Overview
For Marvel fans, Thunderbolts needs no introduction, as it marks a significant shift in the Marvel universe with the unveiling of the new Avengers. Kicking off this new era, you can expect to see some familiar faces such as former Black Widow Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes, as well as some new characters like Sentry, a.k.a, Bob.
Before jumping into the Marvel universe again with the family, we pulled all the important details you need to know about this movie to ensure it’s safe for your kids. Let’s take a look!
Harmful Content ❗️
Parents should know that Thunderbolts is an action-packed, anti-hero movie with themes of redemption and personal identity. The movie takes a raw look into mental health struggles such as low self-worth and battling depression and hopelessness. Audiences can expect a darker tone and even more moral ambiguity than in past Marvel movies.
One character in particular, Bob, struggles with severely low self-worth and is shown battling (both physically and mentally) his inner critic. This inner critic is portrayed as a dark, ominous version of himself that may be unsettling for some viewers. For those who have had similar struggles, these scenes may be triggering.
Lastly, there is a small presence of substance use in the movie. One character describes being addicted to meth and other characters discuss drinking and are seen drinking on screen.
Language
Thunderbolts has frequent profanity including “sh*t,” “a**hole,” “b*tch,” and more.
Sex
This movie does not have any sexual content and there are no romantic subplots involved in the story.
Violence
In true Marvel fashion, you can expect fight scenes, car chases, and serious injury. Parents should also know that the anti-heroes in this movie are trained assassins so discussions and depictions of death are prominent.
Positive Value 💫
Despite the movie’s darker tone, the message of realizing your self-worth and overcoming personal struggles is clear and valuable. Additionally, the movie heavily emphasizes the importance of relying on trusted friends when self-doubt comes. At first, the group of anti-heroes work together begrudgingly and out of necessity, but eventually, they grow to genuinely care and help each other.
Throughout the movie, the audience sees the main character, Yelena, struggle with finding purpose and regretting past mistakes she’s made. She’s portrayed as deeply empathetic towards her friends and desiring a restored relationship with her estranged father. Though there is certainly moral ambiguity involved due to her work, kids can still find relatable and worthwhile traits in her character.
So, should my kid watch it?
Due to some of the emotionally intense content, we’d suggest this movie for ages 13 and up. While this movie is comparable to past Marvel movies, the darker themes may be worth extra caution for some families.
