Thunderbolts* is not your typical Marvel movie. This is the story for the antihero. Is Thunderbolts* kid friendly? Rated PG-13, I wouldn’t recommend Thunderbolts* for young kids or tweens as the subject material can get pretty heavy. Here’s what parents need to know in this Thunderbolts* Parents Guide.
Thunderbolts* Parents Guide
Thunderbolts* takes place after the events of Captain America: Brave New World. Yelena Belova, Black Widow’s sister finds herself very lonely and unfulfilled after the death of her sister. She’s looking for a purpose. After finding herself and other castoffs in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, an unlikely group of antiheroes is formed. Yelena, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, and John Walker are now the Thunderbolts. They must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?
Parents need to know that Thunderbolts* is not kid friendly, not because it’s super crass like Deadpool, but because the film is dark and focuses a lot on mental health.
Age Rating: Why is Thunderbolts Rated PG-13?
Thunderbolts is rated PG-13 for language, suggestive references, drug references, and strong violence which means some content is not appropriate for kids under 13.
Language
There is quite a bit of profanity in Thunderbolts* including uses of sh*t, a**, a**hole, bi*ch, bullsh*t, damn, and words of Deity like g-ddamn, g-d, Jesus, and Jesus Christ. There is also use of the word “dick.”
Violence: Is Thunderbolts Too Scary for Kids?
Thunderbolts* starts off with a bang. There is intense fighting, explosions, use of weapons, and a lot of death. Expect Marvel level violence, but add in some darker elements.
One scene shows a child being shot and killed. Another scene shows a character being shot repeatedly with at very close range. Another scene shows children about to be whipped.
Mature Content
Thunderbolts* talks heavily about mental health, loneliness, and a sense of void, sometimes due to lack of purpose and also due to childhood trauma. Other topics such as abandonment, divorce, and domestic violence are also addressed.
A comment is made about tiny dicks.
Some characters drink alcohol and talk about self medicating with alcohol and drugs.
Is Thunderbolts* Appropriate for Children Under 10?
Thunderbolts* definitely has a more mature, adult vibe than other Marvel films. Although it’s full of laughs, it’s not exactly a feel-good film. These antiheroes lean into the dark humor of what their lives have become and are aware of the mistakes they’ve made.
The Revengers walked so the Thunderbolts could run.
Julia Louis-Dreyful plays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who we’ve seen in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. She’s been using Yelena, Ghost, John Walker, and Taskmaster to take care of her dirty work on the side until she needs to get rid of them as they can be used as evidence against her.
Instead, she unknowingly brings them together. Because who else do they have?
The cast has chemistry that reminds us of the old Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy. Florence Pugh excels at being vulnerable and relatable. While the film does address mental health, it’s addressed with a lot of self-deprecating humor. This could be sensitive for some viewers. These characters experience a lot of guilt, self-loathing, and depression and talk to each other about how to cope.
You won’t get the typical Marvel blockbuster action scenes, but there is still plenty of action and fights. Pacing can be slow, and I appreciated they did not drag out the final act.
The Thunderbolts* are a flawed group, but they are making audiences care about the MCU again. Myself included.
