Current:Home > ScamsParents' guide to 'Deadpool & Wolverine': Is new Marvel movie appropriate for kids? -TradeWise
Parents' guide to 'Deadpool & Wolverine': Is new Marvel movie appropriate for kids?
View
Date:2025-04-17 08:39:41
What he does best, Wolverine has said, isn't very nice. You might want to keep that in mind if you're thinking of making "Deadpool & Wolverine" (in theaters Friday) a family movie night.
Over the past couple of decades, dozens of movies featuring Marvel Comics characters from X-Men to the Avengers to Spider-Man have been bringing together old fans while making new ones.
And while you might be looking forward to reuniting with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, or just can't wait to see what Disney-owned Marvel is going to do with this latest installment of its expansive cinematic universe as the studio folds in the franchises acquired from 20th Century Fox, don't shrug off that R rating.
Here's what parents need to know about Marvel's "Deadpool & Wolverine":
What is the new Deadpool movie about?
"Deadpool & Wolverine," directed by Shawn Levy, is a sequel to "Deadpool" (2016) and Deadpool 2" (2018).
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The film brings together Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Jackman) as they reluctantly team up to face down foes, try to make up for past mistakes and hopefully — amid the action and nonstop jokes — save the world.
Why is 'Deadpool & Wolverine' rated R?
The Motion Picture Association gave "Deadpool & Wolverine" an R rating for "strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references." It wasn't kidding.
This movie is two hours and seven minutes of quips and lots of heart, yes, but also severed appendages, savage and unflinching fights, foul jokes, sexual innuendo and enough f-bombs to make Samuel L. Jackson blush.
The two previous Deadpool movies also had R ratings, so it's unsurprising this third installment does, too, even under Disney.
The company's CEO “Bob Iger had said very early on that the other Deadpools were R, so this could be R," Marvel president Kevin Feige told Deadline Monday at the movie's premiere in New York. "And we weren’t going to undo any of the great work Ryan had done in those first movies. So that was never in question."
Watch Party newsletter:Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
It is OK to take kids to see 'Deadpool & Wolverine'?
In short: no. To paraphrase Wolverine, you picked the wrong movie, bub.
If you've seen the first two "Deadpool" films, this one matches them in terms of topics and tone. If you missed them, that may explain why you're wondering if this one is OK for the little ones or even most teens. It really isn't. The movie may be fine for supervised older teens, though parents should be prepared for uncomfortable scenes and having to explain the explicit and mature topics.
Disney owns the "Deadpool" franchise now, but that doesn't mean this sequel is suddenly gentler or family friendly. In just the first few minutes, there is blood everywhere and maybe three butt or penis jokes.
The movie has scenes of brutal violence, drug abuse, casual suicidal ideation and many masturbation- and sex-related conversations.
So no, the movie is not appropriate for children, no matter how much your kids love Marvel movies or comic books or superheroes. The jokes will go over their head and some of the scenes may be confusing, jarring and even frightening.
Enjoy this one responsibly with other adults.
veryGood! (1945)
Related
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- TV host, author Tamron Hall talks her writing process, new book and how she starts her day
- Eric Carmen, All By Myself and Hungry Eyes singer, dies at age 74
- TikTok bill passes House in bipartisan vote, moving one step closer to possible ban
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt talk Sunday's 'epic' 'I'm Just Ken' Oscars performance
- NBA legend John Stockton ramps up fight against COVID policies with federal lawsuit
- Both sides rest in manslaughter trial of Michigan school shooter’s dad
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- 'Devastating': Missing Washington woman's body found in Mexican cemetery, police say
Ranking
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Rats are high on marijuana evidence at an infested police building, New Orleans chief says
- Seavey now has the most Iditarod wins, but Alaska’s historic race is marred by 3 sled dog deaths
- John Mulaney Supports Olivia Munn After She Shares Breast Cancer Battle
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Arkansas stops offering ‘X’ as an alternative to male and female on driver’s licenses and IDs
- New York Times is sending copyright takedown notices to Wordle clones
- India’s new citizenship law excludes Muslims. Why?
Recommendation
Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
Cop boss says marauding rats are getting high on marijuana at New Orleans police headquarters
2024 Oscars ratings reveal biggest viewership in 4 years
Mass kidnappings from Nigeria schools show the state does not have control, one expert says
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Bears signing Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles' husband, to 2-year deal: 'Chicago here he comes'
'Heartbreaking': 3 eggs of beloved bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow unlikely to hatch
Babies R Us opening shops inside about 200 Kohl's stores across the country