Parents' guide: How 'Deadpool 2' earned its R rating (2023)

Estimated read time: 8-9 minutes

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THE PAST — At the age of 10, I once tried to convince my mom that I was emotionally mature enough to watch the first “Poltergeist” movie.

My strategy was to use what I perceived was my mother’s lack of knowledge in all things current as a way to talk myself into seeing the film with a friend.

I banked on the fact that she was old (at least 30 at the time) and had only old friends who were surely ignorant to popular culture since they only cared about old people things like making sure their children ate all of their dinner and bathed regularly.

My argument was that “Poltergeist” was rated PG, and therefore was safe. Fortunately for me, my mother was much more savvy to the ways of the world than I gave her credit for.

She never let me see the film because I was too young, but she did agree to a compromise. Instead of letting me watch “Poltergeist,” I could rent and watch Disney’s “Watcher in the Woods," which was also rated PG.

It's a compromise I regret making to this day. “Watcher in the Woods” scared me so badly I could not sleep for three nights after watching it. To this day I cannot hear the name “Nerak” without going to a dark place in my mind.

I share this little memory of mine not to make fun of my youthful ignorance or make reference to old movies. I bring this up to point out that not all movies with a similar rating or subject matter are created equally. That may be good to know if you have a 10-year-old trying to make the argument that they should see “Deadpool 2” because it is a Marvel movie.

In my opinion, there are two types of R-rated movies. The first is the type of movie that could have easily been rated PG-13 if the creators had taken a couple words out or cut one extra scene (“Logan” falls into this category).

Then there are the hard R-rated movies that earn their ratings because they cut out words and extra scenes that would have earned an NC-17 rating if they had been left in.

“Deadpool 2” falls solidly into the second category. Here are the reasons why.

Violence is the hallmark of the “Deadpool” franchise. It's the big reason the first film did so well and why the second one will probably do just as well.

(Video) Honest Trailers - Deadpool 2 (Feat. Deadpool)

The violence in this film is over-the-top and nonstop, but limited to the type of violence you get with good guys fighting bad guys. There are sword fights, gun fights, knife fights, superpower fights, horrible accidents — anything that could kill or maim someone is portrayed.

This is similar to the type of violence you would get in a PG-13 Marvel movie if the camera didn’t cut away from the fight at the last minute.

Following in the footsteps of the first film, “Deadpool 2” portrays extremely graphic scenes as a way to tell a joke or just give the audience that gross-out moment that shocks the viewer due to its gore and unexpectedness.

To the studio's credit, they get every bit of the audience's reaction they are going for. There is no shortage of blood, broken bones and spilled guts in this film.

If you have seen the first film you know what to expect, but the film's creators do find new ways of surprising us with creative ways of killing and maiming people.

The primary superpower of the character Deadpool is he cannot be killed no matter what happens to him, so you can imagine anything that can be done to his body will be done to his body.

It is then left to the filmmakers to invent some of the most horrific and funny accidents and battle wounds for him to fight through.

Summer movie preview: 'Deadpool,' 'Solo,' 'Incredibles' lead sequel-filled season

This list gives you an idea of some of the notable releases to look for the next few months.

This film could have easily earned an 'R' rating on language alone. So it goes without saying that this film is filled with the type of language you probably don’t want the kids repeating when grandma is visiting.

Of course, language is more than just questionable words, it is what is being communicated.

(Video) Deadpool 2 - The First 10 Years

There are a lot of bad jokes and insults to almost everyone in this film. Really no one person or group of people is safe from being a punchline in this film at some point.

I should point out that despite all of the crude language, there isn’t the type of language or message in this film that marginalizes real-world groups of people, unless you consider mutants with superpowers a marginalized real-world group of people.

For this movie, the filmmakers had to choose their battles, and explicit sexuality or nudity were not big parts of that equation.

There was a scene with some brief sexually explicit dialogue but did not last long and did not lead to any other sexually explicit material.

There was one scene where the naked legs, buttocks and a quick flash of some computer-generated genitals of a male child were on screen. This scene wasn’t sexual in nature but was played for an uncomfortable laugh.

