Through the Ages (and Ratings): Marvel Cinematic Universe

But while many of the MCU films in New Zealand carry an M rating (meaning they’re unrestricted but may not be suitable for younger viewers), M can cover a broad range of content. Some Marvel films and series are light-hearted and fun, while others get pretty intense with violence, dark themes, or scary moments.

To help parents navigate the MCU, we’ve ranked the films and series from least to most intense. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of what each movie or series is about, key moments to watch out for, and guidance on when it might be the right time to introduce it to younger viewers.

Jump sections:

A Good Starting Point

Next Steps

Years 6 and older (older primary and intermediate school age)

Getting a bit darker, but still manageable

More intense action and darker themes

Most intense MCU films and series

A Good Starting Point

Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends (2021-2022)

Rating: G 

What’s it about? Follow Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, and Miles Morales as they team up with Iron Man and other heroes to take down familiar foes and learn that working together is the best way to save the day.

Can my child watch this? This series contains low level cartoon violence, with soft fight scenes between characters, and some mild language.

What to watch out for: Villains throw large objects, but no one gets hit and no one is injured.

Read more in our content breakdown for Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends.

I am Groot (2022)

Rating: G

What’s it about? Mischievous seedling “Groot” grows up in the galaxy as a member of the superhero team, Guardians of the Galaxy, encountering several new and unusual characters while learning valuable lessons along the way.

Can my child watch this? This animated series features some low level violence, including cartoonish explosions.

What to watch out for: Some characters are squished, but this happens in a lighthearted way. A robot snowman may scare very young viewers.

Read more in our content breakdown for I am Groot.

Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023)

Rating: PG | Adult themes and violence 

What’s it about? When 13-year-old genius Lunella accidentally brings a ten-tonne T-Rex Devil Dinosaur into New York City with a time machine, the new duo work together to protect the city’s Lower East Side at all costs.

Can my child watch this? This series contains low level cartoon violence and action, including fighting and risk of danger.

What to watch out for: Villains threaten the heroes, but they find their way out of danger and the villains are clearly shown as in the wrong for their actions. There is a mild bullying scene which involves a character being bullied because they are smart.

Read more in our content breakdown for Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Rating: PG | Violence and coarse language

What’s it about? Quill seems sad about Gamora’s loss. Mantis and Drax head to earth to kidnap Quill’s idol Kevin Bacon to make Quill happy for Christmas.

Can my child watch this? There are instances of police officers being kicked, and a brief instance of Drax punching a costumed man in the background. The violence is unrealistic, mild, and presented as morally wrong.

What to watch out for: A kidnapping happens, but it's funny and unlikely. The way it's shown makes the viewer feel sorry for the victim.

Read more in our content breakdown for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025)

Rating:  PG | Violence

What’s it about? This animated series follows Peter Parker as he becomes Spider-Man.

Can my child watch this? This series contains mild cartoon violence, in the form of destruction, kicking, punching, and hitting.

What to watch out for: A villain beats up a superhero, with hard punches, damaging his mask, and stabbing him through the chest with his scorpion-like tail. Some blood is seen on the weapon and around the injury, but it is not realistic.

Read more in our content breakdown for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

Next steps

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Rating: PG | Violence and coarse language 

What’s it about? After teenager Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his universe, he soon must join with five spider-powered individuals from other dimensions to stop a threat from destroying all realities.

Can my child watch this? This series contains cartoonish superhero violence and action, including fistfights, gunfights, and people in danger. The animated style makes violence less intense but it’s worth thinking about what your child’s boundaries are.

What to watch out for: There are a few character deaths – someone is shot in an alleyway, and another character is killed in an explosion.

Read more in our content breakdown for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Rating: PG | Violence and coarse language

What’s it about? Miles Morales travels through different dimensions and meets a team of Spider-People who are responsible for keeping the Multiverse safe. However, a new threat to the Multiverse forces Miles to figure out what it truly means to be a hero.

Can my child watch this? There are a lot of fight scenes throughout the film, mostly involving physical combat. There is very little gun violence.

What to watch out for: There is a brief scene where a character pulls out their fangs to bite another character before they are stopped.

