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The Beekeeper
Movie

The Beekeeper

2024 • Action, Crime, Thriller

Woke Score
2.2
out of 10

Plot

A former operative of a powerful organization embarks on a brutal campaign for vengeance.

Overall Series Review

The Beekeeper is a straightforward action thriller centered on a retired operative's brutal campaign for vengeance against a massive corruption scheme. The plot is driven by a quest for objective justice after a kind, elderly woman is scammed and driven to suicide, with the trail of corruption leading all the way up to a powerful political family, including the President's son. The narrative frames the conflict as a righteous cleansing of internal systemic rot by an outside, moral force (The Beekeeper organization), which operates on a strict code of merit and protection of the 'hive' (society/nation). The movie focuses on classic themes of good versus evil and the abuse of power by the elite, featuring a hyper-competent male protagonist who is a force of protective masculinity. There is a strong, competent female FBI agent who serves as a primary foil to the hero, though her role is a traditional 'hard-nosed detective' archetype. The movie’s primary political commentary is anti-corruption and anti-nepotism.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

Characters are judged by competence and morality; the hero, a white male, acts to avenge a kind black woman and confronts white male villains at the top of the corrupt power structure. The core conflict is meritocracy (the Beekeepers' code) versus nepotism and corruption, not race or immutable characteristics. Casting appears colorblind for secondary roles, but the narrative does not leverage race for political lecturing.

Oikophobia3/10

The film attacks deep-seated corruption within the United States government, leading all the way to the President’s son. However, the hero's organization exists to protect the United States and the 'hive,' which frames the nation as fundamentally good but infected by internal parasites. The narrative's violence is directed at cleansing the system to restore order, not hostility toward Western civilization itself, which keeps the score low.

Feminism2/10

The main female character is a competent FBI agent who is a strong foil and pursuit antagonist to the male lead. The role is described by some commentary as a traditional 'male archetype' of a hard-nosed, cynical detective, which contrasts with the 'Mary Sue' or 'Girl Boss' trope. The male lead embodies protective, righteous masculinity and competence. The movie contains no anti-natalist or anti-family messaging, which keeps the score very low.

LGBTQ+1/10

The movie is a high-octane action thriller focusing on vengeance and political corruption. There is no discernible presence of LGBTQ+ themes, alternative sexualities, or gender ideology being centered or introduced into the narrative.

Anti-Theism3/10

The narrative is driven by an objective sense of right and wrong, with the hero enacting 'righteous fury' against those who prey on the vulnerable. The moral framework is clearly transcendent, punishing a violation of a fundamental law ('taking from an elderly person is as bad as stealing from a child'). The movie contains no explicit anti-religious themes or demonization of faith-based characters.