Captain Marvel age rating: How old do you have to be to see Captain Marvel?

Captain Marvel may be one of the most anticipated movies of 2019. But the wait is coming to an end, with the superhero film debuting in UK cinemas on Friday. Before you plan your trip to the cinema, there are some important factors to take into account…

What is the Captain Marvel age rating?

According to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), Captain Marvel is rated 12A.

A 12A age rating means: “Films classified 12A contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12.

“No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.

“Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child.”

The BBFC cites moderate fantasy violence and implied strong language as its justification for the rating.

Captain Marvel’s scenes of violence include: “fistfights, gunfights and aerial dogfights involving fantastical powers and weaponry.

“Resulting injuries are brief and largely undetailed, although there is the partial sight of an alien autopsy.”

The bad language referenced includes: “wordplay on the term ‘motherf**ker’, but the word itself is not used.

“Other bad language is mild, including ‘ass’, ‘shit’, ‘bastards’, ‘butt’, ‘damn’ and ‘hell’.

“Men are seen mocking the protagonist’s abilities, including a male pilot evoking the term ‘cockpit’ as a reason why women should not fly.

“But the film does not condone or endorse sexist behaviour.”

Far from condoning or endorsing sexist behaviour, Captain Marvel is seen by many as a huge step towards equality in superhero films.

Brie Larson herself is a major proponent of representation not only in the film but in the journalists who cover it.

In an Interview with Marie Claire, Larson said: “So, I spoke to Dr Stacy Smith at the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, who put together a study to confirm that.

“Moving forward, I decided to make sure my press days were more inclusive.

“After speaking with you [Keah Brown, journalist; a woman of colour with cerebral palsy], the film critic Valerie Complex and a few other women of colour, it sounded like across the board they weren’t getting the same opportunities as others.

“When I talked to the facilities that weren’t providing it, they all had different excuses.”

Captain Marvel is a huge step forward in representation for women in superhero movies – but there’s still a long way to go.

Captain Marvel is out in cinemas on March 8, 2019