Divergent
A teenager hiding a lethal secret challenges a faction-based dystopia through brutal initiation trials and a forbidden romance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- romantic
- rebellious
- young adult movie night
- dystopian double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the film a competent but formulaic young adult dystopia weakened by predictable storytelling and underdeveloped world-building.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The five factions organize society around distinct virtues and require teenagers to choose a permanent social identity.
Tris must conceal that she is Divergent because her inability to fit one faction is punishable by death.
Tris and her peers endure competitive physical and psychological tests during faction initiation.
The faction system presents a seemingly peaceful society while a growing conflict threatens to unravel it.
Films like Divergent, and why
The Hunger Games
Shared young adult dystopia, authoritarian social control, teenage rebellion, and survival-oriented initiation trials.
The Maze Runner
Shared futuristic caste system, identity conflict, factional social engineering, and adolescent resistance to authoritarian power.
The Giver
Shared young protagonists confronting psychologically coercive institutions, state control, and dangerous tests in speculative settings.
Movie Details
- Director
- Neil Burger
- Release Date
- 2014-03-14
- Runtime
- 140 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (13753)
Cast
- Shailene Woodley
- Theo James
- Ashley Judd
- Jai Courtney
- Ray Stevenson
- Zoë Kravitz
- Miles Teller
- Tony Goldwyn
- Ansel Elgort
- Maggie Q
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Divergent about?
- A teenager hiding a lethal secret challenges a faction-based dystopia through brutal initiation trials and a forbidden romance.
- What is Divergent like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Divergent as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Divergent violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Divergent as moderate.
- What did critics think of Divergent?
- Critics generally found the film a competent but formulaic young adult dystopia weakened by predictable storytelling and underdeveloped world-building.
- Which films are like Divergent?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and The Giver.
- How long is Divergent?
- Divergent runs 140 minutes.
- Where can I watch Divergent?
- In United States, Divergent streams on MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel.
