Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is finally here; the last installment in the saga that has been keeping us all enthralled since 1977. Understandably, most of us will want to watch as soon as we can, but can you take your kids to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? The Skywalker saga has been a staple of childhood for many people; either watching each new Star Wars release at the movies or at home on VHS many years later.
That doesn’t necessarily mean all Star Wars movies are suitable for children, but it’s undeniable how broad the franchise’s base of appeal actually is. With this in mind, it follows that a lot of kids will want to watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in theaters, and it can sometimes be a hard call to make. The more recent movies in the Skywalker saga - Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and now, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - all feature much more streamline and realistic special effects than the original trilogy, and even the prequels. For a lot of kids, the previous Star Wars movies, particular the original trilogy, will not seem realistic because of the dated effects. However, advances in technology now mean that movies featuring fantasy violence are much more capable of drawing viewers into what looks like a completely realistic world, especially if those viewers are kids.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is rated PG-13 in the U.S. and 12A in the U.K. That classification means that, in the U.S, parents must exercise caution with children under the age of 13, since some scenes may be unsuitable for them. Those under age 13 should be accompanied by an adult. In the U.K., a 12A rating means anyone under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult if they want to watch. In that regard, then, it’s safe to say anyone can watch The Rise of Skywalker, but you must be aware that some scenes may not be suitable, especially for very young viewers.
The BBFC warns that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker contains “fights with fantastical weapons, including impalement.” That’s a given, since any Star Wars movie is sure to contain the use of lightsabers. The Rise of Skywalker also has some darker moments, such as one character briefly becoming demonic, and a scene of someone being taunted by their enemies. There isn’t any bad language in The Rise of Skywalker. There are, however, some deaths, which may be upsetting for very small viewers.
Overall, the general rule would be if your child is over the age of 8 and loves Star Wars, they will be fine to watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in theaters. Under that age, and they might get bored or even confused, since the movie runs at a fast pace and doesn’t hang about for its audience to catch up. You know your small people best, though, so if you know fantasy violence affects your children, you might be best to err on the side of caution and wait for the home release.
Next: All Star Wars Movies, Ranked Worst To Best (Including Rise of Skywalker)