Read more in our content breakdown for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Ant-Man (2015)

Rating: M | Violence and coarse language 

What’s it about? With his super-suit granting him the ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must find his inner hero to help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.

Can my child watch this? Some action scenes involve hand-to-hand combat and mild peril, but the tone is fun rather than intense.

What to watch out for: The biggest scare factor might come from a villain who gets gruesomely shrunk into nothingness. In one scene, a baby lamb is experimented on and zapped into pink goo.

Read more in our content breakdown for Ant-Man.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Rating: M | Violence and coarse language

What’s it about? As Scott Lang balances his roles of being a superhero and a father, Hope Van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym task Ant-Man with a new mission that finds him fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent but mild fantasy violence, including punching, kicking, and gunfire, most of which is small scale. Most of the violence is comedic and there is no blood shown.

What to watch out for: There are scenes where characters race against time to stop missiles from exploding.

Read more in our content breakdown for Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Ant-Man/Scott (Paul Rudd) and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), along with Hank, Janet and Scott’s daughter Cass, traverse the mysterious Quantum Realm discovering new life and civilisations. They are pushed to their limits after discovering a new threat and are forced to fight in order to save the entire multiverse.

Can my child watch this? Similar to other superhero and Marvel films the violence is unrealistic and not very strong.

What to watch out for: The strongest scene is the final showdown where Scott engages in hand to hand combat, and his helmet is stomped on. The fights ends and Scott has blood and bruises on his face, and he is very weak.

Read more in our content breakdown for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Fifteen-year-old Peter Parker, a sophomore and Tony Stark’s protégé, returns to Queens, New York, where he faces the challenge of balancing high school life with his role as a superhero.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence, including use of high-tech weapons, explosions, and fistfights, but similar to Ant-Man, the tone is mostly fun rather than intense.

What to watch out for: The Vulture (Michael Keaton) can be intimidating, but the film doesn’t lean into dark or heavy themes.

Read more in our content breakdown for Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Years 6 and older (older primary and intermediate school age)

Ms. Marvel (2022)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Kamala, a young Captain Marvel fan with a huge imagination, feels like she doesn’t fit in at school, and sometimes even home, until she is granted the same powers as the heroes she admires.

Can my child watch this? Some mild action sequences, but overall, this series is one of the most kid-friendly in the MCU. It has moments of being a bit darker than Ant-Man and Spider-Man: Homecoming but is still light in tone. There is a bit of talking in this one which might make it less-appealing for some tamariki.

What to watch out for: A character is pinned to a wall by a giant metal hammer but is unharmed afterward.

Read more in our content breakdown for Ms. Marvel.

Captain Marvel (2019)

Rating: M| Violence

What’s it about? Air Force pilot Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes after being exposed to the energy of the Tesseract. When Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races, she must fight to protect her home planet.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence, including various weapons, explosions, and fistfights. Most violence includes characters shooting each other with huge pulses of energy, causing nose and mouth bleeds, and sometimes death.

What to watch out for: In one scene, while an alien is laying on an operating table, it can be seen with its stomach cut open showing the ribcage and its organs being pulled out. While it is a brief scene, it could disturb some viewers.

Read more in our content breakdown for Captain Marvel.

The Marvels (2023)

Rating: M| Violence

What’s it about? Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, finds herself working with Captain Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan after the unlikely trio are transported to different locations when they become entangled on a quantum level. They join forces to save the universe from an alien threat.

Can my child watch this? Like other Marvel movies, The Marvels consists of superhuman fighting, gun violence, physical altercations and missile use. The violence is dampened by the playful nature commonly seen in Marvel films and injuries are not shown in detail.

What to watch out for: There are scary aliens and monsters, including one that uses tentacles to swallow people whole, but then later spits them out. This scene is very light-hearted but may be scary for young tamariki.

Read more in our content breakdown for The Marvels.

The Avengers (2012)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? After a portal is mistakenly opened allowing Loki to reach Earth, the planets mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team to stop the villain and his alien army from enslaving humankind.

