Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man: Homecoming is a superhero action-adventure film that follows Peter Parker as he navigates high school life while balancing his emerging responsibilities as Spider-Man. After receiving an advanced suit from Tony Stark, Peter grapples with his desire to prove himself as a hero by confronting the Vulture, an antagonist selling technologically advanced weapons. The movie aims for a lighter, more youthful tone than previous Spider-Man iterations, focusing on Parker's journey of self-discovery and the importance of being a hero without relying solely on his suit. While offering positive themes of courage and responsibility, parents should be aware of its PG-13 rating, which reflects frequent action violence, some suggestive content, and a notable amount of coarse language.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains frequent sci-fi action violence with high-tech weapons, explosions, and intense fistfights. While gore is limited, the intensity of peril and impact on characters can be significant, potentially disturbing for younger viewers.
A man is disintegrated by an alien weapon, burning bright red, turning to ash, and disappearing on screen. Spider-Man is subjected to severe beatings, enduring more force than an adult typically would. Additionally, a tense sequence depicts a ferry full of passengers splitting in half and beginning to sink, creating a realistic sense of drowning peril. Another scene shows teenagers trapped in a plummeting elevator after an explosion destroys part of the Washington Monument.
Profanity
HighThe film contains a notable amount of coarse and strong language, including bleeped instances of the F-word, multiple uses of the S-word, and various other expletives. God's name is also misused frequently.
The F-word is used twice, though it is bleeped out. Several S-words are present, with one review noting at least three instances, and other strong expletives like 'hell,' 'damn,' 'crap,' 'bullshit,' 'arsehole,' and 'ass' are used. Additionally, God's name is misused approximately a dozen times. A crude hand gesture (middle finger) is also seen.
Scary & Intense Content
HighBeyond the action violence, the film features several highly intense and frightening scenes that could be disturbing to younger audiences, characterized by peril, dramatic situations, and visually unsettling elements.
The Vulture character, with his metal suit, razor-sharp wings, and glowing green eyes, is designed to be intimidating and frightening. A memorable intense scene involves Spider-Man being trapped under the rubble of a fallen building, portraying his distress and struggle for survival in a realistic manner. Another highly suspenseful moment features teenagers, including Peter, trapped in a plummeting elevator during an attack on the Washington Monument.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe movie features various instances of suggestive comments and innuendo, along with some mild romantic situations typical of high school. These elements range from subtle to explicit verbal references, making the content moderately concerning for Christian parents.
Tony Stark makes a suggestive comment about Aunt May 'wearing something skimpy'. Peter Parker's classmate, Ned, explicitly lies to a teacher that he was 'watching porn' when caught using a school computer. Liz's father tells Peter to 'show my daughter a good time – but not too good' before the homecoming dance. High school girls are also depicted playing a game of 'F, Marry, Kill' involving superheroes, where the 'F' stands for an obvious profanity with a sexual context.
Substance Use
MediumThe film includes depictions of social alcohol consumption and a significant instance of an adult offering alcohol to a minor, raising concerns about substance exposure.
An adult character offers Peter Parker, a minor, some alcohol. The movie also shows instances of social beer-drinking among adult characters. A teen party scene features red Solo cups, implying the potential presence of alcohol, though its contents are not explicitly shown or confirmed.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumDisrespect and rebellion are present throughout the narrative, primarily through Peter Parker's repeated disobedience to authority figures like Tony Stark and his Aunt May, and through the portrayal of other student behaviors.
Peter Parker frequently disobeys Tony Stark's explicit instructions to 'stay low' and focus on 'smaller criminal activity,' repeatedly getting 'in over his head' by pursuing the Vulture. Peter also lies to his Aunt May about his whereabouts and activities to maintain his secret identity. Furthermore, one student expresses a rebellious sentiment by stating she won't celebrate the Washington Monument 'because it was built by slaves,' which a review notes as a 'politically correct and leftist statement' that condones 'rebellious and crass behavior'.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowSearches for explicit LGBTQ+ themes, characters, or representation within 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' did not yield specific instances. Parental review outlets and dedicated LGBTQ+ media searches did not identify any overt or implied LGBTQ+ content in the film.
No explicit or implied LGBTQ+ content regarding characters, relationships, or gender identity was identified in the provided search results for 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'. The film focuses on heterosexual teen romance and Peter Parker's journey of self-discovery without exploring LGBTQ+ themes.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe movie does not depict any explicit witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, or demonic elements. While one source mentions 'some strong paganism, including a reference to Hinduism' in a worldview analysis, this is not shown as active or central to the plot.
The film focuses on technologically-driven villainy and superhero action, with no discernible scenes or dialogue related to magic rituals, spells, or supernatural beings commonly associated with witchcraft or the occult. The only tangential mention is a general classification of 'paganism' with a 'reference to Hinduism' in a review's worldview analysis, which does not translate to direct occult content in the movie.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe film does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes or mockery. It presents a generally moral and redemptive worldview with positive values, though one review notes a blend with 'some strong paganism, including a reference to Hinduism.' Casual expressions like 'Thank God' and references to 'miracle' are also present.
The movie primarily focuses on secular heroic themes and personal growth, with no direct criticism or negative portrayal of Christian beliefs. While a review mentions a 'strong moral, redemptive worldview' mixed with 'some strong paganism, including a reference to Hinduism', this does not manifest as overt anti-Christian content within the film's narrative. Conversely, characters do use Christian-adjacent phrases like 'Thank God'.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Not recommended for children under 13, and parental guidance is advised for the 13-15 age group. This recommendation is based on the film's frequent action violence, including intense scenes of peril and a character disintegration, along with persistent coarse language, suggestive remarks and innuendo, and instances of disrespect and rebellion.
Additional Notes
The film is praised for its humor and depiction of a relatable teenage Peter Parker, offering positive messages about courage, perseverance, and character development. However, these positive elements are balanced by the aforementioned content concerns.
Related Reviews
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