Parents Guide to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - Is it Kid Friendly?

Wondering if Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is ok for kids? Doctor Strange 2 is rated PG-13 for horror elements and is not kid friendly. With Sam Raimi as director, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the scariest Marvel film in the MCU and parents may want to think twice about taking young ones to the theater, especially if they’re used to seeing all the Marvel films. Here’s what parents need to know in this Doctor Strange 2 Parents Guide.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Parents Guide

Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) returns from the last time we saw him in Spider-Man: No Way Home. He proves again to have a soft spot for kids as he happens upon America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) and learns she has powers to travel through the multiverse. A mysterious and sinister adversary is chasing her across the multiverses to obtain her powers, and it seems as if Doctor Strange is the only one who can help her.

When he learns that it’s not sorcery, but witchcraft that possesses the demons chasing America, he goes to visit his old friend, Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch. What he finds is not exactly what he’s looking for.

Why is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness rated PG-13?

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, frightening images and some language which means it may contain content not suitable for children.

Parents should be aware that Doctor Strange 2 is not your typical Marvel film and will be too scary for many kids.

Language

Compared to other Marvel films, language is not as plentiful, but there are uses of damn, a**, sh*t, and a use of g-ddamn. Also a character starts to say son of a b**ch, but ends up mouthing the last word. There are also uses of hell and words like crap and butt.

Mature Content

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness gets progressively scarier as the movie goes on. What starts as a pretty tame one-eyed-giant-octopus monster turns demonic pretty quickly. Characters are impaled, tortured, and drugged. There are elements of horror, gore, brutality, witchcraft, and darkness that younger kids will not be ready for.

For example a character wears a cape made of damned souls, zombies appear, characters rise from the dead, and there are lots of jump scares. If you’re expecting typical Marvel fight battles, these are not it.

Is Doctor Strange 2 Too Scary For Kids?

Parents should know Doctor Strange 2 is basically a horror movie and not for young kids. Is Doctor Strange 2 too scary for kids? It depends if they like horror films and nightmares. Mature kids and teens who enjoy the horror genre with bloody elements, screaming, zombies, things popping out at you, etc., they’d probably like this one. I would not recommend Doctor Strange 2 for kids under 10, but you know what you kid can handle. If you don’t I suggest screening it first.

Doctor Strange 2 is much darker than other Marvel films delving into the pain that loss can create. Some kids may not understand the concept of the multiverses and why some of their favorite characters are different and may ask why they’re choosing to make certain decisions.

Sam Raimi adds a new and unexpected twist to the MCU. Horror for kids, right? Some fans may say it’s about time to mix it up. This film was more stylized, focusing on imagery and visual effects, but even the CGI felt sloppy and unrealistic. While some scenes were beautiful in its carnage, I missed the storytelling and connection to the characters.

There was nothing wrong with any of the performances, and we do a get a little bit of fan service, but I feel like they did Wanda dirty. I loved WandaVision and felt like we finally got to see Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda in her glory. Wanda went through such a journey in her grief and we got to go along for the ride. I grew closer to her as a character, because I could empathize.

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, they did such a disservice to Wanda’s character, essentially turning her into a monster all in the name of motherhood. Everything Wanda had learned from Westview seems to be erased and thrown into a dumpster fire with Wanda as the fire starter. It was overkill, but Olsen is such a powerhouse, she nails the scenes and the emotional intensity. Women have been through tragedy, devastation, and deep in the trenches since time began, and they don’t turn into psycho witches. I know she may be the Scarlet Witch, but as a mother, there are some lines that you don’t cross.

America is an afterthought, a means through which we can see Stephen become the self-indulgent hero. It’s a shame, because Gomez can act. She just wasn’t given the opportunity, and as a Latina LGBTQ character, I was hoping for more for her, but hopefully there will be in the future.

Danny Elfman’s soundtrack saves some of the script’s messiness and adds to a fight scene that could have been cheesy, but winds up being a favorite scene. There was no lack of cheesiness in the film though. The horror elements for adults were underwhelming and misplaced. At the end of it all, I just left the theater feeling blah and wondering what the heck I just watched. Sadly, it was a disappointment.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a trippy ride, like being in the freaky funhouse except when you find your way out, you realize it wasn’t even that fun.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ok for kids

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