Can my child watch this? The film features frequent action sequences, but the violence is stylized and not graphic. Heroes crack jokes, keeping the tone light. Battles involve punching, shooting, and explosions, with minimal blood—mostly brief spurts of purple from alien foes. The aliens are scary, especially their leader “The Other” who has quite a frightening appearance

What to watch out for: In one scene, a villain uses a device to rip out a man’s eyeball. You do not see it being removed, but you can hear the squelching of the removal, and you can see the man squirming while it happens.

Read more in our content breakdown for The Avengers.

Eternals (2021)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? A race of immortal beings who have lived on Earth for thousands of years and shaped its history and civilizations, known as the Eternals, are forced out of hiding to protect humanity from their ancient enemies, the Deviants.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence, including people being impaled, eaten by alien creatures, and hit in fistfights. Some fights contain injuries however they are not graphic.

What to watch out for: A character flies into the sun because they feel guilty about their actions and want to atone for them. They believe it's the only way to escape the consequences of what they've done.

Read more in our content breakdown for Eternals.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Rating:  M | Violence

What’s it about? On the run from the U.S. Government, gamma radiation scientist Bruce Banner must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.

Can my child watch this? This film contains fantasy violence sequences, including hand-to-hand combat, shooting, explosions, and soldiers getting crushed by large objects.

What to watch out for: Hulk has quite an unsettling appearance that may scare some younger viewers. The villain’s transformation may also be frightening due to his spine coming out of his back and most of his skeleton being exposed.

Read more in our content breakdown for The Incredible Hulk.

What if...? (2021)

Rating:  PG | Adult themes 

What’s it about? What if Peggy Carter took the Super Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rodgers? What if Doctor Strange lost his heart instead of his hands? This series takes the audience into uncharted territory by visiting pivotal moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and flipping them upside down.

Can my child watch this? This series contains frequent action violence sequences where characters are shot, hit, and thrown, and sometimes bone cracking is clearly heard. Though some characters die, there is little to no blood, and the cartoon style lessens the impact.

What to watch out for: The zombie’s appearances and some of the villains may frighten some younger viewers, especially when they chase people.

Read more in our content breakdown for What If...?

Getting a bit darker, but still manageable

Iron Man (2008)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? After being kidnapped and held captive in a cave in Afghanistan, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponised suit of armour to escape his captors and fight evil.

Can my child watch this? This film includes some explosions and fight scenes, with brief moments of blood. There are implied deaths and some characters are injured or in combat, but most of the violent events happen off-screen. Occasionally, we see bodies with minimal injury detail.

What to watch out for: In one scene a bloody tissue being removed and a device implanted from a man during a surgical procedure, while he thrashes around and screams in pain.

Read more in our content breakdown for Iron Man.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Rating: M| Violence

What’s it about? In WW2 America, Steve Rogers is rejected from the American military due to his small physical appearance. After proving his courage, US military scientists transform him into the super-soldier “Captain America”. However, he soon finds himself up against the relentless head of the HYDRA terrorist organisation to end the war.

Can my child watch this? The film contains regular fight scenes involving explosions, kicks, punches, and shooting, with sound effects of crunching bones and gunfire. Some people are killed however, the movie contains a minimal blood or detail of injury.

What to watch out for: A character tears his face mask off, revealing his skinless, muscular red face.

Read more in our content breakdown for Captain America: The First Avenger.

WandaVision (2021)

Rating: M | Violence, scary scenes and adult themes

What’s it about? Wanda Maximoff creates a blissful suburban reality with Vision in the town of Westview, but their perfect life starts to unravel as they move through different decades of classic TV sitcoms.

Can my child watch this? This series contains mild violence that is very limited in earlier episodes but builds up later on. Violence mostly happens as a result of  witchcraft, with characters being zapped into mummy-like corpses, and people, including children, being put in dangerous situations. There is a lot of talking which may not interest some tamariki.

What to watch out for: A witch drains the life force from other women, leaving them presumably dead with drained skull-like faces. A woman has a flashback of the night her parents died. Though we do not see their bodies, it is a rather sudden and shocking scene.

Read more in our content breakdown for WandaVision.

