Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: this is a legitimately good movie if you're into dark superhero stories and Sam Raimi's horror-tinged style. But it's also a massive departure from what most families expect when they sit down for a Marvel movie.

The Illuminati massacre scene alone is more brutal than anything in the previous 27 MCU films. Kids who loved Spider-Man: No Way Home are going to be traumatized by watching Wanda systematically murder fan-favorite heroes in graphic detail. The horror elements are REAL—this plays more like a supernatural thriller than a superhero adventure.

For older teens (14+) who've been following Wanda's story and can handle darker content? It's compelling, visually inventive, and explores grief and obsession in genuinely interesting ways. Elizabeth Olsen is phenomenal. The multiverse concepts are mind-bending.

But for younger Marvel fans? Skip it entirely. The tonal whiplash from typical MCU fare is jarring, and parents will spend the runtime wishing they'd checked Common Sense Media first. This needed to be marketed as "Marvel's first horror movie" instead of just another Doctor Strange adventure.

Age Fit

Best for ages 14+ who are established MCU fans and comfortable with horror elements. This is too intense and dark for the typical 10-year-old Marvel enthusiast—save it for high schoolers who can handle graphic violence and complex moral failures.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

42

This is Sam Raimi's darkest MCU entry by far. Wanda Maximoff becomes a villain who brutally murders multiple heroes across universes (including fan-favorite characters in graphic ways). The tone is horror-influenced with jump scares, demonic possession imagery, and a mother-gone-mad storyline that's emotionally heavy. There's minimal modeling of cooperation—mostly fear, betrayal, and tragic violence. Pacing is relentless and often chaotic.

Imaginative

78

The multiverse concept delivers visually stunning alternate realities—paint universes, musical note dimensions, wildly different versions of familiar characters. Creative spell-casting sequences and reality-bending physics invite wonder about infinite possibilities. However, it leans heavily on existing MCU lore rather than inviting independent creative expression. Strong marks for visual originality and curiosity-sparking concepts.

Safe

38

This is NOT a typical Marvel movie for safety. Features graphic violence including characters being sliced in half, crushed, impaled, and a prolonged sequence of Wanda crawling out of a reflective surface in pure horror-movie fashion. The Illuminati massacre scene is shockingly brutal for MCU standards. Jump scares throughout. A beloved character becomes a child-kidnapping monster. Parents expecting standard superhero fare will be blindsided. Likely PG-13 but pushes that boundary hard.

Enriching

52

Explores grief, obsession, and the danger of refusing to accept loss—Wanda's arc is a cautionary tale about letting pain consume you. Themes of sacrifice and choosing the greater good appear, but they're buried under horror spectacle. Some discussion potential about consequences of choices across infinite realities and the ethics of multiverse travel. Entertainment value is high for teens who enjoy darker superhero content, but meaningful takeaways require active unpacking.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Visually stunning multiverse concepts that spark imagination about infinite realities and alternate versions of ourselves
Mature themes about grief, obsession, and accepting loss—real emotional weight for teens ready to process complex moral failures
Elizabeth Olsen delivers a powerhouse performance as a tragic villain consumed by pain
Breaks MCU formula with genuine horror elements and Sam Raimi's signature style—feels different and bold
Great for older teens who've been following the MCU and want something darker and more intense

⚠

What to Watch For

This is NOT your standard Marvel movie—graphic violence including beloved characters being killed in brutal ways (crushed skulls, bodies sliced in half, impalement)
Horror movie jump scares and demonic possession imagery that will terrify younger viewers expecting typical superhero action
Wanda's storyline involves kidnapping children and mass murder—a dark turn for a previously sympathetic character
Requires having watched WandaVision and several other MCU properties to understand emotional stakes
Relentlessly dark tone with minimal humor—the fun Marvel quips are mostly absent

Conversation Starters

"Wanda lost her children and couldn't accept it. When have you had to accept something painful that you couldn't change?"
"If you could visit an alternate universe where one decision went differently, which moment would you want to see?"
"Do you think Wanda was a villain or just someone whose grief made her do terrible things? What's the difference?"
"Doctor Strange had to make some really hard choices. Have you ever had to choose between what you wanted and what was right?"
"The movie shows how dangerous it can be when we can't let go of the past. What helps people move forward after loss?"

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Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness