Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for The Marvels.
Summary
- The Marvels offers a positive message of teamwork and sets up future MCU plotlines, but parents should be aware of some action and violence in the film.
- The movie is rated PG-13 for action/violence and brief language, with epic fight scenes featuring Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Captain Rambeau, but without excessive violence.
- While the movie has kid-appealing moments, some aspects may not be suitable for young children, including a commanding villain and a difficult scene featuring Captain Marvel.
While The Marvels contains considerably tamer themes than other MCU movies, there are still some aspects that parents may want to keep in mind for their younger kids. The sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers as she investigates a mysterious wormhole that has intertwined her powers with those of Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau. With a big emphasis on Carol, Kamala, and Monica’s chemistry, The Marvels offers an overall positive message of teamwork and helps set up several future MCU plotlines.
The Marvels
- Release Date
- November 10, 2023
- Director
- Nia DaCosta
- Cast
- Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, Samuel L. Jackson
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 105 Minutes
Though The Marvels opened to mixed reviews from critics, its audience score has slowly been going up as more people have gone to see the film. The Marvels has plenty of moments that would appeal to a younger audience, such as Kamala’s signature fan art and the adorable army of cat-like flerkens that come into play. However, there is an element of action and violence, and while these sequences aren’t necessarily scary or explicitly graphic, they still may be quite intense for some children.
Why The Marvels Is Rated PG-13
Just like most other MCU movies and its direct predecessor, Captain Marvel, The Marvels is rated PG-13 for “action/violence and brief language.” Unsurprising of any superhero movie, The Marvels contains epic fight scenes of all sorts featuring Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Captain Rambeau. From the main trio using their light powers to some fights coming down to hand-to-hand combat, the movie manages to capture most of its battles without getting too overtly violent. Some weapons like laser guns and missiles are used as well, though minimal blood is shown in the aftermath.
Though The Marvels director Nia DaCosta has used the moniker Photon for Monica Rambeau, she is never referred to as such in the movie.
The Marvels‘ most violent moment is arguably when one character gets impaled by debris, but it is captured in a way that isn’t explicitly gory. The violence in The Marvels is nothing that the MCU hasn’t explored before, so parents of younger MCU fans can rest assured that none of the action sequences will come as a complete shock. In terms of the brief language the MPAA’s rating heeds, Nick Fury drops a few “sh-ts” in a conversation with Carol. It is considerably tame for a Samuel L. Jackson character, but the language is still something for parents to take into account.
Why The Marvels May Not Be Suitable For Young Children
Though the aspects that make up The Marvels’ PG-13 rating are relatively tame, the movie still might not be suitable for some young children. Zawe Ashton’s Dar-Benn has a commanding presence over her followers that may be intense for some, especially on the eerily dark backdrop of Hala. There is also one sequence in the movie that involves Captain Marvel having to make an extremely difficult choice that results in the sacrifice of some lives, which may be upsetting viewing for some younger ones.
The Marvels doesn’t exactly push the boundaries of violence and gore, especially for what’s already been previously featured in the MCU. However, there are still several moments that may be unsuitable for young children, and the movie’s many action sequences and minor use of expletives is what grants it the PG-13 rating. Though Captain Marvel’s sequel may not be completely kid-friendly, The Marvels still features positive themes and kid-appealing moments that make the movie a worthy watch for younger audiences.
Key Release Dates
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