Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

NZ release: 21 March 2023

Violence, coarse language, some scenes may scare very young children Rated on: 16 December 2022

puss in boots poster

What’s it about?

After finding out he only has one of 9 lives left, Puss in Boots gives up his dangerous lifestyle and learns what it’s like to be a domestic cat. However, after learning of a mythical ‘last wish’ that can restore his 9 lives, he sets out on an epic quest to find it, joined by the unlikely the companions Kitty Soft Paws and Perrito.

The facts

  • Directed by Joel Crawford (The Croods: A New Age, Trolls Holiday)
  • Stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney
  • English language
  • Runtime: 102 minutes
  • Sequel to Puss in Boots (2011)
  • Spin-off from DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek franchise

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence

Animated fight scenes happen often and tend to go on for a while – these include falls, explosions, fires, crashes and so on. Puss uses his swords when facing characters, and other weapons such as knives are used in battle.

Puss is shown dying 8 times in a montage of how he lost his previous lives. This is done in a funny way that is unlikely to be upsetting for viewers.

Coarse language

The words “crap” and “hell” are used. In one scene a character swears repeatedly but the words, which mostly seem like “sh*t”, are bleeped out.

Scary scenes

Some of the villains in this film may be scary for younger children. One in particular, a Wolf, is very frightening. This ‘Grim Reaper’ type character threatens and follows Puss around for the entire movie, and things get pretty dark whenever he is on screen.

Goldie, The Bears, and Jack Horner are also portrayed as being very ‘evil’ which may also be scary for young children.

In one scene, Puss is shown having a panic attack. This lasts a while and is quite intense but he eventually calms down when his friend comes to help him.

Further information

Recent featured decisions

13 May 2025

Violence, cruelty, offensive language, sex scenes and content that may disturb

When savvy surfer Zephyr is abducted and held captive on a boat by a shark-obsessed serial killer, she must find a way to escape before becoming part of his ritualistic feeding to the sharks below.

Read more

10 June 2025

Content that may disturb, offensive language

This documentary revisits the tragedy and aftermath of rapper Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas, co-organised by Live Nation. Ten people, aged 9 to 27, lost their lives due to poor planning and understaffing of the event.

Told through festivalgoer footage, harrowing 911 calls, and interviews with survivors and families, the film raises questions about the responsibility of artists in an industry that pushes them to amplify their performances to drive revenue.

Read more