Is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness OK for Kids? - Parent's Guide and Movie Review

(L-R): Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, Benedict Wong as Wong, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel Studios' DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness takes Marvel fans on a mind-bending journey through time and space as Stephen Strange does battle with some of the darkest forces across the universe.  We all know that kids enjoy a good superhero movie, but how does this one compare to other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Before taking your young ones to see the latest Marvel movie, check out my thoughts on whether or not Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is OK for kids.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - Spoiler Free Review

A scene from Marvel Studios' DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios 2022. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Before we dive into the kid-appropriateness of the movie, let's talk a bit about the film.  Following the events of Spiderman: No Way Home, everyone's favorite, mystical doctor finds himself once again contemplating and working within the multiverse.  Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) meets young America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who has the ability to travel across the multiverse - a power that catches the attention of someone who wants to seize this power from America. To better understand the multiverse and help protect America from evil, Strange turns to his friends Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Wong (Benedict Wong).  But soon, Strange learns that things aren't always what they seem and that he may not be able to trust his familiar friends as he navigates the unknown worlds of the multiverse.  

Olsen and Cumberbatch are brilliant as always in their characters.  Olsen carries the complexities of Maximoff effortlessly while Cumberbatch is dry, sarcastic, and hilarious in any universe he enters!  I was on the edge of my seat the entire 2 hours of the film and can honestly say that I didn't want it to end.  In all honesty, I was a little worried about following Doctor Strange across the multiverse as these mind-bends sometimes aren't my cup of tea, but the story, while dark and complex, was also very easy to navigate - even for those of us that aren't diehards in the Marvel universe.

Is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness OK for Kids? - Parent's Guide

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios' DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

I went to see this one on my own and was glad that I did.  While all Marvel movies have a bit of sci-fi violence and action, Doctor Strange is darker than what young superhero fans are used to seeing.  Without spoiling the plot or any surprises, I can say that the line between good guys and bad guys is blurred in this film.  That, coupled with witchcraft, magic, and the dark arts gives this movie a heaviness that you don't see in some of the other Marvel movies.  

Perhaps the most shocking difference for parents who have watched previous Marvel films with their kids is the gore in this one.  Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is directed by Sam Raimi, and he's not afraid to throw some blood and guts around on screen.  Neck snaps, decapitations, eyes coming out of sockets. . .yeah, it was a lot.  I've seen other reviews put Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness into the horror category and, while I don't necessarily feel like it's entirely there, it's certainly more intense and carries a different vibe than other Marvel movies.

With my boys being 7 and 10, I'm glad that I went to see this one by myself.  My 10 year old wanted to go desperately and was bummed when I wouldn't let him.  I still think it was the right choice for him not to see it in theaters, but I did share with him that when it comes to streaming, we could maybe watch it together. . .during the day. . .with all the lights on. . .and the ability to stop if it becomes too much.  

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About Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (From Marvel Studios)

In Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.

 

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, with Michael Stühlbarg, and Rachel McAdams. 

 

The film is directed by Sam Raimi, and Kevin Feige is the producer. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Eric Hauserman Carroll and Jamie Christopher serve as executive producers. The screenplay was written by Michael Waldron. 

 

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” releases in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2022.