Agatha All Along (2024)

Rating: M | Violence, horror and coarse language

What’s it about? Set after the events of WandaVision Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) is set free from a spell by a teenager (Joe Locke) hoping she will help him. After recruiting some unlikely allies, Agatha embarks on a quest to regain her powers and uncover the secrets of the Darkhold.

Can my child watch this? The series is about witches and a very powerful witch trying to regain her power. It also features superhero-style violence, where characters may engage in battles, but no visible injuries occur. There is a lot of talking which might not interest some tamariki.

What to watch out for: A character is being hunted down by another group of witches called the Salem Seven and there are a lot of dark magic elements the group comes into conflict with, such as poison, hallucinations, demons and possession.

Read more in our content breakdown for Agatha All Along.

Hawkeye (2021)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Clint Barton, also known as “Hawkeye,” has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. However, when a presence from his past threatens his plans, Clint teams up with Kate Bishop to unravel a conspiracy.

Can my child watch this? Hawkeye contains mild violence throughout the series, including fistfights, gunfights, and shooting with arrows, all of which maintains minimal blood.

What to watch out for: Strongest moments of violence include a scene in which a corpse is nearly cut in half, with some blood on the floor. In another scene, a character watches as people are being stabbed through a window, with blood spraying onto the windowpanes.

Read more in our content breakdown for Hawkeye.

Thor (2011)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? The powerful but arrogant god of thunder, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), is exiled from Asgard by his father to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth). On his journey of self-discovery, he soon becomes one of Earth’s greatest defenders.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent but mild violence against nonhuman enemies, including kicks, punches, stabs, and falling off cliffs, however blood is rarely seen. Battles can cause large amounts of destruction. The villains in the film are depicted as vicious and dark. Their appearance may scare some younger viewers, though these scenes do not last very long.

What to watch out for: One character loses his eye in battle, and we see the slightly bloody wound. In another, a character is stabbed in the chest with a brief sight of blood on the tip of the blade. These scenes are not overly graphic.

Read more in our content breakdown for Thor.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Rating: M | Violence, offensive language

What’s it about? A group of intergalactic space criminals must put their pasts behind them and work together to stop a vicious villain from destroying the universe.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence sequences, including hand-to-hand combat, shooting, explosions, and deaths by various methods, although there is little detail of injury. There is regular comedy throughout the whole film which lightens the weight of the violence.

What to watch out for: The film starts with a young child losing his mother to cancer. The scene may be upsetting for younger viewers or viewers with similar experiences.

Read more in our content breakdown for Guardians of the Galaxy.

Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Peter Parker, the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, faces four destructive elemental monsters while on a school trip in Europe. Soon, he is joined by Mysterio, a fellow hero with mysterious origins.

Can my child watch this? This film includes the use of high-tech weapons and guns, explosions, and fistfights. Some scenes contain blood. There is high-school level language used. Words used include “bitch,” “ass” and “s**t.” There is one incomplete use of the F-word and one character uses the middle finger.

What to watch out for: One sequence involves an illusionary experience with quite dark imagery intending to scare and disorient a character. This scene isn’t very violent but may unsettle some younger viewers.

Read more in our content breakdown for Spider-Man: Far from Home.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? With Spider-Man's identity now revealed worldwide, Peter Parker requests Doctor Strange’s help to put things back the way they were. However, when a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from alternate universes threaten Peter and his known reality.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence including various weapons, explosions, and fistfights. There are some injuries but not detailed.

What to watch out for: Near the end of the film, a likeable character is killed, which some viewers might find sad.

Read more in our content breakdown for Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Doctor Strange (2016)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? After a horrific injury, an exceptional neurosurgeon, Steven Strange, goes on a journey of physical and spiritual healing before he is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

Can my child watch this? There is frequent fantasy violence, including use of harmful magical powers and fistfights. There are multiple surgery scenes where wounds are clearly sewn, and surgical instruments are used.

What to watch out for: Some eerie and intense sequences, including a villain who steals people's souls and a trippy, reality-warping finale. The supernatural elements might feel a bit scary for younger kids. Characters are crushed by buildings, and there is one scene of a dead man impaled on a large metal rod, but the injury is not shown in detail.

