Deadpool Movie: Rated PG-13 or R?

Last week Fox announced it had plans to move forward with a Deadpool movie. Fans immediately cheered but soon the old discussion surfaced once again: should the movie be rated R or PG-13?

We all know Deadpool stories often contain over the top action and violence. It's easy to immediately think an R rating is needed so that action and violence doesn't become water-down. Many have already spoken out on the matter, including Deadpool creators, Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld.

When the news came out, I tweeted my thoughts right away. With what we're seeing in theaters these days, a PG-13 Deadpool movie could absolutely work without compromising who the characters is supposed to be. You can get away with quite a bit in a PG-13 movie these days.

Let's take 2013's The Wolverine, for example. It had a PG-13 rating. Wolverine is another character that tends to get into violent situations.

According to the website for parents, Kids In Mind, a breakdown of the violence, profanity, nudity, etc is laid out. They mention all levels of violence in the movie but here are some of the bigger ones. (Minor spoilers in you haven't seen The Wolverine yet).

• A woman stabs a man in the neck with a poisoned pen and spits acid in his face, which bubbles and blisters.
• A bomb is dropped and one man is completely burned--his flesh is singed and blistered.
• A man cuts his chest open.
• A man fights a "huge robot Ninja" and the robot cuts off his claws, Robot stabs man.
• A man is shot in the chest and we see a bloody wound.
• Several men are shot with bows and arrows.
• Many gunmen are stabbed.
• A man is shot in the leg.
• A woman stabs a man in the head and neck.
• During fight with ninjas, we see lots of stabbing and slashing. Many arrows are shot in man's back.
• A woman is shot with an arrow and pulls it out of her leg.
• A man and woman fight with swords. Man is sliced through mid-section and stabbed through chest.

It goes on and on and on. Some of the other moments are implied deaths. In some cases blood wasn't seen. But it's still a lot of violence.

What about profanity? The Wolverine had "at least 1 F-word" and one possible F-word. We've also heard it and other profanities used in X-Men: Days of Future Pastand X-Men: First Class. Go back and watch them, you'll hear way more cursing than you would even see in an actual X-Men comic.

Which brings up another point. Deadpool comics aren't R-rated. Yes, we've had some Deadpool MAX comics but those aren't as common as the numerous other titles we've seen since his creation. Fabian Nicieza recently tweeted:

"20 years of #deadpool comics PG13 so how does an R give it 'soul'?"

There's also the box office to consider. We know if a Deadpool movie is not a box office success, we won't likely see sequels. Having an R-rated movie limits ticket sales. An R-rating won't stop younger viewers from trying to sneak in. Sneaking in takes away from the box office sales. Look at the gross of some other recent R-rated comic book movies (according to Box Office Mojo):

• Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014): Domestic - $13,652,974; Worldwide - $27,950,979
• Kick-Ass 2 (2013) : Domestic - $28,795,985; Worldwide - $60,795,985
• Dredd (2012): Domestic - $13,414,714; Worldwide - $35,626,525
• Watchmen (2009): Domestic - $107,509,799 Worldwide - $185,258,983
• Punisher: War Zone (2008): Domestic - $8,050,977; Worldwide - $10,100,035

Those movies may not compare to how a Deadpool movie could do. There's also box office inflation in some cases. There may also be a different audience. X-Men: DOFP did $233,857,844 in Domestic and $745,982,010 Worldwide. Again, it's not a fair comparison based on the scope of the movie. But The Wolverine even did well with $132,556,852 Domestic and $414,828,246 Worldwide (with a budget of $120 million).

Whether the Deadpool movie will be PG-13 or R hasn't been decided or announced yet. I would say it could and should be PG-13. Let's hear what you all think:

If it's Rated R 8/10 the movie will fail. We've seen what happens to Rated R superhero movies despite how great they are. They don't last long unfortunately, nor make as much money as they should, because kids are cut off from seeing them.

I don't know why people are always so adamant about getting R ratings for superhero films. Other than a little extra gore, all Marvel Comics essentially are PG-13 anyway. Any Deadpool movie that relied on an R rating to be be enjoyable wouldn't be worth watching anyway. Deadpool is a deep character who ends up in crazy/funny situations. Ultraviolence is only a small part of that.

PG 13, it'll attract a wider audience. I mean, honestly, I don't really care for Deadpool, and this movie doesn't have me excited, but if it wants to succeed, it needs the teen viewers.

Two of the rated R films listed are sequels so of course they can do well enough to get a sequel.

When was there a R rated blockbuster comic movie? It doesn't need to be R rated to succeed as long as they stay true to his character.

The person who wrote the script had to have known it would come down to this. I certainly hope he and others didn't expect to get there way and make this an r-rated film.

They could make it Rated-R with a budget of 40 millions, Dredd ad a budget of 45 millions and broke even at the box office but made the top sales on bluray.

I don't really care what it's rated. Just as long as they make it a good movie.

Do kids even now who Deadpool is?

You need a "Not Interested" tab.

@captainmarvel4ever: Or you could just not vote. Just as easy. This is meant for those who do care.

