The Batman Rating Revealed by the MPA

Fans have been wondering what kind of rating the Motion Picture Association (MPA) would be giving to the highly anticipated The Batman, and now we know. The MPA has announced The Batman rating is PG-13.

And what is the reason? The PG-13 The Batman rating is for “strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.” It sounds great for a darker comic book movie, though some fans were thinking it might get an R rating given the previously released footage.

Opening in theaters on March 4, 2022, The Batman stars Robert Pattinson in the dual role of Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne. Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City.

With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.

When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano).

As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

Matt Reeves (the Planet of the Apes films) directed from a screenplay by Reeves & Peter Craig, based on characters from DC. Batman was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

Dylan Clark (the Planet of the Apes films) and Reeves produced the film, with Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, and Simon Emanuel serving as executive producers.

Reeves’ behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Greig Fraser (Lion, Dune); his Planet of the Apes production designer, James Chinlund; editors William Hoy (the Planet of the Apes films) and Tyler Nelson (Rememory); Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Dan Lemmon (The Jungle Book); and Oscar-nominated SFX supervisor Dominic Tuohy (1917, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker).

Also on board are Oscar-nominated sound mixer Stuart Wilson (1917, Star Wars); Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (1917, Little Women, Anna Karenina) and costume designers Glyn Dillon (Star Wars) and David Crossman (1917, Star Wars); hair designer Zoe Tahir (No Time to Die, Spectre); and Oscar-nominated makeup designer Naomi Donne (1917).

Michael Giacchino will be composing the score for the film. Reeves and Giacchino have worked together on multiple films, beginning with Cloverfield in 2008. They also worked together on Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War for the Planet of the Apes.

HBO Max previously announced it has also given a series commitment to an original DC drama set in the Gotham City police department from The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves, Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter, The Batman producer Dylan Clark, and Warner Bros. Television.

The television series, to be written by Winter, is set in the world Reeves is creating for The Batman movie and will build upon the motion picture’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City, ultimately launching a new Batman universe across multiple platforms.

The series provides an unprecedented opportunity to extend The Batman story and further explore the myriad of compelling and complex characters of Gotham.

Reeves’ 6th & Idaho production company will produce the series in association with Warner Bros. Television. Reeves and Emmy winner/Oscar nominee Winter (The Sopranos, The Wolf of Wall Street) will executive produce with Clark (Bird Box, Rise, Dawn, and War for Planet of the Apes).

The Gotham City police department drama, which is based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, will also be executive produced by 6th & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) and Adam Kassan (Tales from the Loop); Rafi Crohn (Tales from the Loop) will co-executive produce.