This July, Christopher Nolan’s epic fantasy action-drama, The Odyssey makes its way into cinemas. The film – based on Homer’s ancient Greek tale of the same name – stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, and Lupita Nyong’o, and promises to be a huge blockbuster for the summer season.
In fact, The Odyssey is tipped as one of the most significant releases of the summer. Nolan is a popular director, the cast is stacked with high profile names, and Greek mythology is something which always has appeal – especially with young audiences.
But when The Odyssey arrives in cinemas, will the movie be suitable for all ages? And more specifically, will The Odyssey be suitable for a family?
Let’s take a look at the rating…
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The Odyssey UK age rating
In the UK, The Odyssey has been awarded a ‘15’ certificate by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The film has received this rating for “strong violence.”
In terms of violence, the BBFC said: “Fight scenes and battles include the use of bows and arrows, stabbings and impalings from bladed weapons, accompanied by blood spurts.” The violence also includes scenes where “fantastical creatures bite, crush and dismember people” and there are “beatings and decapitation”.
In the UK, if a film is awarded a ‘15’ certificate it is deemed suitable for audiences aged 15 or over only. This rating means no one below the age of 15 can view a ’15’ certificate movie in a UK cinema.
As such, the BBFC does not believe The Odyssey is suitable for all audiences, and not suitable for all families. If your family includes children aged 15 or over, they will be OK to watch this movie in the cinema, but if they are aged ’14’ or under, then this film is not suitable and they will not be admitted into a screening.
It’s also worth noting that The Odyssey has a runtime of 173 minutes, which is just shy of three hours. The runtime is probably more suited to a mature audience.
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The Odyssey US age rating
In the US, The Odyssey has been rated ‘R’ by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA). The Odyssey has received this rating for violence and some language.
In the US, if a movie is rated ‘R’ it means it is classed as ‘restricted’. This means it is deemed most suitable for audiences aged 17 or above.
However, (and here’s where things differ between the US and the UK), in the US, anyone can watch an ‘R’ rated movie at the cinema. As long as audience members under the age of 17 are accompanied by a parent or adult guardian, they can attend a screening in a US cinema.
So, technically, a family which includes children of all ages can watch The Odyssey in the US. But does this mean The Odyssey is appropriate for all ages and all families? Maybe not.
The MPA has set the ‘R’ rating and has provided advice about the content, but ultimately leaves the decision to parents. The organisation believes it is up to parents to decide if The Odyssey is suitable for their family based on the information provided.
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