This film is not made for or intended for children to watch.

It is a superhero movie for adults with everything geared toward a mature audience, so please be cognizant of this as your kids try to convince you it can’t be that bad if it is a superhero movie.

Of course, what you decide is appropriate for you and your children to see or not see is up to you and your best judgment. It is my goal to provide a clear understanding of what you can expect if you go to this movie or if you somehow lose an argument with your 10-year-old to let them see this particular Marvel movie.

"Deadpool 2" is rated R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual references and brief drug material.

This film could have easily earned an 'R' rating on language alone. So it goes without saying that this film is filled with the type of language you probably don’t want the kids repeating when grandma is visiting.

Of course, language is more than just questionable words, it is what is being communicated.

There are a lot of bad jokes and insults to almost everyone in this film. Really no one person or group of people is safe from being a punchline in this film at some point.

(Video) Deadpool 2: Theatrical VS Super Duper Cut Comparison

I should point out that despite all of the crude language, there isn’t the type of language or message in this film that marginalizes real-world groups of people, unless you consider mutants with superpowers a marginalized real-world group of people.

For this movie, the filmmakers had to choose their battles, and explicit sexuality or nudity were not big parts of that equation.

There was a scene with some brief sexually explicit dialogue but did not last long and did not lead to any other sexually explicit material.

There was one scene where the naked legs, buttocks and a quick flash of some computer-generated genitals of a male child were on screen. This scene wasn’t sexual in nature but was played for an uncomfortable laugh.

This film is not made for or intended for children to watch.

It is a superhero movie for adults with everything geared toward a mature audience, so please be cognizant of this as your kids try to convince you it can’t be that bad if it is a superhero movie.

Of course, what you decide is appropriate for you and your children to see or not see is up to you and your best judgment. It is my goal to provide a clear understanding of what you can expect if you go to this movie or if you somehow lose an argument with your 10-year-old to let them see this particular Marvel movie.

"Deadpool 2" is rated R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual references and brief drug material.

×Parents' guide: How 'Deadpool 2' earned its R rating (2)

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FAQs

Parents' guide: How 'Deadpool 2' earned its R rating? ›

Expect tons of extremely graphic violence, much of which is close-up and very gory and gross: torture, decapitation, dismemberment, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and much, much more. Sympathetic characters die, and children are abused by authority figures.

Why is Deadpool 2 R-rated? ›

“Deadpool” is arguably the most sexually inappropriate movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, rated R for strong language, violence, sexual content and graphic nudity. “Deadpool 2” has violence, strong language and “brief drug material.” So, you can expect a plethora of f-bombs and inappropriate jokes.

Is Deadpool rated R on Disney? ›

“Deadpool” is an R-rated superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds. It can now be watched on Disney+.

Is Deadpool 3 Rated R? ›

On the other hand, Kevin Feige has stated once more that Deadpool 3 will be the first MCU movie with an R rating: “It's amazing. And we've got Hugh Jackman coming back for our first Deadpool film within the MCU. That's our first R-rated film.

What is the Deadpool movie rated R for? ›

Is Deadpool 2 censored on Disney? ›

The American theatrical release and their home video releases are uncensored. The Indian Blu-ray discs are uncensored. FX now airs the movie uncensored. Disney+ carries it uncensored since parental controls were introduced.

Is Deadpool 2 appropriate for a 12 year old? ›

Parents need to know that, like the original, Deadpool 2 is bloody, raunchy, violent, and filled with pop-culture references that may go over even some teens' heads. In other words, it's targeted specifically at older audiences.

What is the first R-rated Marvel show? ›

Daredevil: Born Again Is Now Marvel's First Real R-Rated Test - IMDb. Daredevil: Born Again premieres next year, and the series will be the first real R-rated test for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What Disney star turned rated R? ›

Former Disney actress turned adult film star Maitland Ward wonders where the inclusivity and diversity were back in her time in the House of Mouse.

Has Disney ever made an R-rated movie? ›

One of the earliest films from this outfit was a historical movie for Disney, it's very first R-rated release: Down and Out in Beverly Hills.