I want the movie to be R-rated because Deadpool is best with no filter. That said I expect the movie will be PG-13 because lets face is the studio is out to make as much money as possible and they increase their chances of doing that with a PG-13 movie as opposed to a R rated movie.

@fables87: He's in the comics. So if there's any teens reading, they'd know. There was the Deadpool video game. It was Mature but I'm sure that doesn't mean they didn't play. He was also in an episode of Ultimate Spider-Man, a show clearly geared more towards younger viewers.

@g_man said:

I had a feeling you would say that, you always do sir.

Pretty sure it's already confirmed as a PG 13

Look at Die Hard 4. Just because it's LESS violent doesn't make it a bad film. Die Hard 4 is WAY more enjoyable then Die Hard 5 which WAS a 15... or 18. I can't remember.

Deadpool could also make fun of the fact that the movie is a PG13. Maybe they bleep out his bad language and he could get annoyed.

Either would be fine, I mean if they do not ruin the character I don't mind a PG-13 rating

my thoughts exactly.

So the people who brought us Deadpool WITH NO MOUTH, BARAKA BLADES, AND LIKE THREE OTHER RAMDOM POWERS is supposed to helm a Deadpool movie... riiiight. They have a hard enough time with Wolverine which is like a chef having trouble making something yummy out of bacon. I foresee this sucking. Big time. BUT if they are making it for the sake of art and awesomeness it would have to be an "R". But they're not. They are making it for the sake of selling Deadpool cereal. Please let Marvel get the rights to all her properties back. Pretty please.

Make the film rated R. If it's a critical success but does poorly at the box office like Dredd - then put him in an X-Force movie with Wolverine thats pg-13 a year or two after that to show the fans that the studio still cares about the character.

They can get away with some pretty messed-up stuff in a PG-13 flick

PG-13 for marketing reasons alone! Get it out there, and then give me the unrated version on Blu-Ray!!

An R rating would kill it's box office.

Beata

Don't care what rating it is, as long as it has a good script, directing and acting.

either way i'm good. Pg-13 or Rated r.

I don't care either way as long it is good and entertaining.

G-Man you're late to the party we're already discussing it here.

http://www.comicvine.com/forums/gen-discussion-1/deadpool-will-be-pg-13-thoughts-1604010/

Make it R. The people who are under age will still go see it, trust me.

I'm just wishing it could be a hard PG 15 rating so we could sneak in some action and some adult humor, that's the best way to go IMO.

But either way, I don't mind.

...... Wait..... I thought it was confirmed PG13 already....?

If they're smart it'll be PG13...

Why are you even in this thread?

If they are weenies you mean. R Rated isn't such a taboo anymore, lots of comedies are making some serious bank at the box office

Nope

@saint_wildcard: K.

@lone_wolf_and_cub: I still wanted to read the article and hear what fans had to say, it's part of getting into people's heads and studying fan trends.

@humanrocket: Really? I mentioned I tweeted this last week.

Also, this is on the news/front page and there's a poll. I would've written this last week but podcast, 3-Minute Expert video, and I wanted to included the data I added.

I personally don't care! Why squabble over the small things people! Can't we all just sit back and enjoy the fact that we are getting a freaking Deadpool movie people!

To have more creative freedom with the character an R rating would make more sense, bit to reach a wider amount of audiances a PG-13 rating would be more ideal.

I could see it going either way.

RRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most movies these day are PG-13.If you are going to Deadpool do it right it should be rated R.This is not Spiderman.

Either way I think that a PG-13 rating can be done. The Wolverine film did really well with a PG-13 rating.

Just because it's R doesn't mean they need to turn it into a swear-fest gore porn film.

Just make a good film and let the censors say whether its G, PG, M, MA, R or X. We'll all go see it regardless of rating and then spend countless hours tearing it to shreds upon the interweb saying "How I would've made Deadpool better"

I agree with you. But most fans want exactly that!!!!!!!!!!!! And they need to realize that probably won't happen.

2009 Watchmen: Worldwide: $185,258,983 (most successful (box office) comic book movie Rated R )

There hasn't been any CBM rated R on the level of success of the X-Men Fox movies.

2000 X-Men Worldwide: $296,339,527

2003 X-Men United: Worldwide: $407,711,549

2006 X-Men: The Last Stand: Worldwide: $459,359,555

2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine: Worldwide: $373,062,864

2011 X-Men: First Class: Worldwide: $353,624,124

2013 The Wolverine: Worldwide: $414,828,246

2014 X-Men: DOFP Worldwide: $745,982,010

Deadpool can totally be done in a PG13 setting.

In fact a PG-13 setting might open itself up to a ton of funny jokes. They could do a 4th wall swearing joke like in Scott Pilgrim or the classic conveniently located object blocking the view for the audience in terms of violence or nudity.

Like this....

@tommythehitman: Both Die Hard 4 and 5 were horrible. Who cares.

Also FYI The 300 films did 450 mil and 330 mil. Both were Rated R.

even if we wish for the movie to be rated R we know it's going to be pg-13, for all the extra violence we will have to wait for the dvd/blue ray

its obviously gonna be pg13. money trumps all. end of discussion