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Hercules
Movie

Hercules

1997 • Animation, Action, Adventure

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

Hercules, son of the Greek God, Zeus, is turned into a half-god, half-mortal by evil Hades, God of the Underworld, who plans to overthrow Zeus. Hercules is raised on Earth and retains his god-like strength, but when he discovers his immortal heritage Zeus tells him that to return to Mount Olympus he must become a true hero. Hercules becomes a famous hero with the help of his friend Pegasus and his personal trainer, Phil the satyr. Hercules battles monsters, Hades and the Titans, but it is his self-sacrifice to rescue his love Meg which makes him a true hero.

Overall Series Review

The film re-imagines the myth of the Greek hero as a classic 'Hero's Journey' story where the main character, Hercules, must learn that true strength lies not in physical power or celebrity status but in self-sacrifice and love. The narrative focus is on an internal, universal struggle to find identity and become a true hero through merit and moral action. The film is structurally a traditional hero tale that centers on a heterosexual romance and a positive, transcendent moral lesson. The main modern elements involve commercializing the hero’s fame and updating the setting with pop culture references, which was seen as a deconstruction of classical heritage by some, but the core theme is a vindication of heroic virtue. Female characters like Meg are portrayed as strong-willed and independent but are ultimately integrated into a traditional relationship structure.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The core theme is a meritocracy where the protagonist must prove his worth through selfless action to reclaim his godhood. Character is judged by the content of his soul, not by immutable characteristics. Diversity is present in the Muses, who are Black gospel singers, but this casting is a stylistic choice and is not used to push a political lecture or intersectional hierarchy. The primary hero and villain are traditionally White-coded.

Oikophobia3/10

The film takes a pre-Western, classical mythology and modernizes it with pop culture and celebrity culture elements, which is a deconstruction of the original heritage's serious and epic tone. Some Greek critics at the time viewed this modernization as a hostile 'distortion of our history and culture' for commercial gain. However, the film's message is not civilizational self-hatred, but a universal quest for heroism that ultimately valorizes a positive, selfless virtue.

Feminism3/10

Megara is written as a strong, quick-witted, and independent female character, moving away from the helpless damsel trope. Her initial cynicism and snarky independence represent an empowered woman. However, her narrative arc concludes with her being rescued by Hercules' selfless act and choosing to remain with him as a mortal, ultimately adhering to a traditional relationship structure where her love for the male protagonist defines her final choice and destiny.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative is centered entirely around the traditional male-female pairing and romantic love between Hercules and Meg. The nuclear family structure is presented as the ideal on Mount Olympus. There are no characters or subplots that introduce, center, or lecture on alternative sexualities, gender ideology, or the deconstruction of the nuclear family.

Anti-Theism2/10

The story promotes a transcendent moral standard where the 'true hero' is defined by the ultimate objective truth of self-sacrificial love, which allows Hercules to achieve a higher state of being. Faith and divine connection are a source of strength and purpose, and the final heroic act is a selfless sacrifice to save a loved one, echoing classic spiritual themes of redemption and virtue.