Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, art
Adam Holz, Kristin Smith and Johnathan McKee

YouTube makes it possible for parents to block YouTube Shorts on teen accounts. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

The Minecraft-mimicking Hytale' feels very familiar in its early access form. But there are some pleasing tweaks in the mix. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Now You See Me: Now You Don't' brings back the magical Horsemen for a new abracadabra scheme. That's not to suggest, though, that it's magical for all. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin' is DailyWire+'s most ambitious show yetand it comes with a Christian bent. But the show itself feels pretty uneven. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

YouTube makes it possible for parents to block YouTube Shorts on teen accounts. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Despite his inventive sounds, Leon Thomas crafts lyrics consumed by seeking temporary pleasure at the expense of building lasting relationships. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 brings back its haunted animatronics. But this creepy pizza parlor pic is an underwritten and half-baked muddle. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

In GOAT,' a skinny goat gets a shot at the big leagues. He must build a winning team while trying to keep from being sat onor eaten. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

For a superhero show, Wonder Man' is surprisingly light on violence, but a bit heavy on swearing, sexual allusions and meta-Hollywood references. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

A study published in Pediatrics found that 12-year-olds who own smartphones are at a higher risk for depression. Read the full blog. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

The challenges found in Routine' aren't very routine at all. But this escape room-like game is definitely not for everyone. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Nuremberg' transports moviegoers back to difficult historical truthsbut with deeper thoughts on the reality of evil. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Solo Mio' keeps its heart warm and its nose (mostly) clean. And it reminds us that disappointment can lead to unexpected joy. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

The Copenhagen Test' is a spy thriller with an antagonist who can see and hear everything our protagonist sees and hearsincluding the content issues. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Thinfluencers are getting around filters to promote SkinnyTok content. Read the full blog. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Chase fell off his roof and lost his memory of everything. But the experience helped him find a new perspective on living. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Ella McCay' is a clever political dramedy, but foul language and discussions about a married couple's sex life make it a bit mature for most teens. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Arco' is a beautifully animated, sweet fantasy storyalthough the film contains a few moments that might give parents pause. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Mythological creatures and beliefs come center stage, along with friendship, family and purpose in Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Most AI chatbots fail to respond appropriately to mental health crises. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Wicked: For Good' tells a moving tale of friendship and sacrifice, but the movie's darkness and magic may not be for the good of all. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

In Twisted-Wonderland on Disney+, Yu finds himself at a school of magic, governed by Disney villain-inspired houses. And he desperately wants to find his way back home. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

AI toys marketed for kids often aren't safe for kids. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Zephyrina is a cat who cares for nobody but herself. Well, herself and a little stuffed bear named Pocket. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' comes with content concerns aplenty, and it sure isn't for kids. But its take on faith is worth discussing. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

This zany adventure has some sweet messages, but also thinly veiled euphemisms, bare animated backsides and frequent toilet humor. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

The Bad Guys: Breaking In' offers the franchise's standard low-content fun, though it fails to deliver on its exploration of good morals. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Teens are using artificial intelligencespecifically Snapchat's AI toolsto create images of a grimy man in their home. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Squared Media offers epic, movie-length Minecraft animations for lovers of the gamefilled with fight scenes and blocky violence. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Disney+'s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw' has some issues, sure. But it earns merit badges for its messages. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Avatar: Fire and Ash' feels much like what we've seen before, only more. But that more will leave family viewers feeling burned. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

The newest season of Netflix's Stranger Things continues to blend '80s nostalgia with ever-darker spiritual content and horrific violence. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment' is a little bit of Zelda and a whole lot of dynamic, over-the-top battling. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Merv' wants to be the rom-com version of a doggy treat. But, unfortunately, it comes off as a bit of a mutt Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Angel Studios' David' tells the story of King David's rise to the thronewhile omitting some violent moments and adding in musical numbers. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Matt and his estranged daughter, Riley, embark on a restoration of the dented bumpers of their relationship. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Nicktoons The Dice of Destiny' offers pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a Nickelodeon game: colorful characters, silly fun and mess-free RPG battles. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

The Family Plan 2' is arguably cleaner than the first in its series. But make no mistake: Cleaner does not mean clean. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 brings back its haunted animatronics. But this creepy pizza parlor pic is an underwritten and half-baked muddle. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Netflix picked a fitting name for Splinter Cell: Deathwatch': You watch people die a lot in this animated show. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

ChatGPT, will soon allow adult content, including erotica, for verified users over 18. CEO Altman says this change will let ChatGPT act more like a human friend. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Warm must find a way to save his family after a rival pack attacks and kills several members of his pack. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

In Your Dreams' features the Sandman, and though it offers nice messages, they're dampened by its god-like depiction of the entity. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

If Zootopia 2 has a core messageand it certainly seems to have oneit's about the importance of conquering prejudices and celebrating each other's differences. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

In CBS's DMV, the East Hollywood DMV branch faces a possible shut down. While Barb fights to keep her branch open, Colette fights for the attention of her office crush. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

What families need to know about Instagram face. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Pokmon Legends: Z-A' is packed with creature-collecting fun, but it may not be the cheery, catch-em-all frolic that younger fans expect. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

While Gabby's Dollhouse tells a tale about learning how to play again, some of its magical moments may leave Christians uncomfortable. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Wicked: For Good' tells a moving tale of friendship and sacrifice, but the movie's darkness and magic may not be for the good of all. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

Despite some paranormal themes, Vampirina: Teenage Vampire' is about as squeaky clean as you can get. Well, for a show about vampires, anyway. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111

A recent study found that 21% of kids between the ages of 13 and 17 feel lonely. Read the full review. If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29?v=20251111