instead of ideological insertion.

Key Factors

  • Original screenplay with no established characters altered for diversity or ideology
  • Period-accurate casting and setting focused on 1940s-1950s America without modern activist framing
  • Core themes of personal trauma, authority, and belonging presented through character study rather than social justice messaging

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.

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Directed by

  • Paul Thomas Anderson

Is The Master Woke?

We've run a full content analysis on The Master 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 The Master?

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 The Master's overall score.

Is The Master family-friendly?

Wokeometer focuses on ideological content rather than traditional ratings (violence, language, etc.). The Master is rated R. 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 →

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Top Cast

Joaquin Phoenix
2.3Based

Joaquin Phoenix

Freddie Quell

Philip Seymour Hoffman
1.2Based

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Lancaster Dodd

Amy Adams
2.7Based

Amy Adams

Peggy Dodd

Rami Malek
2.6Based

Rami Malek

Clark

Laura Dern
3.2Based

Laura Dern

Helen Sullivan

Jesse Plemons
3.1Based

Jesse Plemons

Val Dodd

Ambyr Childers
1Based

Ambyr Childers

Elizabeth Dodd

Madisen Beaty
1Based

Madisen Beaty

Doris Solstad

Kevin J. O'Connor
1.5Based

Kevin J. O'Connor

Bill White

Patty McCormack
1Based

Patty McCormack

Mildred Drummond

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