While it should come as no surprise, the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been officially given a PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association. While there was little question that the Doctor Strange sequel would match the rating of the rest of the current MCU, fans excited for the promised horror elements of the Sam Raimi-direct film might be pleased with the MPA’s reasoning for the rating. The MPA cites “intense sequences of violence and action, frightening images and some language.”
The notes of “intense sequences of violence and action” and “some language” are fairly standard for MCU movies, but the mention of “frightening images” further confirms Marvel Studios’ promise that Multiverse of Madness will be the MCU’s first horror film and that Raimi’s unique style indeed remained a major part of the final cut.
In the past, few questioned the PG-13 model of the MCU. However, as new characters start to be introduced—such as Deadpool or Blade—demands for R-rated and more mature content has increased. At the same time, the MCU is set to debut its first non-PG-13 project with Ms. Marvel, which has been given a TV-PG rating for its Disney+ residency. Director Sam Raimi is also no stranger to PG-13 horror films, such as his 2009 film Drag Me to Hell, which proved that you don’t require an R-rating to offer the right horror vibes for a story.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hit theaters on May 6, 2022.
Source: Film Ratings
