Thor: Love and Thunder parents guide (Is Thor 4 suitable for kids?)

Thor: Love and Thunder has arrived in movie theaters, but is it suitable for family viewing? 

Chris Hemsworth is back to headline his fourth Thor movie, which is now a record for Marvel Studios that sees the resident Space Viking surpass trilogy headliners Iron Man and Captain America.

Subtitled Love and Thunder, the 29th outing in the constantly-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe is undoubtedly an adventure, but if you saw the trailers you already knew that. It will come as no surprise when the film exceeds expectations at the box office and becomes one of this year’s biggest hits, as Marvel appeals to people of all ages.

Speaking of which, you might want to know if Thor: Love and Thunder is suitable for your kids. Planning on seeing the movie this weekend? Well, here’s all you need to know about the boundaries that Thor 4 does and doesn’t push.

Thor: Love and Thunder age rating

Thor 4 has been rated PG-13 by MPAA. That’s no surprise given that all previous Marvel Studios entries have received the same age rating. As for why this movie specifically received that rating, it’s down to “intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, some suggestive material and partial nudity.”

Still not sure if Thor 4 is family-viewing based on that age rating? Well, I have seen the movie, so let’s break down what you can expect.

Thor: Love and Thunder nudity

If you had seen the trailer for the film, you probably already knew to expect this scene. Yes, Thor: Love and Thunder does include one partial shot of nudity and that is Chris Hemsworth’s bare backside.

It’s played for comedic effect as Zeus uses his powers to flick Thor’s disguise off and accidentally “flicks” too hard, leaving him naked. The far-out back shot of Thor’s exposed backside lasts all of five seconds.

Is there bad language in Thor: Love and Thunder?

Taika Waititi’s Thor movies are very like the Guardians of the Galaxy films, so yes, that does mean there is some bad language in Thor: Love and Thunder. That means you can expect multiple uses of the words “sh*tty”, “sh*t” and “a**hole”.

There is also a conversation about an orgy in which the word “orgy” is used multiple times.

Is Thor: Love and Thunder scary?

This is one that might require some consideration. Gorr the God Butcher may be something of a tragic Marvel villain, but he’s also one of the darker villains we have seen in the MCU. He’s designed to be terrifying and whenever the camera closes in on his face, that’s exactly what he is.

There is one scene, in particular, in which he is trying to scare a group of children and rips off his pet creature’s head. It’s all very shadowed so you don’t see that much, but it’s definitely worth bearing that in mind.

Gorr also summons a multitude of giant shadow creatures, including a few that look like spiders and crabs.

Thor: Love and Thunder action

The action scenes in Thor 4 aren’t anything different from what Marvel movies are known for. Large scale group fights, destruction and flying hammers; it’s all in a day’s work for Thor.

That said, there are some scenes involving swords where characters are stabbed, so keep in mind that younger children might find that more intense.

Is Thor: Love and Thunder suitable for kids?

All in all, Thor: Love and Thunder is a little darker than its predecessors and that might make it a little scarier. For the most part, it’s the same as every other light-hearted Marvel movie (particularly Thor: Ragnarok), but there are some standout elements that make this one slightly more mature, such as the darker villain and the partial nudity.

Nobody knows your kids better than you do, so if you’ve watched all of the Marvel movies together, you’ll know what they like and what they don’t. It’s nowhere near as dark as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but you still might want to see this one on your own first to make sure it’s suitable for your children.

Will you be going to see Thor: Love and Thunder in theaters? Let us know in the comments below!