Is The Humans woke?
Movie · 2021
The Humans has a wokeness score of 3/10, which we rate as Light Social Awareness. Some light diversity or inclusion elements that feel natural and organic. Woke themes are subtle, non-intrusive, and fully integrated into the story without drawing attention to themselves.
Key points
- Mild diversity integrates naturally: Korean-American boyfriend and lesbian sister enhance family dynamics without preaching.
- Authentic portrayal of Catholic household tensions avoids ideological lectures or progressive vilification.
- Reviews praise psychological drama and realism; no heavy-handed wokeness or social justice messaging noted.
Wokeness analysis
The Humans (2021) exhibits mild modern sensibilities through subtle elements of diversity and inclusion that integrate naturally into the narrative without dominating or preaching. The story centers on the Blake family, a working-class Catholic clan from Scranton, Pennsylvania, gathering for Thanksgiving in daughter Brigid's rundown Chinatown apartment. Diversity appears organically: Brigid's boyfriend Richard, played by Steven Yeun, is Korean-American, serving as an outsider who highlights family dynamics via exposition rather than ideological lectures. Similarly, sister Aimee, portrayed by Amy Schumer, is a lesbian who has recently ended a relationship; her orientation emerges through passive-aggressive family comments from mother Deirdre, reflecting realistic tensions in a traditional Catholic household rather than celebrating or vilifying it for progressive points. These traits feel authentic to character backstories—Richard's introspective nature contrasts the Blakes' blue-collar roots, and Aimee's personal struggles add to her passive demeanor—without shoehorning in social justice messaging. Reviews across Roger Ebert, Variety, NYT, and others emphasize psychological drama, familial dysfunction, economic anxiety, aging, and existential dread in a decaying urban setting, with no mentions of heavy-handed wokeness, indoctrination, or activism. The film's adaptation from Stephen Karam's Tony-winning play focuses on universal human fears like poverty and loss, portraying a 'very right-wing Catholic church' connection and parental judgments on urban lifestyles as flawed but human, not satirical targets for progressive scorn. Absent are forced representations of marginalized groups as heroes, critiques of systemic oppression, or plot alterations to serve ideology; instead, entertainment arises from tense realism and subtle horror elements like creaking apartments symbolizing decline. This avoids alienating viewers seeking escapism or story-driven content, aligning with conservative appreciation for depictions of ordinary American struggles sans overt agendas. Common Sense Media notes diverse representations in race, sexual identity, and ability, but these support character complexity without intrusion, earning a low woke rating.
Plot
The Humans is a psychological drama adapted from Stephen Karam's Tony-winning play, directed by Karam in his feature debut. Set in real-time during Thanksgiving, it follows the Blake family—patriarch Erik (Richard Jenkins), wife Deirdre (Jayne Houdyshell), daughters Brigid (Beanie Feldstein) and Aimee (Amy Schumer), Brigid's boyfriend Richard (Steven Yeun), and grandmother Momo (June Squibb)—gathering in Brigid's dilapidated Chinatown apartment near Ground Zero. Tensions simmer as family secrets unravel: financial woes, job losses, a recent breakup, dementia, health issues, and Erik's hidden shame. The creaky, flooding building amplifies dread, blending mundane holiday awkwardness with subtle horror motifs. Performances excel in capturing lower-middle-class anxieties, generational clashes, and unspoken regrets, culminating in raw emotional catharsis amid encroaching darkness.
Analyzed by AI on February 18, 2026