Is this version as violent as the original movie?

Not quite. While the abuse is still central to the plot, it's handled with more stylization and less graphic detail than the 1985 film. However, the emotional impact of the domestic violence remains very high.

Do I need to see the first movie to understand this one?

Not at all. This is a standalone reimagining based on the Broadway musical. It covers the same story beats but works perfectly fine on its own.

How prominent is the LGBTQ+ storyline?

It's more central here than in the previous film. The romantic connection between Celie and Shug Avery is clearly defined through song and dance, though it stays within the bounds of a PG-13 rating.

Is it too long for a single sitting?

At 2 hours and 21 minutes, it's a bit of a marathon. If you're watching with younger teens, you might want to take a break after the first hour when the story jumps forward in time.

The Color Purple – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Color Purple

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

84%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A soulful, high-energy musical reimagining that finds the joy and rhythm inside a story of survival.

6.8/10

81%

95%

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The Color Purple

movie

PG-13, 2023

84%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A soulful, high-energy musical reimagining that finds the joy and rhythm inside a story of survival.

6.8

81%

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6.8/10

81%

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Screenwise Verdict

This isn't your grandmother's Color Purple. By leaning into the Broadway musical's DNA, the 2023 version manages to be both a gut-punch and a party. It refuses to let the trauma be the only thing on screen, choosing instead to highlight the creativity and resilience of its characters.

For parents, it’s a heavy lift but a worthy one. It sparks deep conversations about self-respect and the cycles of history without feeling like a lecture. If your kid is ready for some real-world weight, this is a beautiful way to engage with it.

Age Fit

Best for 13 and up. It’s a sophisticated watch that requires some emotional maturity to handle the themes of abuse, but it’s a rewarding experience for teens and adults alike.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film focuses heavily on the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood and the triumph of the human spirit. While the subject matter is heavy, the emotional payoff is grounded in healing and forgiveness.

Imaginative

This musical adaptation uses vibrant, large-scale dream sequences to visualize Celie's internal world, turning a traditionally bleak narrative into something visually and sonically inventive.

Safe

The core plot involves domestic abuse, child pregnancy, and sexual assault. While handled with more abstraction than the 1985 version, these are still intense themes that aren't for younger or sensitive viewers.

Enriching

It offers a profound look at resilience, self-worth, and historical Black American life. It's a masterclass in empathy and a great entry point for discussing systemic cycles of abuse and liberation.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Powerhouse performances from Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks turn the source material's pain into something genuinely soaring.
The musical numbers act as a window into Celie’s internal life, giving her agency and a voice that felt more suppressed in previous adaptations.
It provides a vibrant historical context that feels alive rather than like a dusty museum piece, making it more accessible to a younger generation.
The focus on sisterhood and redemption provides a more hopeful lens than the original 1985 film, which some found too punishing to watch.

⚠

What to Watch For

The opening sequences involve a young girl being forced into a marriage with an abusive man; it's emotionally taxing right out of the gate.
While the violence is stylized, the threat of physical harm from 'Mister' is a constant, looming presence for much of the runtime.
The queer relationship between Celie and Shug Avery is more explicit here than in the 1985 movie, though still handled with a PG-13 level of intimacy.

Conversation Starters

"How did the music help you understand what Celie was feeling when she couldn't speak up for herself?"
"Why do you think Sofia's character was so important to Celie's own growth?"
"What does the movie say about the difference between a family you're born into and a family you choose?"
"How does the ending change your perspective on whether people like Mister can actually change?"

Deep Dive

A New Rhythm for a Classic Tale

When people hear The Color Purple, they usually think of the 1985 Spielberg movie—a film that was beautiful but notoriously brutal. This 2023 version, directed by Blitz Bazawule, takes the same story and injects it with a surrealist, musical energy that completely shifts the tone. It’s not about erasing the hardship; it’s about showing how the characters used their imagination and their community to survive it.

"The 2023 version is in no way better than the 1985 version. It gutted the entire arc of the story by downplaying and ignoring the violence..."

Some critics on Reddit felt the musical numbers softened the blow too much, but for a modern audience—especially younger viewers—this approach makes the story much more watchable. It turns Celie from a passive victim into a woman with a rich, vibrant inner life. The choreography is massive, the vocals are world-class, and the production design is lush.

If you're deciding between the book, the '85 film, and this one for a family movie night, this version is the most 'accessible,' but don't let the singing fool you—it still deals with sexual assault and systemic racism. It’s a great pick for a high schooler who is starting to engage with more complex literature and history. It’s a celebration of Black joy as much as it is a chronicle of Black struggle.