Is a brighter DC Universe on the horizon? The MPAA rating for Superman suggests that the franchise may be leaning away from its mature roots.
The mid-2010s were an interesting time for the DC Universe. Henry Cavill was actively playing Superman, there was a whole roadmap on the horizon, and fans had yet to be exposed to the horrors of CGI Nicolas Cage. However, in the franchise’s infant years of a connected universe, the tone was much darker. Many people new to the fandom may not remember that DC was primarily marketed as the “dark and gritty” counterpart to the MCU’s constant humor.
Yet with James Gunn’s Superman serving as the start to a whole new DC Universe, there also seems to be a new attitude when it comes to tone. The project has been promoted using feelings of hope and love, straying far from the brooding nature of the earliest films in the Snyderverse. This led many to wonder exactly how high (or low) the rating for the movie will be when compared to prior projects in the franchise.
What Is The MPAA Rating For Superman?
As reported by FilmRatings, Superman has received the official MPAA rating of PG-13, for violence, action and language. This is to be expected, as a blockbuster like this usually lands around a PG-13 rating. However, one most compare it to prior swings at creating a DC Universe. While having the same rating of PG-13, Man of Steel was defined as having “intense” violence, along with the usual disclaimers of action and language.
Of course, this isn’t a massive disparity. There isn’t much one can do to bump up the rating of a Superman film. However, even these minor differences in classification by the MPAA show just how different the two approaches are when it comes to their tone. Perhaps this time, the DC Universe can define itself, not by what it isn’t, but what it can bring to audiences around the world.
Superman is currently scheduled to hit theaters on July 11, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
