X-Men: Apocalypse
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to X-Men: Apocalypse
X-Men: Apocalypse is a 2016 American superhero film that serves as the ninth installment in the X-Men film series. Directed by Bryan Singer, the movie is set in 1983 and follows the ancient mutant En Sabah Nur, also known as Apocalypse, as he is inadvertently revived after millennia. Disillusioned with humanity, he plans to cleanse the world and establish a new order with himself as supreme ruler, recruiting powerful mutants to serve as his Four Horsemen. Professor Charles Xavier and his young X-Men must unite to stop Apocalypse's global destruction. The film combines intense action, science fiction elements, and themes of power, discrimination, and unity. It is rated PG-13, indicating it contains content that may be unsuitable for pre-teenagers due to its pervasive violence and some suggestive material.
Things to Consider
Violence
The film features intense, frequent, and at times brutal action violence, including pervasive depictions of hand-to-hand combat, weapon use, and large-scale destruction. Many deaths are shown or implied, with graphic injuries and blood depicted.
The movie contains scenes of graphic violence, such as Wolverine's berserker rampage at Alkali Lake, where he stabs and slashes numerous guards, resulting in visible blood splatter and dead bodies. Another instance involves Magneto, who, in a fit of rage after the tragic death of his wife and daughter by police, uses his powers to brutally kill the officers involved. Apocalypse also demonstrates extreme destructive power, using sand to decapitate three men during a conflict. A controversial promotional billboard for the film depicted Apocalypse choking Mystique, highlighting the intense and sometimes brutal nature of the violence.
Witchcraft & Occult
Witchcraft and occult themes are central to the antagonist, Apocalypse, who is depicted as an ancient being performing rituals to transfer his consciousness and powers. His claims of godhood and the enhancement of other mutants' abilities through ancient means contribute significantly to the occultic tone.
Scary & Intense Content
The film contains highly intense and frightening sequences, including graphic violence, emotionally distressing events like the death of a child, and themes of global destruction and mass peril. These elements are pervasive and can be disturbing for younger viewers.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Not recommended for children under 13 years, and potentially not suitable for those under 15, due to intense and frequent action violence, disturbing scenes, a strong sense of peril, and mature themes. The film's PG-13 rating is justified by sequences of violence, destruction, brief strong language, and some suggestive images.
Good to Know
The film is quite long at 144 minutes, which may be a consideration for younger viewers. While there are no confirmed differences across theatrical, extended, or director's cuts that significantly alter the parental guidance concerns, some reviews indicate the film's pacing can feel drawn out in parts. The X-Men franchise generally maintains its allegorical themes of acceptance and discrimination across installments, with 'Apocalypse' continuing this tradition.
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