Reviews for the new epic historical war drama movie, Young Washington, have surfaced ahead of its release later this week, giving insight into critical reception. Most have praised the cinematic adaptation of the life of the first US President, George Washington, before the American Revolution and his presidency. This has resulted in a Rotten Tomatoes score that is neither abysmal nor remarkable.
Reviews are in for Young Washington
A majority of early reviews for Young Washington praise the film’s tone, style, storytelling, and William Franklyn-Miller’s performance. Helmed by Jon Erwin, it features William Franklyn-Miller as the “Father of the United States.”
Michael Clark of The Epoch Times shared in his review that the movie allowed Erwin to step outside of his comfort zone in the Christian film space and stretch his abilities as a filmmaker. He also highlighted the absence of religion-based themes. Furthermore, he praised Franklyn-Miller’s casting as the eponymous protagonist, calling it “a masterstroke.”
Clark also hoped that Angel Studios could launch a trilogy with sequels: General Washington and President Washington. He added, “There’s no reason that authentic patriotism can’t also coincide with timely marketing.”
Meanwhile, Hollywood in Toto’s Christian Toto deemed Young Washington as Angel Studios and Wonder Project’s best movie so far. Noting that the biopic is the kind of film audiences needed, he praised Franklyn-Miller’s performance as the lead, calling him “impressive” and “stellar from start to finish.”
While Toto opined that some dialogues “land a little too hard,” he added that Erwin and fellow screenwriters — Tom Provost and Diederik Hoogstraten — went against expectations and made “something profound.”
However, not everyone is a fan of the film. Brian Orndorf of Blu-Ray gave it 4/10 stars. In his review, he said that the filmmakers did not give “a cinematic atmosphere for the picture.” Orndorf added that they lacked “determination to turn the tale into a fiery understanding of character and purpose.” He continued, “This is one incredibly mediocre movie.”
Young Washington earns a solid score on Rotten Tomatoes
Thanks to the reviews, Young Washington has earned a solid 73% fresh critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, this is based on just 11 reviews, with the Tomatometer score subject to change as more come in.
The film premieres in theaters on July 3, 2026. In addition to William Franklyn-Miller, the movie features Andy Serkis, Ben Kingsley, Mary-Louise Parker, Kelsey Grammer, and Mia Rodgers, among others.
