It's pretty safe to say that DC movies, much like other comic book blockbusters are kid-friendly. After all, the superhero genre mostly caters to a younger demographic.
But it's also worth mentioning that DC films are notorious for their grittier tone and although they've tried to embrace a more lighthearted theme over the last couple of years, projects like The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker prove that the franchise is more geared towards a mature audience.
With Blue Beetle set to become the first DCU film acknowledged under the new regime shepherded by James Gunn and Peter Safran, many are asking, will the age rating be suitable for kids to watch?
Portrayed by Xolo Maridueña, college graduate Jaime Reyes returns home in an attempt to find himself and what he wants for his future.
Little did he know that a little accidental possession of an ancient alien relic, the Scarab, would lead him to a whole new path of endless possibilities hailing the mantle as the symbiote host of the Blue Beetle.
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains MINOR SPOILERS for Blue Beetle, so READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
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What is Blue Beetle Rated, Is It Safe For Kids To Watch?
Blue Beetle is confirmed to be a PG-13-rated movie. This means the Motion Picture Association (MPA) has rated the latest DCU film ‘PG-13’ inappropriate for children under the age of 13.
It’s been rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references.
Since Blue Beetle is essentially a little Scarab artifact fusing itself to Jaime Reyes’ spine, along with the physical transformation he goes through, it is possible that the sequence would be disturbing for kids to watch.
As previously mentioned, DCU movies have the tendency to lean more on mature audiences compared to the MCU.
Despite being rated 'okay' for ages 13 and below, Blue Beetle has mentioned profanities throughout the film and even explicit body parts to elicit suggestive content only adults would be able to understand.
The film also contains violence with the image of blood spurting out of the human body.
Do you know what it looks like to turn your enemies into a kebab through his beetle stingers? Well, you don't want to know.
There are a couple of scenes geared towards sexually charged tension between Jaime Reyes and Jennifer Kord in which Jaime's interaction with her causes physical arousal from his body.
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So, Is Blue Beetle Suitable For Kids To Watch?
Just from the trailer alone, you can see Jaime transform into a beetle-like figure that not only unveils the Scarab suit, but even physical attributes a beetle would possess.
Do consider that Jaime Reyes is being portrayed as a teenage hero in the film, as well, which could also lead to inappropriate terms and sequences being used on the big screens.
Blue Beetle will likely be featuring a lot of action, crime-fighting scenes that lead to destroying public properties with explosives, an abundance of bloody injuries, and explicit images of lethal weapons utilized within the Scarab suit.
Notably, the previous DCU film, The Flash, was also rated PG-13 for its partial nudity, violence, and strong language used throughout the film.
While it is rated as such, The Flash did project plenty of nude scenes of Ezra Miller.
The Flash also included explosions, drawing blood and violence among heroes and villains, so you might want to double-check whether bringing your kid to see Blue Beetle would be wise.
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