Dickens & Rumi
Cover of Blank Check

film

Blank Check

1994

Bullied by his siblings and nagged by his parents, 11-year-old Preston Waters is fed up with his family — especially their frugality. But he gets his chance to teach them a lesson when a money-laundering criminal nearly bulldozes Preston with his car and compensates the boy with a blank check. Preston makes the check out for $1 million and goes on a spending spree he'll never forget.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Products & advertising4/5
  • Violence3/5
  • Frightening scenes2/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Positive messages3/5
  • Courage & resilience2/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising4/5
Why this rating?

Spending and acquisition are central: Preston buys a house, limousine service, toys, gadgets, electronics, and an extravagant party with stolen money.

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

No on-screen deaths occur.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

The family conflict includes bullying and mild insults, with no indication of frequent profanity or strong slurs.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

There is a mild first-crush or business-date subplot ending with a goodbye kiss; romance is secondary to the adventure.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Criminals pursue and corner a child, and one threatens a family with death, but the danger is brief, stylized, and framed as comic adventure.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

A bike accident, criminal pursuit, escapes, physical scuffles, and improvised defenses occur; the violence is largely comic and not graphically depicted.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

Preston shows ingenuity and bravery while escaping criminals and confronting danger, though some actions are reckless and dishonest.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

The premise strongly encourages imaginative wish fulfillment, inventive problem-solving, disguise, role-play, and creative use of purchased technology.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The story centers on a mostly conventional 1990s family cast; some supporting-cast variety is present, but diverse identities are not meaningfully explored.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Moments of kindness appear in the child's interactions, despite his overall goal of self-indulgence.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story ultimately stresses that money cannot buy happiness, family matters most, and deception and criminal money bring serious consequences.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Preston is resourceful but lies, impersonates an adult, and misuses stolen money; adults and law enforcement eventually restore accountability.

Family discussion

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. Did products, possessions, or buying things matter to the story? What message did that send?
  3. Which choice in Blank Check would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Blank Check, and what caused that change?
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