This weekend sees the eagerly awaited theatrical release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The biographical thriller – based on the 2005 biography, American Prometheus, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin – tells the story of real-life theoretical physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Cillian Murphy takes on the title role for the new movie, while support is provided by an all-star ensemble cast including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh. Meanwhile, the film is Christopher Nolan‘s 12th picture, following on from the likes of The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), and Dunkirk (2017).
With such a well-known director behind the camera, as well as so many recognisable faces popping up on screen, Oppenheimer is drawing a great deal of attention from cinemagoers. The film is already being touted as one of the big pictures of the year, and it is expected to draw in large crowds at the cinema.
But even though the film is shaping up to be very popular, is it suitable for all ages? For example: Is Oppenheimer a family-friendly film, and is it suitable for a 13-year-old?
The UK and US censors have both announced their ratings for Oppenheimer, and both have given ratings which make it clear to audiences it is not family-friendly. In the UK, Oppenheimer has been awarded a ’15’ certificate, while in the US, Oppenheimer is classed as an ‘R’ rated movie.
So, what does this mean exactly?
Well, in the UK, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) believes Oppenheimer is suitable for audiences who are 15-years-old or over. This means, you will be unable to watch Oppenheimer at a UK cinema unless you are 15 or above.
Oppenheimer has been rated ’15’ in the UK because of the film’s use of strong language and sex.
In terms of its use of language, the BBFC has said: “There is use of strong language (‘f**k’), as well as other terms such as ‘shit’ and ‘Jesus Christ’. With regard to sex, the BBFC states: “There are brief scenes of strong sex which include breast and buttock nudity.”
In the US, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) believes Oppenheimer deserves an ‘R’ rating, which means the film is classed as ‘restricted’. Unlike the UK, young audiences can view an ‘R’ rated movie, but anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
The reason the MPA has rated Oppenheimer an ‘R’ is because it contains some adult material. The association urges parents to learn more about the movie before taking anyone under the age of 17 to a screening.
What’s perhaps most interesting about Oppenheimer‘s ‘R’ rating is that this rating is fairly rare amongst Christopher Nolan’s portfolio of movies. With the exception of a couple of his films (Memento and Insomnia), Nolan’s movie tend to be rated ‘PG-13’, which makes them more suitable for younger teens.
So, back to the question at the top of this discussion: Is Oppenheimer suitable for a 13-year-old?
In the UK, Oppenheimer is deemed as unsuitable for a 13-year-old. No one under the age of 15 will be allowed to view the movie in the cinema.
In the US, Oppenheimer can be viewed by a 13-year-old, but only when accompanied by an adult. However, caution is advised, so parents may wish to check it out first.
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Oppenheimer – I hope the information has proved useful. For more movie posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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