What was the first R-rated movie? ›

Motion Picture Association - Wikipedia

instituted ratings on November 1st, 1968, and the first R-rated movie was released on November 4, 1968. It was The Split, starring Jim Brown and Gene Hackman.

Will Blade be rated R? ›

#Blade reboot will be part of Phase 5 of the #MCU, and the first Blade movie to be rated PG-13, instead of R, as confirmed by Marvel's Kevin Feige. See Yah and 15,847 others like this.

Was the first Deadpool rated R? ›

Deadpool is rated R by the MPAA for strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity. Violence: - Frequent explicit violence, with realistic detail, blood and tissue damage. - Frequent portrayals of gun, weapons, and hand-to-hand violence, with some blood.

Why is Logan rated R? ›

Parents Need to Know

Unlike almost all other superhero movies (except Deadpool), it's rated R, so expect a lot of very edgy material. The main issue is the extremely strong, bloody comic book violence, including characters being sliced through flesh and skulls, shot, shown in pain, and killed.

Why is John Wick rated R? ›

Parents need to know that John Wick is a brutally violent, frequently bloody thriller starring Keanu Reeves as an assassin. There's a very high body count: Characters are shot, maimed, stabbed, beaten, threatened, killed with firearms at close range, blown to bits in an explosion, strangled with bare hands,…

Is Deadpool a hard r? ›

And ironically, young kids end up seeing even more explicit films, even though the PG-13 rating was originally meant to protect them. This is why it is so admirable, and so relieving, that the producers decided to make Deadpool an R-rated movie, and a hard-R rated movie at that.

What inappropriate scenes are in Deadpool 2? ›

A few scenes with bare buttocks and one brief scene with male frontal nudity. Domino wears a tight-fitting costume that shows her cleavage. As with other aspects of the film, the nudity and sexual references are either toned down or eliminated in the PG-13-rated version, "Once Upon A Deadpool".

Was Deadpool 2 banned? ›

Because the Deadpool franchise relies heavily on brutal violence, profuse profanity, and other adult-orientated hallmarks, the original cuts of the two movies were banned from China. It's worth mentioning the 2016 original did screen at a film festival in the Middle Kingdom, but never received a wide release.

What is the PG version of Deadpool 2? ›

Once Upon a Deadpool” recuts “Deadpool 2” to a PG-13 rating, using sequences in which Deadpool reads the story to a kidnapped Fred Savage in his studio bedroom from “The Princess Bride” as a framing device.

How many swear words are in Deadpool 2? ›

Profanity (11)

Irreverent jokes about sex, pedophilia, homosexuality, and suicide throughout.

Is Deadpool 2 ok for 14 year olds? ›

"Deadpool 2" is rated R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual references and brief drug material.

What is the Joker age rating? ›

See it for Phoenix, but don't expect a great film. Is it for kids? No. The MPAA rated “Joker” R for “strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual image,” and that makes it a “hard R.” The violence is extremely graphic, and an air of anger and isolation swirls around the film.

What is the only R-rated Marvel movie? ›

During their presentation, the company announced that its upcoming Spider-Man spin-off Kraven the Hunter will be rated R.

Why is Avengers Rated M? ›

The Avengers is an action adventure bringing together a number of Marvel's most famous superhero characters. It is targeted at adolescent males and adult fans of Marvel comics. It contains violence and scary scenes which make it unsuitable for children and some younger teens.

Was Avengers supposed to be Rated R? ›

' That film was actually submitted twice and received an R-rating both times, before Whedon finally made the appropriate edits.

Does Disney Plus have 18+ content? ›

FAQs. How many different age restriction options are there in Disney Plus? There are seven different age rating restrictions to choose from: 0+, 6+, 9+, 12+, 14+,16+ and 18+. You can switch between them anytime provided you have the password for the Disney account, and not every profile has to be restricted.

