Thunderbolts parents guide: what parents of kids 4–7 should know

• ✓Official rating above age 7
  MPA: PG-13
• ✓Violence in rating descriptors
  MPA: strong violence; BBFC: moderate violence
• ✓Scary content in rating descriptors
  BBFC: moderate threat
• ✓Bad language in rating descriptors
  MPA: language; BBFC: moderate language
• ✓Sexual content, drugs, or alcohol in rating descriptors
  MPA: some suggestive and drug references
• ✓Rated 12 or higher in the UK or Germany
  BBFC: 12A; FSK: 12

Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count. Rating reasons marked mild, very mild, or brief don't count.

Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?

Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.

What Thunderbolts* is about

Thunderbolts* is a 2025 Marvel Studios film directed by Jake Schreier, the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour, it follows a group of antiheroes who are caught in a trap and forced to work together on a mission that uncovers their traumatic pasts. It opened in US theaters on May 2, 2025. At the end, the team is rebranded as the "New Avengers," according to Wikipedia.

Thunderbolts parents guide: what's in it

Short answer: PG-13 in the US, 12A in the UK, 12 in Germany.

• US (MPA): PG-13, strong violence, language, thematic elements, some suggestive and drug references.
• UK (BBFC): 12A, moderate violence, threat, language.
• Germany (FSK): 12 for the home release, violence and distressing themes.

The BBFC lists shootings, stabbings, stranglings and hand-to-hand fights in a fantasy setting with minimal bloodshed, and people turned into shadows by a sinister force. A man recalls his father's abuse, and another character talks about past drug addiction. Common Sense Media notes that an adult shoots a child in one scene.

Thunderbolts* themes: trauma and loneliness

The BBFC lists mild upsetting scenes centered on memories of death, mental illness and other childhood trauma. Common Sense Media calls it a "heartfelt" antihero adventure about trauma, and Wikipedia notes that critics praised its approach to mental health.

The habit kids may copy: going it alone

Each character keeps their worst memories to themselves until a shared mission pushes them to work together.

Try tonight: who helped you?

At bedtime, ask: "Who helped you today, and who did you help?" Name one person each, then switch. In our program, this is the lesson "Stepping In": we're here to help each other.

What is Thunderbolts rated?

PG-13 in the US for strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references. It's 12A in UK cinemas.

What age is Thunderbolts for?

The MPA's PG-13 means some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Common Sense Media lists it for 13+.

Is there swearing in Thunderbolts?

Yes. The MPA lists language, and the BBFC describes the bad language as moderate.

Is Thunderbolts* the New Avengers?

Yes. At the end of the film, the team is rebranded as the "New Avengers," and the title changes to The New Avengers in the end credits, per Wikipedia.

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