Is Booksmart woke?
Movie · 2019
Booksmart has a wokeness score of 7/10, which we rate as Strongly Ideological. Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key points
- Openly lesbian protagonist Amy's romance treated as central and normalized alongside straight storylines.
- Diverse LGBTQ and racial casting with multiple queer characters in relationships shown without prejudice.
- Incorporates progressive language on gender identity and feminism as natural dialogue elements.
Wokeness analysis
Booksmart centers on two high-achieving female best friends, Molly and Amy, who decide to cram four years of partying into their final night before high school graduation after realizing their studious peers also secured elite college spots. The film prominently features Amy as an openly lesbian character whose romantic pursuit of another girl forms a key subplot, treated with the same normalization as heterosexual interests. The story includes diverse casting across racial and sexual orientations among supporting characters, with multiple LGBTQ students depicted in relationships without conflict or tokenism. Dialogue incorporates contemporary progressive terminology around gender expression and identity, such as references to 'gender performance' versus sexual orientation. Amy's parents are portrayed as overly supportive liberals, and the protagonists identify as sex-positive feminists. While the core narrative follows a chaotic, comedic night of mishaps and friendship strains leading to reconciliation and growth, these elements are woven throughout to emphasize inclusion and challenge traditional teen comedy tropes. The messaging feels intentional and prominent, with the story shaped around showcasing a harmonious, prejudice-free environment that prioritizes representation and modern sensibilities over pure escapism. Conservative critiques highlight how the film panders to progressive groupthink, presents a fantasy world devoid of real-world hostilities, and uses comedy to normalize and celebrate specific ideological views on sexuality and diversity at the expense of broader entertainment balance.
Plot
Academic overachievers and best friends Amy and Molly realize on the eve of high school graduation that they missed out on fun despite their Ivy League acceptances. They set out to cram four years of partying into one chaotic night, encountering mishaps, drugs, weird parties, and personal revelations. Amy pursues a crush on a girl named Ryan, while Molly deals with her own interests and class president duties. The night tests their friendship amid hidden issues, leading to reconciliation before graduation ceremonies.
Analyzed by AI on September 10, 2026