The Mighty

After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.

Max’s grandfather immediately reaches for his gun when he feels his family may be threatened. Max’s grandmother, however, counsels her husband to not let hate rule their home. How will her advice effect Max’s decisions later in life?

When Kevin discovers Max is in trouble, he risks his life to save him, instead of first calling the police (a common practice in movies). Why do you think movies are written in this way? How would it change the stories if the police were called in at the beginning? What might have happened to Max and Kevin if the police had not arrived in time? What should you do if confronted with a dangerous situation in reality?

Max and Kevin are both picked on and bullied in their school, yet, when they get together and arrive with Kevin perched on Max’s shoulder, they are met with curious looks but are soon accepted. How does our self-confidence and sense of self-worth affect the way others see us? What are some non-violent ways that bullying was dealt with in this film?