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Related: TV discussion forum.

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Related: TV discussion forum.

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Films

What age do you let your DCs watch superhero films and Star Wars?

27 replies

WonderingAspie · 22/04/2016 12:39

DS is 8, hugely into superheros and has asked about Star Wars. I know they are all 12s. I've watched some superhero films (not many), not interested in Star Wars, he has watched loads of those Star Wars cartoon things with DH.

We have let him watch Harry Potter and Jurassic World.

What age did you let yours watch these films? And what reason did you say no if you didnt let them and they were my DS's age?

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dementedpixie · 22/04/2016 12:42

Ds is 9 and has watched them. We took Dd and ds to the pictures to see the new Star Wars as was a 12A which means under 12s can see it with an adult present.

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FATEdestiny · 22/04/2016 12:45

DH just bought on dvd and I am interested for our dc.

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wigglesrock · 22/04/2016 12:48

My middle dd is 8 - she's no interest at all in Superhero/Marvel films but has watched all the Star Wars several times over as well as all the Harry Potter/Jurassic Park films. My 10 year old has watched all of the same and 12a such as Hunger Games, Divergent. Tbh my five year old has watched some of the original Star Wars films - they didn't hold her at all but she likes a bit of Return of the Jedi - ie the Ewoks.

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ThursdayNextIsMyHero · 22/04/2016 12:49

Original Star Wars trilogy are all U, Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones are (I think) PG, and Revenge of the Sith is 12. DS saw the originals when he was 4 or 5, the PG ones about 6/7 and still hasn't seen Revenge of the Sith at 9 as I think it is too dark.
Dh loved the original trilogy, so was happy for DS to watch them. However DS REALLY liked them, asked constant questions, talked about them all the time,wanted to watch them over (and over) again, and it got a bit much.

With the superheroes films (like the current Marvel ones) I think they are a bit too violent for DS. He has seen about the first 30 minutes of Captain America, but I won't let him watch the rest. It's the fight scenes that I have an issue with.
He has some cartoon Avengers episoded which he really enjoys, they are PG.

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bigboypants · 22/04/2016 12:51

My DS is 6 and has been watching Star Wars since he was 4, obviously with only as much attention as a 4 year old can give it. He did see the latest one in the cinema when it came out, before his last birthday, anything that is too complex goes over his head but I'm assuming you're asking more about the violence/fighting?

It's weird, the fighting in the Star Wars films doesn't bother me, maybe because it's not overly graphic and I think it's, to me at least, less real because the weapons aren't real. Lightsabers, blasters etc so he realises it's totally made up and doesn't worry him. And he is very much a worrier and easily scared.

I won't let him watch any of the marvel films though, I saw the start of one of the Iron Man films on TV, maybe the first one? And he was blown up and someone was reaching inside a hole in his chest. Not gory but too real a visual for me. Besides that, he has no interest in the superhero films so that isn't an issue yet, thank goodness.

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hunibuni · 22/04/2016 12:53

Most of Marvel is 12A and DD (9) has watched all of them except for Deadpool. She loves Star Wars and has watched all of them since she was 4-ish (the original 3 have been watched to the point where I have had to replace the discs twice, the more recent ones not so much ) and we all went to the last Star Wars film on the opening day. I think it comes down to the child and what they can cope with. DD isn't scared of the fighting in the Marvel films because as far as she's concerned it's the comics that are being acted out, and she has read quite a few of the comics already.

She also loves Harry Potter but didn't like the likes of Jurassic World and can't cope with the Scooby Doo Mysteries

*Disclaimer: We are a neeky (nerd+geek) family so this is what she is used to. The child eats dinner while watching Bones (as do I) while DH goes green in the corner

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FlightofFancy · 22/04/2016 12:56

DS is 6 and has watched the original Star Wars - as a PP said, they're all U. He's going to watch the new one on DVD, though we didn't let him see it at the cinema. For anything, I make sure I or DH have seen it first, and we might make it a family film afternoon to watch rather than plonk him down to watch it on his own. He and DH watched the original superman film. But it's a no to the modern ones - mainly the violence. We just tell him he's not old enough yet!

Mind you, apparently his cousin told him all the gory bits of star wars anyway!

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KeyserSophie · 22/04/2016 12:58

I let DS watch star wars at 5. The original ones don't really hold his attention but he likes the recent one. I watched it first and didn't think there was anything that bad in it.

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KeyserSophie · 22/04/2016 12:58

Just as reference I think Jurassic World is more nightmare inducing than Star Wars

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WonderingAspie · 22/04/2016 13:05

Yes it is the violence I am concerned with (and possible occasionally bits of language, probably not in Star Wars but potentially in the Marvel ones?)

Ok, will ask DH's judgement on Star Wars as he has seen them and say no on the superheros. We had a conversation the other day and DS said if he was at a friends and they put on a Marvel film, he just wouldn't tell me because he wants to watch it. He seems to think 12s equal scary and as he's not scared of Harry Potter and Jurassic World then all 12s are not scary, despite me telling him that's not the case at all and it's not how scary they are it's adult themes (he would say he isn't bothered by the violence either but I don't see why should expose him to that while he is still young).