Read more in our content breakdown for Doctor Strange.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, must confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organisation.

Can my child watch this? This film contains fantasy violence including the use of magical powers, real-world weapons, and fistfights. People are assassinated by sniper fire, explosions, and other means but this happens in a style typical of a superhero movie.

What to watch out for: In one scene, a young boy is whipped repeatedly by his father’s bodyguard.

Read more in our content breakdown for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

More intense action and darker themes

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? With the Dark Elves planning to plummet the universe into eternal darkness, Thor embarks on a personal journey where he is unexpectedly reunited with Jane Foster, who helps him in his effort to stop evil.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence against nonhuman enemies, including kicks, punches, stabs, and falling off cliffs, however blood is rarely seen. Battles cause large amounts of destruction.

What to watch out for: A man's hand is cut clean off, with some blood shown, however, it turns out that it was just a hologram, and he is fine.

Read more in our content breakdown for Thor: The Dark World.

Secret Invasion (2023)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Nick Fury and Talos uncover a conspiracy by a group of shapeshifting Skrulls to conquer Earth.

Can my child watch this? Secret Invasion contains mild violence throughout the series, including fistfights, terrorism, and gunfights, all of which maintains minimal blood.

What to watch out for: Some of the strongest moments of violence include a character being strangled to death by rope and then hung from the ceiling around his waist. In another scene, a man’s finger s cut off.

Read more in our content breakdown for Secret Invasion.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must face both his declining health and a mad engineer who intends to get revenge for his father.

Can my child watch this? This film contains moderate superhero and fantasy violence, with frequent explosions and hand-to-hand combat, and minimal blood spurts shown. Some battles are loud and intense.

What to watch out for: A character beats up his cellmate, smashing his head on the toilet with some blood shown.

Read more in our content breakdown for Iron Man 2.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Tony Stark embarks on a journey of retribution and self-discovery as he takes on the formidable and mysterious terrorist known as the Mandarin.

Can my child watch this? This film contains regular superhero action with large-scale explosions and use of various weapons, such as missiles and bombs. Some characters injured and a few are killed, however most deaths are off-screen and there is little blood shown.

What to watch out for: A character struggles with severe PTSD, including panic attacks, nightmares, and trouble sleeping. The way this is shown feels very real and may be intense, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences.

Read more in our content breakdown for Iron Man 3.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Jennifer Walters navigates the complex single life, while also happening to be an attorney and a 6-foot-7-inch superpowered Hulk.

Can my child watch this? She-Hulk: Attorney at Law contains mild violence throughout the series, including fistfights and characters being thrown, all of which maintains minimal blood.

What to watch out for: Some of the stronger moments of violence include a car crash, where two characters are injured, and a fight between two characters. It is also implied that two characters have sex.

Read more in our content breakdown for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

M| Violence and content that may disturb

What’s it about? Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Sam Wilson (a.k.a. Falcon) teams up with The Winter Soldier as they face a group of super-soldier terrorists who believe the world was better during the Blip.

Can my child watch this? This show contains moderate violence throughout all episodes, including fistfights, gunfights, stabbings, and characters being thrown, all of which is highly stylised. Some blood is shown and the breaking of bones is heard.

What to watch out for: Some of the strongest moments of violence include a character becoming very violent for a brief period, punching, stabbing, and choking many people, some of which are implied to die offscreen from their wounds. A man is killed by a metal shield, with blood seen near his body and all over the shield.

Read more in our content breakdown for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Loki (2021)

Rating: M | Violence and content that may disturb

What’s it about? The unpredictable God of Mischief, Loki, is hired by the Time Variance Authority to track down a dangerous variant of himself and prevent further chaos across different timelines. But soon he uncovers a chain of mysterious secrets about the organisation.

Can my child watch this? This show contains moderate violence throughout some episodes, including fistfights and gunfights. There is also a lot of talking which might not be of interest to tamariki.

What to watch out for: Multiple characters are impaled and stabbed with spears, with injury details visible. Soldiers are shown dead in pools of blood and sometimes burned alive. A man is “spaghettified”, meaning his body is ripped apart into thin pieces of spaghetti. Though this is not bloody or gory, it is quite disturbing.