What rated R stuff is on Disney Plus? ›

Learn more.
  • Disney Plus has added its first R-rated movies: "Logan," "Deadpool," and "Deadpool 2."
  • The move marks a big step forward for the service by offering better value to its adult subscribers.
  • Disney also added a slate of mature Marvel shows in March, along with increased parental controls.
Jul 22, 2022

Why Disney doesn t do R-rated? ›

Disney has long been opposed to releasing R-rated films, or doing anything that could tarnish its family-friendly image, so approving the edgier superhero films, which have found success with fans and at the box office, is a major change of pace.

Can a PG-13 movies say the F word? ›

The restrictions set by the Us ratings board mean the F-word can only be used once in a PG-13 movie.

What is the darkest Disney movie? ›

Arguably the darkest film in the entire Disney animated canon is the 1996 film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The movie opens with Frollo killing Quasimodo's mother and attempting to kill an infant Quasimodo before he's forced to stop. He attempts to atone for the sin of murdering Quasimodo's mother by taking the boy in.

What was Disney Plus first R-rated? ›

Popular on Variety. On Friday, Disney+ launched the first R-rated movies on the streaming platform: “Deadpool,” “Deadpool 2” and “Logan.” The three Marvel movies were produced by 20th Century Fox, which is now part of Disney — and they're filled with violence, adult themes and profanity.

What is the highest rated R? ›

Highest-grossing R-rated and TV-MA animated films
RankFilmYear
1Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train2020
2Sausage Party2016
3Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time2021
4Fritz the Cat1972
30 more rows

Is there anything past rated R? ›

NC-17. The NC-17 rating is the highest rating (even higher than the R-rating) that a film can be given, and it means the movie is for adults only (ages 18 and older) and no one age 17 or younger will be admitted. This rating, prior to 1990, was previously rated X.

What is the youngest you can watch a rated R movie? ›

R: Restricted - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated movies unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 25 years of age or older.

Is MCU becoming rated R? ›

Deadpool 3 is confirmed to aim for an R rating, but Marvel's head honcho Kevin Feige has confirmed that Ryan Reynolds' upcoming Merc with a Mouth threequel is the only R-rated MCU movie currently in development.

What rating is Daredevil born again? ›

Daredevil: Born Again premieres next year, and the series will be the first real R-rated test for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Is Blade OK for kids? ›

Parents need to know that Blade is an extremely violent action film, based on the Marvel comic book superhero, that contains horror and fantasy elements. Blade (Wesley Snipes) is a human-vampire hybrid, who despite sharing some traits with vampires is determined to rid the world of them.

Why is Ted rated R? ›

Ted is rated R by the MPAA for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, and some drug use. This additional information about the movie's content is taken from the notes of various Canadian Film Classification boards: Violence: - Bullying.

What is venoms age rating? ›

What is John Wick rated? ›

"John Wick: Chapter 4," a Lionsgate release that hits theaters Friday, is rated R for "pervasive strong violence and some language." Running time: 169 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four. MPAA definition of R: Restricted.

How many F bombs are in Logan? ›

By the end of the movie, there ended up being about 40 F-words in all. Most are uttered by Logan himself and the cursing comes in spurts.

Is Logan OK for a 14 year old? ›

Rating: PG-13, for mature thematic content involving drinking, sexuality, bullying, some violent images, and language — all involving teens.

Should I let my 13 year old watch Logan? ›

It's EXTREMELY bloody and gorey. VERY emotional I cried a lot. brief nudity but nothing a 14 year old can't handle. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone my age.

Why is Keanu rated R? ›

Keanu is rated R by the MPAA for violence, language throughout, drug use and sexuality/nudity.

Is Creed 3 rated R? ›

Rated PG-13 for intense sports action, violence and some strong language.

Why is the Predator rated R? ›

Violence & Scariness

People are riddled with big bullets from big guns, knifed, set on fire with grenades, and so on. Mayhem, pummeling, and stabbing is inflicted on the vicious alien as well. People are shot in the head or blasted through by alien beams.

Why is Joker rated R? ›

Parents need to know that Joker is an intense, complex, powerful thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix as the famous Batman villain. It's far darker and more violent than other takes on the character. Expect extremely graphic killings and blood spatters/sprays, guns and shooting, and stabbing.

