25 February 2022

With all the excitement of the London premiere yesterday, I didn’t have a chance to check whether the Australian Classification Board had given a film rating in Australia for the film. I can now report that The Batman will be rated “M” in Australian cinemas

What does “M” mean for those unfamiliar:

Mature (M)

The content is moderate in impact

Films and computer games classified M (Mature) contain content of a moderate impact. M-rated films and computer games are not recommended for children under the age of 15. They include portrayals of elements such as violence and themes that require a mature outlook. 

However, children under the age of 15 may legally access this material as the classification rating is an advisory category.

Parents, teachers and guardians may need to find out more about the specific content before deciding whether the material is suitable for children in their care.

13 January 2022

Variety is reporting that Rob’s The Batman has been given a PG-13 rating by the MPAA in the US (no classification has been finalised for Australia at the time of posting, however, it looks more than likely going off the US rating that it will be either M or MA15+ for Oz):

Don’t expect gratuitous violence or excessive f-bombs in The Batman. The newest Caped Crusader story, starring Robert Pattinson as Gotham City’s enigmatic protector, has landed a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association, despite speculation the Warner Bros. movie could be rated R.

The film has been rated PG-13 for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material, according to the MPA.

Sources close to the film say The Batman which is grounded more in reality than recent DC adaptations, was able to nab a PG-13 rather than an R-rating because it doesn’t have excessive foul language or nudity (sorry, Pattinson stans!), and though intense action scenes abound, it’s more along the lines of exploding buildings and wrecked cars than merciless stabbings or shooting sprees. With that in mind, the less-provisional rating isn’t a surprise since Christopher Nolan’s exceedingly grim Dark Knight trilogy were christened as PG-13.

…

From a box office perspective, a PG-13 rating could be the difference between tens of millions of dollars. Though director Todd Phillip’s disturbing R-rated vision for Joker didn’t prevent that movie from becoming insanely profitable, restricting to moviegoers under the age of 17 likely contributed to box office shortcomings for “The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey. During the pandemic, younger males have been fueling the wobbly recovery of the domestic box office, so limiting younger audience members could be perceived as unwise.