After screening Avengers: Infinity War earlier this week, we've had a lot of parents approach us and ask is Avengers: Infinity War safe for kids? Infinity War is undoubtedly the darkest and most intense films of the MARVEL franchise, more so than Captain America: Civil War and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and with a rating of PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language, and some crude references, many parents we've spoken with are still not quite sure what the age is appropriate to see this weekend's record-breaking blockbuster, now playing in theaters everywhere.
Marvel Studios' AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR..L to R: Okoye (Danai Gurira), Black Panther/T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson) and Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)..Photo: Chuck Zlotnick..©Marvel Studios 2018
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Is Avengers: Infinity War Safe For Kids?
Like most MCU films, there are a few instances of mild cuss words and one instance of a superhero flipping off a villain, I'll let you place your bets on which superhero that was. As for the intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout? Well, isn't that why we go to see MARVEL movies? From shooting some pretty awesome and spectacular fantasy weapons to intense hand to hand battles featuring punches, kicks, and blows from other weapons are why many kids, even our kids, love MCU films as much as they do.
Where the question of whether Avengers: Infinity War is safe for kids lies within the theme of the film. Unfortunately, as we've been led to believe and not to give away any spoilers, many kids will see some of their favorite superheroes die. Infinity War deals with loss and death in very upfront ways, and it hurts. It took me as an adult a good two days to process what I saw. I cried, more than once, and as the ending credits rolled, our entire theater was speechless.
With that being said, it's not the first time the MCU has dealt a hurtful blow to audiences with the death of a favorite character. The death of Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, was one many, like me, did not handle well. Then, when the Ravagers (who previously had excommunicated Yondu) returned to give the blue alien his proper honors, I lost it even more. I'm a big cry baby.
But, as far as Avengers: Infinity War goes, no one knows your child(ren) as good as you do as their parent. For our family, we're all going to see it again tonight. Tonight will be the first time for three of our children, a 5-year-old, a 7-year-old, and our other 12-year-old, and the first time for my husband. When I ask the 12-year-old who joined me earlier this week what he thought of the film, he absolutely loved it and didn't find it dark or scary at all. Actually, he rates Avengers: Infinity War as one of the best films to come out of the MCU yet.
Avengers: Infinity War is now playing in theaters everywhere!
About Avengers: Infinity War
From Marvel Studios comes the eagerly anticipated “Avengers: Infinity War,” the third installment in the “Avengers” franchise and 19th Marvel Studios film to date. The release also marks the 10-year anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began with the release of “Iron Man” in 2008.
“Avengers: Infinity War” picks up as the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, but a dangerous menace has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, Thanos will stop at nothing to collect all six Infinity Stones in his quest to wield unimaginable power and his twisted will on all of humanity.
Portions of this material for this article, Is Avengers: Infinity War Safe For Kids?, have been provided courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.