Recently, it was reported that the Warner Bros.' upcoming DC filmThe Batmanwould be rated PG-13. This surprised a lot of fans, as they expected an R rating based on the trailer, and some began to worry that director Matt Reeve’s vision for the film had been compromised by the studio. Reeves recently sat down to discuss the film’s rating and why he’s happy with it.
When it was announced thatThe Batmanwould be rated PG-13, the news surprised a lot of fans. The recent trailers for the film have portrayedRobert Pattinson’s caped crusaderas an incredibly vengeful and brutal vigilante, and recent interviews with the actor confirmed that his take on The Dark Knight will be pretty unhinged. This led some fans to believe that there could be an R-rated cut of the film, locked away in some Warner Bros. vault, like the now-famous Snyder Cut. However, Reeves himself has now clarified the rating, saying that it was always his intention to make a PG-13 film.
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Speaking toDen Of Geek, Reeves said, “In my mind, the movie was always going to be a gritty, edgy, noir, thrilling spectacle that was PG-13. That was always what it was, but I always knew that we’d be pushing the limits of what that could be, and so we didn’t really have to cut anything.” On whether there was an alternate cut ofThe Batman, Reeves said, “There isn’t some special cut of this movie where it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, here’s the R rating that you’ve been desperately wanting.' I didn’t have to suddenly start drastically cutting the movie or anything like that.”
Reeves appears to be happy with the decision for this very reason, saying, “I’m happy we got the rating because I want people to be able to come to see the movie." He also reassures fans that what they’re seeing in the trailers does not misrepresent the film, saying, “as far as people being excited about the tone that they’ve been seeing in the promotion materials, that is totally faithful for the tone of the movie.”
As a director, Reeves has found a lot of success in the PG-13 territory. Many of his previous films, including the found footage Kaju filmCloverfieldand his entries in the long-runningPlanet of the Apesfranchise, have received the mid-tier rating. While an R-rating is appropriate for some superhero movies and TV shows (like Amazon’sThe Boys)aBatmanmovie feels more at home with a PG-13 rating.
Previous Batman adaptations such asChristopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning filmThe Dark Knightalso received this rating. While the character has become darker and more gritty over time, Batman at his core is still one of DC’s flagship superheroes, and as a result, his stories attract fans of all ages.
The Batmanpremieres in theaters on Jul 15, 2025.
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