Read more in our content breakdown for Loki.

Black Panther (2018)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? T’challa (Chadwick Boseman), heir to the throne of the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must lead his people into a new future, while confronting a challenger from Wakanda’s past.

Can my child watch this? The violence is more intense than in earlier films, with hand-to-hand combat, deaths, and heavier emotional stakes. For example, in one scene, a character jumps out of a vehicle and is run over by another car. It is played with humour, although the man clearly dies offscreen.

What to watch out for: During a flashback scene, a main character’s father is killed in the explosion of a building. This scene is quite emotional.

Read more in our content breakdown for Black Panther.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from political and mystical powers as they mourn the death of their late King T’Challa.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent battle violence, where people are shot, impaled, slashed with spears and swords, and partake in drawn-out fistfights.

What to watch out for: Some fights contain moments where many people die. While there’s no blood or gore detail these scenes are somewhat emotional and may be upsetting for younger viewers.

Read more in our content breakdown for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

M| Violence and content that may disturb

What’s it about? Tony Stark and Bruce Banner bring a dormant artificial intelligence program to life in hope of protecting the world from harm. But when things go horribly wrong Earth’s mightiest hero's face an enemy who knows their every move, forcing them to protect the world from global extinction.

Can my child watch this? This film features intense action, fight scenes, and many implied deaths and injuries, mostly offscreen. It's typical for a live-action superhero movie.

What to watch out for: A character has a nightmare where he sees all his friends dying in a cave together. We see them all lying on the floor, suffering, some small blood stains and nosebleeds are seen, and one character utters to him “you should’ve saved us.”

Read more in our content breakdown for Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) 

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? The Avengers and their allies must do whatever it takes be willing to stop the powerful Thanos from collecting all six infinity stones, which would allow him to bring devastation and ruin to the entire universe.

Can my child watch this? While the violence is in line with other Marvel films and largely stylised, Infinity War delivers a shocking ending, featuring large-scale battles, on-screen deaths, and deeply emotional moments—including themes of genocide.

What to watch out for: Some of the more intense scenes of violence may warrant discussion with tamariki. These include a moment where a character is strangled and has their neck snapped, another where a character is thrown from a cliff—we see her fall and then lying lifeless in a pool of blood. Additionally, a flashback depicts a mass genocide, where innocent alien civilians are executed by a firing squad in front of their families.

Read more in our content breakdown for Avengers: Infinity War.

Avengers: Endgame (2019) 

What’s it about? After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe remains in ruins. With the help of the remaining allies, the Avengers work together to reverse Thanos’ horrific actions and restore balance to the universe.

Can my child watch this? Similar to Avengers: Infinity War the violence is often fast-paced and stylised, but some moments, like significant character deaths, sacrifice or injuries, carry emotional weight and may be upsetting for younger or sensitive viewers.

What to watch out for: Some of the more intense scenes of violence may require discussion with tamariki. For instance, a character has their head and arm chopped off, with purple blood spraying. After losing their family, a character embarks on a killing spree, murdering others in a fit of rage. Additionally, a character sacrifices themselves to save another and is seen falling to their death.

Read more in our content breakdown for Avengers: Endgame.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? The Guardians struggle to remain as a team as they uncover Peter Quill’s true parentage, all while facing new threats and forging new alliances out amongst the galaxies.

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence sequences, including hand-to-hand combat, shooting, explosions, and deaths by various methods. Most violence is presented in a humorous and light-hearted tone.

What to watch out for: Many people are killed by a remote-controlled arrow and fall immediately to the ground.

Read more in our content breakdown for Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer, finding himself in a race against time to get back to his home planet and stop its destruction, Ragnarok (the end of the world).

Can my child watch this? This film contains frequent fantasy violence, including hand-to-hand combat, shooting, impaling, and beheading, however, blood is rarely seen, and violence is often followed by comedy. Battles cause large amounts of destruction.

What to watch out for: In one scene, a character is slowly melted into a goo whilst he screams in pain. This is drawn out, however it occurs in a comedic way.