What movie is rated NC 17? ›

List
TitleRelease
The Shadowed Mind1988
Shame2011
Showgirls1995
Softly from Paris: Series I-V1990
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Why was Deadpool removed from Disney? ›

Disney bought Marvel entertainment, marvel entertainment include All marvel asserts including comics and movies and tv's. Marvel doesn't have movies rights for Spider-Man , X-men including Deadpool and fanstistc four, those movies rights are owned by Sony and X-men.

Is there an R-rated version of Deadpool 2? ›

“Once Upon a Deadpool” (in theaters nationwide Wednesday) is the PG-13 re-edit of the critically acclaimed, R-rated “Deadpool 2.” This updated film – which incorporates previously deleted scenes, a new “Princess Bride” storytelling framework and additional post-credit scenes (more on that later) – is really for fanboys ...

Is Deadpool inappropriate for a 13 year old? ›

There is very violent scenes, including head shots, brains oozing out of people's heads from those shots, and Deadpool uses his swords to impale people, slice their heads off, and slice them in half. There is also a LOT of sexual scenes. There is a TON of making out, and there is even a very graphic sex scene.

Why is Joker Rated R? ›

Parents need to know that Joker is an intense, complex, powerful thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix as the famous Batman villain. It's far darker and more violent than other takes on the character. Expect extremely graphic killings and blood spatters/sprays, guns and shooting, and stabbing.

Can a 10 year old watch a rated R movie? ›

R: Restricted - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated movies unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 25 years of age or older.

What age is R-rated? ›

R: RESTRICTED. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Is Deadpool R-rated in comics? ›

With its intense violence, quirky comedy and charming musical sex montage, Deadpool was often credited as "the first R-rated comic book movie." But those who claimed this were incorrect. While highly deserving of its many accolades, Deadpool was not the first.

Will Deadpool 3 be kid friendly? ›

Deadpool 3 writers help reassure fans that Disney won't ruin Ryan Reynold's Deadpool as the movie will continue to have the same raunchy humor and gory violence.

Is Batman rated R? ›

“The Batman's” PG-13 ratings falls in line with other Caped Crusader films such as Zack Snyder's “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and the three films in Christopher Nolan's “Dark Knight” trilogy.

Is parasite rated R? ›

If you're considering taking teens to this film but are deterred by its Restricted rating, you will want to know that Parasite is on the milder end of the R rated movie spectrum. If the director had toned down the drinking and cussing and some of the blood, it might have earned a PG-13 rating.

Why is Suicide Squad rated R? ›

According to the MPAA, The Suicide Squad earned its R rating due to “drug use, brief graphic nudity, language throughout, some sexual references, and strong violence and gore.” That's a lengthy list, so let's dive into what we know about each. This is a comic book film, and it's a gory one at that.

Is TV MA good for kids? ›

TV-MA - these programs are intended to be viewed by mature, adult audiences and may be unsuitable for children under 17.

Can a 20 year old take a 16 year old to a rated R movie? ›

For Rated R Features you must be 18 or older to purchase a single ticket for the feature. A parent or guardian, 21 or over, is required to accompany and remain in the feature with any underage individuals.

Can I take my 16 year old to an R-rated movie? ›

Children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian over the age of 21 for R-rated movies. I.D. is required for proof of age. Children under 6 years of age are not permitted into R-rated features at all.

Videos

1. Deadpool 2 | With Apologies to David Beckham
(20th Century Studios)
2. Zazie Beetz on Playing Domino in Deadpool 2
(Jimmy Kimmel Live)
3. *DEADPOOL 2* made me cry, laugh, and feel all the feelings
(Natalie Gold)
4. Deadpool 2 Movie Clip - How Far Does it Burn? (2018) | Movieclips Coming Soon
(Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon)
5. NO HARD FEELINGS – Official Red Band Trailer (HD)
(Sony Pictures Entertainment)
6. Deadpool 2 | Official HD Trailer | 2018
(20th Century Studios UK)

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