Would you let a 6y/o see Barbie?

[44PumpLane]

I'm in two minds about this- kids have been invited to see Barbie the movie but it's rated 12A because of moderate sexual innuendo, brief harassment, catcalling and implied strong language (including bleeped out motherf*er).

Supposedly it has the words bitch, crap, God, hell and damn in.

What would you do? We wouldn't typically let the kids see anything with this sort of language but then it would mean missing out on someone's birthday party.

There is no chance of us seeing it before the girls as we would have to accept or decline the invite today.

I think the swearing would go over the heads of mine, but I definitely know it wouldn't others so they then might chat about it or discuss it afterwards.

Am I being too precious about it all?

YABU- let them go see it

YANBU- yeah I probably wouldn't let a 6 year old see it or I'd want to see it myself first to judge.

@wholivesondrurylane

Sorry I thought I was posting to the person who I was quoting earlier

@Piggywaspushed

I don't really have any beef.

cinemas can make the rules they like. They don't have to accept a birthday party of young children for a non-child friendly movie.

They didn't accept groups of kids at the minion movies for obvious reasons, but they had to make up that rule pretty quickly.

They will be the ones dealing with adults complaining about the children during the movie 😂

😂it's ok.

All I meant was that if I was the parent in charge, I wouldn't assume I could take 8 or 10 kids on my own.

I think it's meant to be a bit of a camp film for grown ups, rather than a kids film?
There's a whole thing about seeing Oppenheimer, having lunch and cocktails, then going in to see Barbie, before going clubbing, which is exactly what my uni-aged son and I are planning on doing.
Like most 12A films, it's really up to you and your child.

I won't be taking my 8 year old because of the age rating.

She might not like it, it's clearly aimed at an older audience and the storyline may well not be what she is expecting and disappoint her. Lots of people, including my adult son, plan to watch Barbie after Oppenheimer, for some reason I haven't fully grasped...

That's a really helpful summary; thank you for sharing it.

I wasn't going to take my DD (ASD, very emotionally young 11). But I think I'll see it with her now. Use it to discuss some of the social issues she's going to have to face soon herself.

Greta Gerwig directed a good version of Little Women too, which really highlighted some of the social themes of the day. It would appear social commentary is her thing!

My husband watched the latest transformers trailer, it was a PG. So I took my 7 year old to see it, sat down the film starts and it’s a 12A!

A bit of bad language which he knows not to repeat, heard worse from some cretins in his class. No harm done but I don’t think I’d deliberately take him to a 12 in the future.

Trailers are generally rated one level below the film - partly so they can be shown in PG films, but mainly because it is rare to have the more troublesome content in a trailer. 18 films always have 12A or 15 trailers.

It does say at the beginning something like PG trailer for 12A film.

It's beyond bizarre that a Transformers film feels the need to be a 12A but I guess that's ow much violence has become part and parcel of Hollywood standard action fare.

A child melts a doll's hair using a lighter.

This will be one of the main reasons for the 12A rating just by itself.

Lots of people, including my adult son, plan to watch Barbie after Oppenheimer, for some reason I haven't fully grasped...

What is there to "grasp" about adults wanting to watch two of the summers biggest blockbusters on their opening day, even though they both are released on the same day?

The only concern are the people who want to watch Barbie first - Oppenheimer, dinner, Barbie, drinks is the logical way to do it (and how I'm intending to watch it)

I'd be more concerned about my child being exposed to people using such ableist slurs about other children, tbh.

Quite

The film is cleared aimed at adults, not only young adults/teens. However it's being marketed for everyone, despite being 12A.

Some posters here seem very tight about age recommendations in films. It really depends on the film itself and the child that's going to see it.
There are shows and films for children that talk about themes like death (e.g. the excellent Bluey) and the other ones being mentioned.

Also, even though Barbie is also a child's toy, there's plenty of Barbie 'toys' made for adults. These are collector's Barbie dolls and most dolls made for the film are not exactly cheap, so I don't think I'll be buying them for my preschooler.

Here's some examples:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barbie-Collection-Dark-Brown-Collectors-HBX96/dp/B09NLC7TP5/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barbie-Collectible-Wearing-Western-HPK00/dp/B0BS237WXV/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barbie-Signature-Elizabeth-Platinum-Collectors/dp/B09CGFHXYK/
Lowest price £349.99!!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barbie-BarbieStyle-Resort-Wear-Collectible-HJW88/dp/B0B5VN2KTW/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mattel-Barbie-Collectibles-Exotic-Intrigue/dp/B0002YM0ES/

I think it will be boring for younger kids as lots of talking.

It's been interesting to read the more arrogant and facetious comments here - the film's PR team have been busy!

I do appreciate the extra information shared though because until a film is rated or discussed you really can't be sure whether it's appropriate - especially when young children have been exposed to the film through PG-rated trailers and new merchandise in stores. There's plenty of nuance in other films and TV shows aimed at younger audiences, so we shouldn't flippantly cast aside parents' confusion.

I can't wait to see the film because I love Greta Gerwig but my DD won't be seeing it.

I agree with you. I couldn’t make my mind up as to what it was after seeing trailers at the cinema but I was in some doubt about it being a children’s film. I’m not taking my 7 year old granddaughter based on it being very clear from this thread the film is for adults.

Nope, far too young

Yabu
My 7 year old is going! It's been shown on every film preview in every film we've been to see for months now Including things like elemental etc. If they're showing it in kids movie trailers then it can't be that unacceptable for children.

So the cinema is encouraging people to come and see a film? Gosh, that's surprising!

Strictly that advice is right, but the 12A certificate means that the film is considered suitable for over 12s but acknowledges that parents can make their own decisions about younger children. That's probably mature 10 and 11 year olds - not 7 year olds.

If it was generally suitable for children at the discretion of their parents, it would be a PG.

There was an advert for it during Elemental which said something like “for everyone who loves barbie…”. Kids and parents are going to see this and think it’s suitable for them; it wasn’t obvious it was for 12+ based on the advert I saw.

The cinema also had a barbie dreamhouse cardboard set up for photos - which obviously attracts and advertises it to the kids.

I use to love barbie as a child, and my 10yo DD still likes them, however I can think of nothing worse than sitting through the film during child-free time, based on what I’ve seen (I don’t mind the ones aimed at kids). The marketing has been very confusing, so they should have made it PG.

It’s not “unacceptable” for smalls just not made specifically with those in mind

it’s a satire, so what adults like about it will go over their little heads. They may like it in a different way of course.

Well, it is. It's a 12a. The 7 year old wont get in.