Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been given a PG-13 rating, warning that some of its imagery may contain extreme violence. As soon as the sequel was announced, fans were expecting the MCU’s first horror film, and the previews have lived up to that expectation. Also, Sam Raimi who is the director of Tobey Maguire Spider-Man and has experience directing horror movies, so it is the perfect combination.
With TV series like Daredevil and Agents of SHIELD, the MCU has previously explored a violent and mature territory. Meanwhile, Deadpool 3 is expected to be MCU’s first R-rated movie after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Intense violence and action, as well as some language, are not new for the MCU, with similar warnings given for Black Widow, Shang-Chi, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Raimi’s films are known for having plenty of bloodsheds, earning him a reputation in the horror genre. Although this is not possible with Multiverse of Madness’ PG-13 rating, the director will certainly push it as far as it can be pushed. The first images of Wanda in the film show her covered in blood, and reports suggest there will be plenty more terrifying scenes involved.
Fans have been asking for more TV series and movies like Daredevil and are tired of every Marvel movie being rated family-friendly. Disney has faced criticism in recent times for not going the R-rated route with Moon Knight and for giving Ms. Marvel a youthful rating. Upon announcing Deadpool 3 would be an R-rated movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Reynolds also confirmed that the Netflix character Daredevil might go in the same direction when he eventually leads his own movie.