When it comes to Marvel movies, we’ve always expected them to be suitable for the whole family. At least, suitable for some children and especially teenagers. Thunderbolts* is out, and you’ll want to know if this is one to take the whole family to see or not.
The question comes with the release of the Deadpool franchise. Each of those movies is rated R, and there is the fear that Marvel is moving into more adult-rated content. So, you’ll want to check out what to expect in Thunderbolts* before you risk taking the kids to see it.
This release gathers some of the lesser-known “heroes” within the universe. Think of them as a little like the Suicide Squad in the world of DC, only they have a little bit more humor to them, and some of them have actually helped to save the world before rather than taking it over.
Thunderbolts* age rating: Explaining the PG-13 rating
The good news for those who have kids who want to see this Marvel release, you can take them. It is officially rated PG-13, although it does have some frightening scenes for some of the more younger viewers. Marvel has certainly taken a turn since the Phase 3 days.
Sex & nudity: There isn’t any of this included in the movie, but there is one reference to “tiny d**k” on one occasion. I’m sure you don’t even need me to tell you which character said that.
Violence & gore: Marvel is certainly upping the stakes when it comes to violence and gore. There are far more fight scenes, and they are much more visual than they used to be. All the characters in this movie are trained assassins, so fighting is their forte. They are more than happy to cause bodily harm with their own fists.
In one scene, a young girl is killed. While the shooting happens off the screen, there is blood splatter visible, and it’s clear who is the one killed in this, and that is a little disturbing for some younger viewers.
Language: We’re used to words and phrases like “Jesus Christ,” “goddamn,” and the B-word in Marvel movies. There is a higher use of the S-word throughout Thunderbolts* compared to other Marvel movies, though. This could feel a little off for some parents, as we’re so used to Cap telling people off for their language.
Alcohol & drugs: As these are all assassins, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that they drink rather heavily. There is one scene where one character forces a younger version of herself to drink a bottle of Vodka, and there are some mentions and uses of some drugs.
Overall verdict: Who is Thunderbolts* appropriate for?
This is one of the more graphic and darker Marvel movies that I’ve seen. I think maybe Black Widow is up there due to some of the content, but Thunderbolts* was certainly more than I think a lot of people would initially expect from a Marvel movie. It could be a little disturbing for some younger viewers under the age of 10 or those who don’t sit well with a lot of violence.
However, it’s still a fun movie. There are plenty of comedic moments that take away from the violence, and some of the more darker elements of the story may be overlooked by younger children, as they focus on mental health and drug addiction. This is one of those that I’d go to see yourself if you are worried, but it is still rated PG-13, and it will work for the teens and tweens in the house.
Thunderbolts* is available in theaters now.