PERCY VS. GOLIATH
A well-made underdog drama for teens and adults.
Should You Watch It?
Percy vs. Goliath is a four-star, true-story drama with a strong moral center. Christopher Walken leads a solid cast as a virtuous Christian farmer fighting to protect his livelihood after a major farming corporation accuses him of using patented seeds. The film values church, prayer, integrity, and doing good.
The movie is more informative than purely entertaining, but the cast brings the story to life, and the underdog struggle gives it purpose. Its worldview is mixed, with strong environmentalist advocacy for organic farming, a pro-capitalist argument for broad participation in the farming market, and brief Hindu religious references.
The practical answer: teens and adults can take the trip, while parents should use discernment with younger children.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn 1998, Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser receives notice that a major corporation is suing him over allegedly patented seeds in his crops. Percy joins forces with a lawyer and, with his wife, begins seeking public support for the case. Their fight soon reaches beyond their own farm as they stand up for farmers in Canada and around the world.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a strong, worthwhile drama, even though its chief strength is information rather than nonstop entertainment. Christopher Walken gives the central character integrity and moral conviction, while the solid cast helps bring the true story to life.
Zach Braff makes an unusual but ultimately satisfying choice as Percy’s lawyer. Stringed music supports the movie’s dramatic tone. The film’s purpose and performances carry it, making the farming dispute accessible and engaging.
The Worldview
The film presents Percy and his wife as Christians who value church attendance, prayer, and doing good. That gives the story a positive Christian and moral center. It also strongly promotes environmentalist ideas, especially organic farming techniques, while championing a pro-capitalist view in which multiple people should participate in the farming market.
The movie’s hero is a small farmer resisting a large corporation that threatens competition. However, the story includes a Hindu man chanting in India and another man explaining that cows are sacred. These religious elements are present but not emphasized. The film also mentions farmers in India who kill themselves after major farming companies take away their livelihoods.
At its heart, the film is concerned with integrity, justice, and doing good when powerful interests are involved. Scripture says, “He has told you, O man, what is good” (Micah 6:8).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Mixed worldview where the lead character and his wife are Christians and stress the value of going to church, prayer and doing good, mixed with some strong environmentalist content that stresses organic farming techniques, but movie also champions a pro-capitalist worldview where multiple people should participate in the farming marke,t and the hero is an individual farmer going against a large corporation trying to have a more of a monopoly and stifle competition, plus the lead character ventures to India where a Hindu man is chanting, and another talks about how cows are sacred
Foul Language
One OMG profanity and three relatively light obscenities (“d,” “h” and an a**), plus implied urination
Violence
Man cocks a gun to scare some trespassers, and there’s mention of many farmers in India committing suicide after big farming companies took away their livelihood
Sex
No sex
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Scene at a bar
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Intimidation and lying.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Percy’s faith is expressed through church, prayer, and doing good. How do those practices shape the way you respond when you face pressure?
Micah 6:8 · James 1:27The film presents competing views about farming, business, and caring for creation. What responsibilities do people have toward the land and toward one another?
Genesis 2:15 · Philippians 2:3–4Percy’s struggle raises questions about justice between an individual and a powerful corporation. What does Scripture require when we have power over others?
Leviticus 19:13 · Proverbs 31:8–9The story includes brief Hindu religious elements. How can Christians understand other beliefs while remaining faithful to the true God?
Exodus 20:3 · Acts 17:22–31The Final Word
Percy vs. Goliath offers a strong cast, an informative true-story drama, and a positive Christian moral center. Its environmentalist advocacy, brief language, religious references, and suicide discussion call for discernment with younger viewers. For teenagers and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
