Remember the 90s? Action movies were mostly muscle-bound guys firing infinite bullets from the hip without ever hitting anything, or superheroes punching people through brick walls with zero blood. It was "cartoon violence"—stylized, disconnected from reality, and easy for a kid’s brain to categorize as "pretend."

Fast forward to 2025. We are living in the era of the John Wick Effect. Thanks to the massive influence of John Wick, even PG-13 movies now favor "gun-fu," tactical realism, and "long-take" fight choreography. The violence feels heavier. When someone gets hit, the camera stays on them. You see the tactical reload; you hear the crunch of the bone.

Even in the "safe" world of superheroes, the stakes have shifted. We’ve moved from the primary-colored heroism of the early MCU to the gritty, "Sigma" energy of characters who operate in moral gray zones. If your kid is calling everything "Ohio" (weird/cringe) or obsessing over "looksmaxxing," they are likely also consuming media where the "cool" factor is tied to being a "lone wolf" who solves problems through hyper-competent violence.

Ask our chatbot about the difference between cartoon violence and realistic violence

It’s not because they want to be violent. For most kids, action media is about agency and competence.

In a world where kids have very little control over their schedules, their schools, or their digital footprints, watching a character like Captain America or a Jedi in Star Wars master their environment is intoxicating. It’s "competence porn." They love the mastery of the stunt, the "clutch" moment in a fight, and the clear-cut resolution that action provides.

However, the "Sigma" meme culture has added a layer of "edge" to this. Kids today aren't just watching the movie; they’re watching "edits" on TikTok or YouTube Shorts that strip away the plot and just show the most violent, "badass" moments set to phonk music. This decontextualizes the violence, making it look like a lifestyle rather than a story element.

We used to have a very clear line: Good guys don't kill, and bad guys do.

In 2026, that line is a puddle. Between the "anti-hero" trend and the rise of "deconstructionist" stories like The Boys (which, let’s be real, way too many 12-year-olds are seeing via social media clips), the message kids get is often: The person with the most power gets to decide what is right.

This is where the "Ethics" part comes in. When we watch Superman (2025), we're seeing a return to the "Big Blue Boy Scout" who saves cats from trees. But when they play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or watch Deadpool & Wolverine, the "heroism" is tied to how creatively they can dispatch an enemy.

Read our guide on the "Anti-Hero" trend in kids' media

Not all "violence" is created equal. Here is how to navigate the current landscape without being the parent who bans everything fun.

At this age, the brain is still figuring out the "permanence" of actions. Look for media where violence has a cost or is clearly fantastical.

This is the "John Wick Lite" phase. They want the cool stunts, but might not be ready for the nihilism of R-rated action.

At this stage, they are likely seeing R-rated content. The conversation shifts to the "Why" and the "How."

Check out our full list of "Smart Action" movies for teens

There is a lot of talk about "desensitization"—the idea that if a kid sees a thousand movie deaths, they’ll become a violent person. Research is actually a bit more nuanced. Most kids are very good at distinguishing between Fortnite physics and real-world pain.

The real risk isn't that they’ll become "violent," but that they’ll become indifferent.

When violence is the only way problems are solved in the media they consume, it limits their "moral imagination." If every "cool" character is a quiet, stoic guy who kills 50 people to get his dog back, the nuance of diplomacy, empathy, and community-building starts to look "mid" (boring/average).

You don't need to give a lecture on the "sanctity of life" every time a Stormtrooper gets blasted. Instead, try these "Pickup Line" style questions:

Action movies are the modern-day mythology. They are where we play out our ideas of courage, sacrifice, and justice. In 2026, the "Superhero Ethics" are getting messier and the "John Wick Effect" is making the hits feel harder.

Your job isn't to act as a human V-Chip. It's to be the "commentary track." By acknowledging that the stunts are "fire" while also pointing out the human cost, you help your child enjoy the "kapow" without losing sight of the "human."

Check your family's Digital Wellness Score to see how your media diet stacks up