Hero Mode

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2:04

Hero Mode

PG

Released Jun 4, 2021

1h 28m

Comedy

Kids & Family

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A teenage coding prodigy has 30 days to create the world's greatest video game and save his family's business.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

As a heartfelt feel-good story about industrial espionage and how to win the right way, Hero Mode is charming if undemanding, and feels at least a little authentic to its milieu.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 5, 2021

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Nick Schager

Variety

Its cheesy earnestness goes down relatively smoothly, and with a shout-out to Nintendo maestro Shigeru Miyamoto and an offhand reference to "Super Mario Bros.," it demonstrates that it knows its gaming stuff.

Jun 4, 2021

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Nicholas Yap

In Review Online

Teamwork makes the dream work, but Hero Mode suggests it's the latter that decides the bounds within which the former is allowed to intervene.

Jun 23, 2021

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Ben Bradley

Starburst

It's by no means perfect, but for the niche it's playing to, it's entertaining enough.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 22, 2021

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

The family film Hero Mode is stuck in one mode: low-quality. This poorly written, predictable movie about a computer gaming whiz has an uneven tone that stumbles back and forth, from cringeworthy comedy to sappy melodrama.

Jun 18, 2021

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Tara McNamara

Common Sense Media

This "kids can" comedy should entertain most tweens, although parents may find the amateur filmmaking trip-ups frustrating/annoying.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 8, 2021

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mr d

they spent more money on the dell product placement than on the movie itself

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/23

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vagner s

What a poor context, I can't even describe what I am feeling on watching actors like Sean Astin and Mira Sorvino on this shitty movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Movie would be good for the audiences which watches Nickelodeon. Age range 10 to 15 years old. Otherwise the movie really really is ridiculously dumb. Nobody volunteer actors would have made a better movie. Rating F—

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

Very nice movie. Definitely a must see if you have time to kill.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

When reviewing family films such as this, my yardstick is: 1) did my kids like it, 2) did I like the message my kids were getting from it, and 3) was it fun for me to watch as well? Rarely is the result "yes" on all three fronts. In the case of Hero Mode, however, that is exactly what I experienced. This film is truly great on all the things that really matter in a family film. Likable real characters you can't help but cheer on, laugh-out-loud humor, engaging plot, and an awesome message. The movie was really unique too via its use of tech and a pretty creative and current storyline. Perhaps the best data point is that my daughters are very actively telling all their friends about it… like when they just discovered an awesome new book and can't help but share their discovery. And I as a parent genuinely look forward to watching it a second and third time. It's fun, funny, and just an all-around excellent movie every family is likely to enjoy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

A pleasant family comedy with a likable cast and some clever lines.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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A.J. Tesler

Director

Chris Carpenter

Troy Mayfield

Mira Sorvino

Kate Mayfield

Sean Astin

Jimmy

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Hero Mode: Trailer 1

2:04

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Synopsis

A teenage coding prodigy has 30 days to create the world's greatest video game and save his family's business.

Director: A.J. Tesler
Producer: Marcy Carpenter, E.J. Kavounas, A.J. Tesler
Screenwriter: Jeff Carpenter
Distributor: Blue Fox Entertainment
Production Co: Peak Curiosity, Particular Crowd, Lost Trail Productions, Real by Fake
Rating: PG (Brief Violence|Suggestive References|Language Throughout)
Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 4, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 11, 2021
Runtime: 1h 28m

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