Box Office
Flop · 0.4xBudget$6M
Worldwide Gross$2.6M
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Waves
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Waves
movie·R·Dec 6, 2019·
Box OfficeFlop · 0.4x
$6M
Budget
$2.6M
Gross
Shop
Shop this title
Waves
We may earn a commission from purchases through these links.
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.
Waves
movie
R
December 6, 2019
Wokeometer Rating
5Mixed
0/10
Scale: 0 = not woke, 10 = maximally woke
TL;DR Verdict
Waves incorporates themes of toxic masculinity and generational trauma through Ronald's intense pressure on his son Tyler, but these elements support a wider family drama rather than driving the entire narrative. This balanced approach earns a moderate 5/10.
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Detailed Analysis
Waves centers on an original story of a middle-class Black family in South Florida, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. as wrestler Tyler Williams, Sterling K.
Brown as his domineering father Ronald, Taylor Russell as sister Emily, and Renée Elise Goldsberry as stepmother Catherine. The narrative explores the father's intense pressure on his son to achieve athletic and academic success, explicitly tied to the line 'We are not afforded the luxury of being average' referencing Black respectability and excellence, alongside themes of toxic masculinity, generational trauma, and the burdens of Black manhood. These elements shape the father-son conflict and contribute to Tyler's downward spiral after a career-ending injury and the accidental killing of his Latina girlfriend Alexis during a pregnancy-related argument, leading to his imprisonment.
Key Factors
- Prominent thematic focus on toxic masculinity and racial pressures on Black male excellence as drivers of the central father-son dynamic and tragedy
- Casting of Black actors in lead family roles for a story foregrounding Black suburban experiences, with director Trey Edward Shults adding race-specific dialogue after casting
- Creator and cast discussions emphasizing generational pressures on young Black men and redefining masculinity, integrated into character arcs without overt lectures
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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Is Waves Woke?
We've run a full content analysis on Waves and scored it 5/10 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 Waves?
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 Waves's overall score.
Is Waves family-friendly?
Wokeometer focuses on ideological content rather than traditional ratings (violence, language, etc.). Waves 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 →
