Of the 28 films we saw in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in nearly 15 years, there has yet to be an R-rated entry in the franchise. But after many audiences showed up for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a discussion has begun to brew regarding the rating of Sam Raimi’s film. The big question going around is: should it have been rated R?
Multiverse of Madness is the closest Marvel has ever come to a horror movie, bringing director Sam Raimi’s expertise from movies like evil Dead and drag me to hell. Like a Twitter shared by user:
NGL although Doctor Strange should Lowkey be rated R shit was going DOWN!! 😮, movie 9/10May 7, 2022
Marvel’s latest film, which has already grossed over $700 million worldwide (making it the second most financially successful film of 2022), received a PG-13 rating from the MPAA for “intense footage.” of violence and action, scary images and a bit of language. “After some viewers checked it out, they pointed out how it was a bit more hardcore than your typical MCU movie. Here is another reaction:
Lol, this Dr Strange Multiverse of Madness is rated PG 13😂? The film is almost as bloody as Deadpool without the comedy. Some scenes made me reach out to random kids around me like pic.twitter.com/5Jskhf9I1gMay 7, 2022
The film includes Doctor Strange in the form of a zombie, a book of evil spells called Darkhold, a scary ice cream song sung by children, lots of violence at the hands of Scarlet Witch and plenty of horror-infused moments. However, not everyone accepts the idea that Multiverse of Madness should be in discussion for the R team:
I can’t help but feel like all of “Doctor Strange 2 should have been rated R!” the speech is a manifestation of the latent fear that this is all for the kids.May 8, 2022
Although many people want to see an R-rated version of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it is true that by choosing a PG-13 rating, the studio opens the door for a wider audience to see the film. Plus, the MCU has always been family-friendly and clearly wants to continue operating that way. Another strong point is how the strange doctor sequel is far from the first sprawling blockbuster to push the boundaries of what one might imagine for a PG-13 movie:
I’ve seen JAWS, POLTERGEIST, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM and GREMLINS grow up – all of which were even only *PG* rated – and I’m still alive https://t.co/KMQCC5QwqJ pic.twitter. com /fHTW7jITcAMay 8, 2022
Has anyone reviewed the 1984s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom lately? Wow, this movie is gnarly and also PG-13. There’s something to be said for these few movies that push those boundaries and expose younger audiences to things we wouldn’t typically see in movies with this rating. I know for me, seeing The Mummy when I was a kid absolutely terrified me, but it’s also one of the most memorable movies of my childhood. I can look back on it now and say I saw it as a kid and it was awesome. Here is another reaction about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness:
Ok… does ANYBODY remember Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell”? Because this horror-fest-inducing nightmare was PG-13 and was a pretty strong indicator of what his Doctor Strange would look like. The man already knew where the limits were because he had pushed them much harder before. https://t.co/wrXsToOcYOMay 9, 2022
While Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may not be the first R-rated Marvel movie, we’re imagining the next one dead Pool the film will finally break down this fourth wall, according to past comments from Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige about Dead Pool 3. Until then, you can follow all upcoming marvel movies here on CinemaBlend.
