The Acolyte

What’s it about?

An investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master against a dangerous warrior from his past, as they travel down a dark path where sinister forces are at play.

The facts

• Created by Leslye Headland
• Starring Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games), Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game), Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll), Dafne Keen (Logan), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place), and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix)
• English language
• 1 season, 8 episodes, 40 minutes each (on average)

Why did it get this rating?

This series was self-rated by Disney+. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Violence and cruelty

This series contains sci-fi violence where characters shoot and stab each other with futuristic laser weapons. Many characters are killed onscreen in mostly non-bloody ways, and there are explosions.

Some of the strongest moments of violence include:

• A main character is slowly force choked to death.
• Characters are impaled through the torso by lightsabres. We see burn holes, with some noticeable blood.
• One man snaps another man’s neck with his bare hands.
• A prisoner is shown to be distressed as a parasite covers his mouth. We are told that it is used to “subdue violent criminals” and that it affects brain function.
• There is a scene where a child almost kills her twin sister by locking her in a room and accidentally setting it on fire.

Suicide

In one scene, a man is forced to “confess his crimes” or drink a vial of poison that is handed to him. We see him drink the poison and we later see his body lying lifeless on the ground, implying that he killed himself.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters

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