So Star Wars 'violence' is like Harry Potter? People do die but as it's not getting shot with a gun or stabbed then it's not quite so real?

He does have a tendancy to act out stuff he has watched so it's something we need to be aware of wrt what he watches.

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WonderingAspie · 22/04/2016 13:06

Thanks keyser, he loved Jurassic World, seemed to like the slightly gory bits and he is dinosaur mad anyway.

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Toffeelatteplease · 22/04/2016 13:08

Avengers, guardians of the galaxy (they loved groot and rocket racoon) and star wars yes.

Jurassic World No. Anything Batman other than Batman forever and Batman Begins no

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Twine88 · 22/04/2016 13:08

Ds and dd (5 and 2.5) have seen all Star Wars films, but have not let them watch Avengers etc and will hold off on those for a while yet.

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IDontSayBlahBlahBlah · 22/04/2016 13:09

DS learnt about Star Wars from nursery (much to my dismay). He "watched" the original one when turned 4 and loved it. He likes Spider-Man but doesn't really have the attention span for these movies yet.

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Toffeelatteplease · 22/04/2016 13:09

Not batman begins wouldn't show them that! I meant Batman and Robin

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hunibuni · 22/04/2016 13:17

Star Wars violence isn't gory, not like the Jurassic's. Funnily enough, DD loves the old Batman movies but has never been bothered about the more recent ones., but again I think it's because the violence in those was pretty comic book. Anyone remember Arnie as Freeze? lol

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Artandco · 22/04/2016 13:20

Ds is 6. I wouldn't let him watch them at his age. He last saw the good dinosaur at the cinema as was terrified.

Based on that I would say for us at least the 12 recommended age. Mine you Harry Potter and Jurassic park make me jump a lot and I think they are pretty scary

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RainbowPickle · 22/04/2016 13:24

Dd is 4 and a massive Star Wars fan. We took her to see Force Awakens at Christmas. She's not super sensitive like I was a that age (traumatised by Pinnochio!). She's seen them all understands the basic story line and loves Leia! My nephew who is 10 still hasn't seen episode 3 as he's a bit more sensitive. Depends on your child.

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MrsBenWyatt · 22/04/2016 13:37

DD (6) and DS1 (3) have seen the original Star Wars films. I love them and was confident that the children will be fine with them. They haven't seen the most recent one and won't until I have seen it and can decide. As above, it's much less realistic and violent than other films.

I've seen Jurassic World and wouldn't let them watch that though.

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madamginger · 22/04/2016 13:41

I've let mine watch Starwars and Jurassic park, but not batman, he's a bit too young yet.
They're only allowed to watch the first 2 Harry Potter films, the rest are a bit dark for a 7 and 9 year old.
My 9 year old DD prefers studio Ghibli films anyway.

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SandyMumsnet · 20/07/2016 13:57

Hi everyone,
Just sweeping this great thread into Films. OP please do shout if this is a problem for you.

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Nataleejah · 21/07/2016 20:12

DS1 around 7 maybe. Before that he was too impatient to sit through a proper film. DS2 around 5. Star Wars, Spiderman, Xmen, Avengers, Ironman, Thor, older Batmans, others of the kind. Can't even name them all -- stuff that is appealing to young boys.

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MewlingQuim · 21/07/2016 20:23

DD has been watching Harry Potter (1-5)since 2y and Star Wars (all) since 3y.

The Marvel superhero ones are rather more graphic in their violence so we will leave them until she is a bit older.

Jurassic park would scare the shit out of her.

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Serenitymummy · 24/07/2016 19:23

DS is 3 and adores most Marvel films (haven't watched original Iron-Man's with him as build up a bit boring/wouldn't hold attention. Same with the Hulk). Adores Captain America and the Avengers movies, and GOTG is his favourite superhero one. Also loves Star Wars and Harry Potter, he's watched up to 5 as I figured the inferi are a bit scary for him. He adores them all and have had to buy him lightsabers, magic wands and a captain America costume with shield. You know your own kid so know what they can cope with best. Just watch them first and make a judgement?

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TaurielTest · 24/07/2016 20:33

Mine are 5 and 8 and love Star Wars - we watched the original trilogy on DVD (and yes, they're U, but there are certain scenes that I think would get a different certificate in a modern release - charred skeletons on Tattoine, a hand being cut off) and then got them the other 3 more reluctantly once they were really into them and wanted to see the complete set. The Force Awakens was the first 12A that we've ever taken them to, and read around it first (and were ready to take DC2 out of the cinema if necessary).

I really enjoy superhero films especially Marvel Cinematic Universe and I would not allow them to watch any of them yet. It is a different flavour of violence, and also issues of sexualization and language that don't really come up with SW - slave girl Leia aside. They watch Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes (decent animated series available for pennies on DVD) and have seen little clips from a couple of the MCU films, but I don't think the films as a whole are appropriate for them yet.
Not watched Harry Potter - though I'd be okay with the first couple I should think - or Jurassic anything. Just wondering about Lord of the Rings/Hobbit, what do people think?