Guardians of the Galaxy 3 age rating: Is the movie appropriate for kids?

Despite the PG-13 rating in most Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, the franchise has always been enjoyed by everyone in the family. But those who have been paying attention, have noticed that the movies are becoming more daring, pushing the PG-13 line as far as possible. With  Guardians of the Galaxy 3 now playing in theaters, MCU fans are wondering if the movie is appropriate for young viewers.

Audiences weren’t sure what to expect when James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy premiered in theaters. These crew of heroes are not known as widely as Captain America or Spider-Man. However, it didn’t take long at all for MCU fans to accept the Guardians crew and fall for the colorful and hilarious characters.

The first two movies feature a killer soundtrack, and the latest movie in the franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, is no different! But is this soundtrack now accompanied by scenes that are too mature for kids? Is this a movie you should take your small crew to watch?

Is Guardians of the Galaxy 3 safe for kids to watch?

Let us start by saying that we are no experts. I may be a mom, but I know each kiddo is different with triggers and maturity levels. Not to mention, each parent is free to make their own rules! You know your child best and what they are able to handle. That said, we are only here to provide details about the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 age rating.

So, for me, after watching the movie on the big screen, I decided GOTG Vol. 3  is be a bit too mature for my 9-year-old. The movie features more violence than I’d like to introduce my kiddo to, as well as sad topics I know he is not ready to learn about. We dive in more into what makes the movie PG-13.

Why is Guardians of the Galaxy 3 rated PG-13?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action, strong language, suggestive/drug references, and thematic elements.

The action is pretty heavy, which is awesome for adult MCU fans, but not so much for young viewers. There are scenes a kid may find frightening, and be ready to talk to your kid about animal cruelty on the ride back home if they watch the movie with you.

Is there a lot of animal cruelty in Guardians of the Galaxy 3?

Yes and no. Animal cruelty is implied, we hear and see shadows of the horrible torture animal creatures are going through, but we don’t see the truly terrible moments. We only see animals being pushed, dragged, kicked, and the quick deaths of a few adorable characters. However, at least to me, the off-camera torture we don’t get to see is bad enough!

Again, the decision is up to you! But I will say that this is a must-watch for fans of the MCU. It’s fun, heartfelt, and did we mention the movie features a killer soundtrack? See it in theaters Friday, May 5.