Read more in our content breakdown for Thor: Ragnarok.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg, and his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to stop Gorr the God Butcher, a mad man on a vengeful quest to make the gods extinct.

Can my child watch this? This film includes frequent fantasy violence, such as combat, shooting, and decapitation, often followed by comedy. Blood is mostly stylised in gold or black, keeping a lighter tone, with occasional realistic red blood.

What to watch out for: In one scene, monsters attack a village of men, woman, and children. They have an unsettling appearance and shapeshift in ways that may be scary for younger viewers.

Read more in our content breakdown for Thor: Love and Thunder.

Most intense MCU films and series

Black Widow (2021)

M| Violence 

What’s it about? Black Widow follows Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), a former Russian spy, as she confronts her dark past and reconnects with her estranged "family" of fellow spies. The film delves into her efforts to take down a dangerous secret organisation while uncovering hidden truths about her origins.

Can my child watch this? The violence in Black Widow is intense, stylised, and choreographed in a way that keeps the action fast-paced and impactful. The film also touches on darker themes related to manipulation and control, which adds a layer of psychological tension. This theme is explored with flashbacks that provide insight into the characters’ pasts, and the trauma they’ve experienced.

What to watch out for: Children are shown in great distress as they are separated from their ‘parents’. A flashback shows the harsh training that young girls go through to become spies/soldiers, and it is implied that many don't survive. There are also upsetting scenes that suggest painful surgeries or medical procedures.

Read more in our content breakdown for Black Widow.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (2023)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Still coming to terms with the loss of Gamora, the Guardians of the Galaxy are faced with the death of another member. They will do everything to save them.

Can my child watch this? The film contains frequent scenes of sci-fi action violence. Characters punch, kick and shoot each other with fictional laser weapons. Wounds, including gashes, burns and bruising are briefly shown. There are also references to genocide.

What to watch out for: There are strong references to animals being experimented on, including them screaming in pain and the results of the experiments. We see surgical scars and machinery sticking out of them.

Read more in our content breakdown for Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3.

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? With growing political pressure to regulate the Avengers’ actions, Captain America and Iron Man are pitted against each other in a showdown that threatens to tear the team apart.

Can my child watch this? The film features stylised fantasy and war action with choreographed fights, superhero powers, and gunfire. While some blood is shown, injuries are minimal and not graphic.

What to watch out for: A man assassinates two defenceless people stuck in their car. He beats the driver in the face and chokes the female passenger, but the camera pans away before she dies. This scene is drawn out and is watched by the son of the victims. In another scene a character attempts to use a gun to shoot himself in the head, but he is quickly stopped.

Read more in our content breakdown for Captain America: Civil War.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Struggling to hold onto his role in the modern world, Steve Rogers teams up with fellow Avenger, Black Widow, to battle a new and familiar threat known as the Winter Soldier.

Can my child watch this? The film contains frequent fight scenes, though the violence feels slightly more realistic than other marvel films. Intense hand-to-hand combat, assassinations, and themes of government surveillance. Some blood and bruises are seen after characters are shot and injured, but like other Marvel films, minimal detail of actual injury is shown.

What to watch out for: A character is forced to undergo a process where his memory is erased, and he is turned into a deadly soldier. This scene involves the character screaming in pain and may be unsettling for some younger viewers.

Read more in our content breakdown for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Rating: M | Violence

What’s it about? Doctor Strange teams up with a mysterious teenage girl, the Scarlet Witch, and others to battle alternate versions of himself who threaten to wipe out the multiverse.

Can my child watch this? Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has a darker tone than previous films in the franchise. Horror elements and violence make this film better suited for older rangatahi.

What to watch out for: A number of scenes involve elements of horror and threat, including demonic beings attacking people, magical powers being used to burn victims, the revival of a corpse, and multiple jump scares. Characters are pursued by monsters and threatened with (magical) torture. This film contains frequent violence including the use of harmful magical powers and fistfights. Some scenes contain bloodshed. Characters are crushed by buildings, and there is one scene of a dead man impaled on a large metal rod.

Read more in our content breakdown for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Moon Knight (2022)

Rating: M | Violence, horror themes

What’s it about? A man with dissociative identity disorder discovers he’s connected to an ancient Egyptian deity.

