Are children's films getting more violent?

[ThinkingFace]

I took my son to the cinema for the first time ever to see Minions The Rise of Gru. My son has just turned 4. I was surprised how violent and dark some parts of it were. I thought it was rated a U and that's what came up as the film started but I've seen a pg rating elsewhere.

It was nothing like the first Minions film which was much more light hearted. The frequent fighting scenes, the character having a fake cardiac arrest and the villainous nun as seemed a bit intense for young children to be watching.

Why do film producers think that children are only entertained by faat paced, intense action and violence? I'll definitely look at ratings far more carefully next time.

Have you SEEN Waterhouse Down....?!

Read any of the Brothers Grimm fairytales or seen a Disney film?

I can't say I noticed it being anything but funny and silly but I have older children.
However, in general I agree with you. Some of the 15 rated stuff would have been an 18 when we were young. I'm surprised by how grown up some 12 movies are.

If I remember rightly, a previous minions film had the minions being tortured in a torture chamber. I had taken my little toddler and primary aged child to see it and was aghast.

Minions has never been gentle 😂

I disagree.
A lot of what are now 12a /12 we’re PG back in the day.
Gremlins, anyone? Horrifying 🤣

@GetOffTheRoof I'm guessing you mean Watership Down? Of course.
I know there are loads of films, stories, TV programmes, games that could be disturbing for children in various ways but I think it's the intensity of it. I love the 90s Beatrix Potter cartoons and my son watches them on YouTube. The stories in themselves can have quite dark undertones but it's down in a calmer, subtle a way.
I'm not saying to shelter children completely but I do I will definitely be more aware from now on.

Agree with above poster that children's films generally get more violent than in the past
However I think the film in OP is a pretty standard film for a U rating really.
And I am a parent who didn't necessarily let my 8 year old watch any PG film

Surely all of the action in these animations like Minions would fall under 'mild peril'. I've never felt uncomfortable watching a kids' film I have to say. I don't know if they've become more violent, or perhaps they're just more engaging in terms of quality of animation, modern soundtracks and sound quality etc.

I like the sound of the villainous nun. You don't see many nuns these days, come to think of it.

I think ratings for children’s films tend to be PG now, whereas older Disney movies tend to all be U, but they’re no less appropriate. Snow White (from 1937) has a properly scary witch hire someone to kill Snow White and bring back her heart, attempts the job herself when that doesn’t work, and has several skeletons hanging around her dungeon.

I remember doing my a level in film studies in my teens and we had to do a lot on censorship and watched/discussed some hard hitting stuff in films. My parents weren't too strict which what I watched as a child. So I thought I was fairly relaxed about it but I feel quite protective now with what my son watches. Maybe it's because he's only just 4 and it's also because as a teacher, I've taught so many young children (mostly boys) who try and act out things they've watched which leads to problems with play fighting in the playground.

@toastofthetown you're absolutely right. Those older Disney films were really quite dark. However, I think it was a less intense, in your face type film experience in the past whereas now it's like, wham! I think it's also the extent of violence in a film too. I just felt with Minions, there was too much fighting throughout.