Spider-Man: No Way Home is officially rated PG-13 by the MPAA for its violence and language. The PG-13 rating was created back in 1984 as a happy medium between PG and R. Ever since its inception, it's been the go-to rating many major studio tentpoles aim for in an effort to maximize box office profits. The rating carries a widespread appeal, as it ensures the film's content isn't too light for older audiences, and also isn't too extreme for younger viewers.
Ever since the first Spider-Man movie premiered in 2002, all of the franchise's live-action installments have received a PG-13 rating. This has proven to be the norm for most superhero movies. Even with the likes of Deadpool and Logan proving there's a market for R-rated comic book films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has stuck with PG-13 since it launched in 2008. Spider-Man: No Way Home will continue that trend by following in the footsteps of its predecessors.
According to a listing on the website FilmRatings.com, Spider-Man: No Way Home has been rated PG-13. The reasonings given include "sequences of action/violence, some language and brief suggestive comments." These are exactly the same reasons why Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home were rated PG-13.
It would have been very surprising if Spider-Man: No Way Home was rated anything other than PG-13. The MCU is planning to branch out into R-rated territory for the Deadpool 3, but they were always going to keep a Spider-Man film family-friendly, given the character's popularity with viewers of all ages and the franchise's history. At the same time, star Tom Holland has discussed a brutal fight scene he filmed with one of the movie's villains, making it clear the filmmakers weren't going to skimp on the action elements to secure a PG rating. It sounds like No Way Home will serve up plenty of intense and exciting set pieces, similar to the other Spider-Man movies. It's unknown what warranted the language warning. Both Homecoming and Far From Home inferred the use of an f-bomb, but cut it short, so No Way Home likely doesn't have anything too severe.
This is exactly the rating Sony and Marvel were expecting, and it should lead to the desired results at the box office. No Way Home tickets went became available earlier this week, and it's already proven to be a hit. Advanced sales are the highest since Avengers: Endgame, fueling projections No Way Home will have the biggest opening weekend of the year. It's unknown how a PG or R rating would have impacted No Way Home ticket sales, but it's safe to say Marvel is happy with the early results, and Spider-Man: No Way Home should be a major hit this holiday season.
Source: FilmRatings.com