Can my child watch this? Moon Knight has psychological horror elements, brutal combat, and a darker, more mature tone than many other films or series in the Marvel franchise. It may be better suited for older rangatahi.

What to watch out for: This film contains frequent fantasy action sequences where magical creatures fight, sometimes causing injuries and death. Some of the strongest moments include a zombie-like monster killing and dissecting a character – this scene is very intense and frightening. In another scene, a man takes out a gun and points it at his own head. He stops before harming himself, but this may still be upsetting for some viewers.

Read more in our content breakdown for Moon Knight.

Echo (2024)

Rating: 16 | Violence 

What’s it about? Maya returns to her hometown where she reconnects with her past and embraces her family’s secret legacy.

Can my child watch this? This series is suitable for rangatahi aged 16 or older. Frightening scenes include brief close-up shots of bloody and serious injuries. Domestic violence is discussed and implied – not shown.

What to watch out for: A shard of glass going through a child's leg, with lots of blood shown. A character is shot under the chin using a gun. You see blood spray from the top of his head as he falls to the ground.

Read more in our content breakdown for Echo.

Deadpool (2015)

Rating: R16 | Graphic violence, sex scenes & offensive language

What’s it about? Former Special Services operative Wade Winston Wilson becomes immortal but hideously scarred after an evil scientist experiments on him. As a newfound vigilante, he sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.

Can my child watch this? Deadpool is restricted to rangatahi aged 16 or older. This film contains frequent violence and bloody scenes. Characters are killed in various ways, most of which are clearly shown. The film contains regular humour which may soften the weight of some violence. There is also a lot of sexual references and offensive language.

What to watch out for: Strongest moments include when a character cuts off his hand, spurting lots of blood everywhere, with the bones and flesh of his arm stump shown briefly in slow motion. This shot is very gory, however, the man does not feel the pain and it is quickly followed by humour. A character is tortured for several weeks on end. He is kept in a glass box, beaten, electrocuted, and suffocated painfully, sometimes just for the perpetrators pleasure.

Read more in our content breakdown for Deadpool.

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Rating: R16 | Graphic violence, sexual references & offensive language

What’s it about? Foul-mouthed mutant Wade Wilson (a.k.a. Deadpool) must assemble a team of fellow rogues to protect a young boy with special powers from a dangerous time-traveling cyborg.

Can my child watch this? Deadpool 2 is restricted to rangatahi aged 16 or older. This film has frequent graphic violence, as well as sexual references and offensive language.

What to watch out for: An immortal man is ripped in half. We see lots of blood and internal organs dangling, with squelching sounds. A man lands in a wood shredder, vomiting lots of dark acidic matter and causing streams of blood to spray out the other side of the machine. A character’s buttocks and genitals are shown.

Read more in our content breakdown for Deadpool 2.

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Rating: R16 | Graphic violence, sexual references & offensive language

What’s it about? After retiring as Deadpool and settling into a ‘normal life,’ Wade Wilson is forced to suit up again after finding out his friends, family and world are at stake. Seeking out Wolverine, the two of them team up to defeat a mutual opponent.

Can my child watch this? Deadpool & Wolverine is restricted to rangatahi aged 16 or older. This film has frequent graphic violence, as well as sexual references and offensive language.

What to watch out for: Some of the strongest scenes include a character’s head exploding, with chunks of the head and brain matter flying everywhere. In several scenes, characters are stabbed using large blades and a lot of blood is shown. While there are no sex scenes in this film, there are a number of references to sex acts including vaginal sex, masturbation, oral sex, necrophilia, and pegging.

Read more in our content breakdown for Deadpool & Wolverine.

Final Thoughts

While many Marvel movies and series are rated M in New Zealand, they vary in intensity. If your child is keen to jump into the MCU, films like Ant-Man and Spider-Man: Homecoming, or series like Ms. Marvel, are good starting points. But for darker entries like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness or Moon Knight, a bit more maturity is recommended.

Our ratings aim to give parents and whānau the tools to make informed choices about what their tamariki watch. We hope this guide helps you decide which Marvel content might be right for your family.