A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Messages
some
The ultimate lesson is one of humility -- i.e. "It's not about you." Arrogance and selfishness are limited, unfulfilling paths; learning to better yourself and following a path that isn't always easy provide greater rewards. Perseverance pays off. But rather than fight against a current, it can sometimes be better to surrender and use the current's power to your benefit. Argues that sometimes breaking the rules a little is necessary to get a job done. (And don't text and drive!)
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Positive Role Models
some
As Marvel heroes go, Doctor Strange is closer to Tony Stark/Iron Man than he is to Steve Rogers/Captain America. He starts the story as arrogant and afraid but slowly learns humility -- to see a greater good outside his own wants and needs. He enters the battle even though he doesn't want to and even though he hasn't yet mastered his powers.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Lots of mass destruction of buildings and property. A beheading (no gore shown). Frequent martial arts fighting, with some "magical" weapons (swords and whips made of light). Scenes on an operating table, with some bloody parts shown. Bloody scratches on the main character's face. Brutal car crash (character was texting while driving), with bloody hands and face. A terrible fall from a height, crashing through glass. Arguing. Some scary sequences (a brief nightmarish "journey" with grabbing hands).
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Two characters have had an intimate relationship, and they talk comfortably together. Mention of "sleeping together."
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Language
some
One "s--t," plus a couple uses of "a--hole," "ass," and "hell."
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Products & Purchases
very little
A character buys Kettle chips from a vending machine; sign for Yakult drinkable yogurt. This is also part of the Marvel franchise, which has vast quantities of tie-in merchandise.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Doctor Strange is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but focuses on sorcery rather than more traditional superhero powers. At the start, the main character (Benedict Cumberbatch) is arrogant and selfish, but he slowly learns humility: to better himself and to think of others. Frequent comic book-style action violence includes large-scale destruction, a brutal car crash (the result of texting and driving), bloody wounds and scenes at an operating table, and a terrible fall from a height, crashing through glass. There's also martial arts fighting, fighting with "magical" weapons, a beheading, and other brief, scary stuff. A couple is said to have been in a relationship, and there's a mention of "sleeping together." Language includes one "s--t," two uses of "a--hole" and an "ass." The doctor is an unusual, but very entertaining, member of the superhero club, and the movie's mystical elements provide food for thought as well as fun. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
In DOCTOR STRANGE, the title character (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a skilled surgeon who's both successful and arrogant. After crashing his sports car, he finds that his hands are useless, and medical science can't restore them. But he hears of a man who was able to walk again after a spinal injury and seeks the source of this rumor, an Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) in Kathmandu, Nepal. At first the doctor mocks the Ancient One's claims that healing his spirit can heal his body, but he finds her powers genuine and begs to be taught. His training goes better than expected: It even appears that Doctor Strange might be a natural-born sorcerer. But a villain, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), has stolen pages from one of the Ancient One's spell books and intends to use them to bring a dark dimension to Earth. Has Strange learned enough to stop this evil from happening?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Doctor Strange's violence. How does it compare to what you've seen in other Marvel movies? Is there a difference in the impact of hand-to-hand combat and catastrophic, buildings-collapsing type of explosions?
As the movie begins, how is the doctor selfish and arrogant? How does he learn to change these things? How does he demonstrate humility and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Why do you think the Marvel comics have turned into such well-received movies? How does Doctor Strange fit in? How is he different?
What lessons does Doctor Strange learn from the Ancient One? Could you apply any of these lessons to your own life?
How does the movie address texting and driving? Do the consequences seem realistic?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 4, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: February 28, 2017
- Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton
- Director: Scott Derrickson
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Superheroes, Adventures
- Character Strengths: Humility, Perseverance
- Run time: 115 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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