One of the most anticipated films of 2023 is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the prequel to The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games movies and books are very popular, and many will definitely watch the upcoming film. But is it safe for kids to watch the prequel, or is it suitable for teenagers and adults only? Here’s what we know about The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ age rating.
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What Is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes About?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to The Hunger Games. It takes place 64 years before the events of the original films and follows a young Coriolanus Snow.
The film shows his life before he became the tyrannical president of Panem. In The Hunger Games prequel, Snow is a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games who gets assigned to District 12’s tribute, Lucy Gray Baird.
The synopsis for the movie, as provided by Lionsgate along with the trailer, reads:
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a young Coriolanus, who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from the impoverished District 12.
But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.”
READ MORE: How Old Is Snow During The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
Is It Safe for Kids to Watch The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes? Age Rating Explained
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is rated PG-13 for “strong violent content and disturbing material.” Thus, the film contains content that may not be appropriate for kids or children under 13 years of age.
The games are violent by nature, and as seen in the previous Hunger Games films, the killing begins at the start of the games, with participants killing each other with whatever weapon they can obtain. The previous Hunger Games films featured “intense sequences of violence and action.”
For The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, director Francis Lawrence said that the film kicks off its Hunger Games with a “bloodbath” (via Empire). Part of this “bloodbath” sequence was already seen in the trailers for the film and an official clip that was released.
Parents are urged to be cautious in PG-13 movies as the films with this rating have some material that may be inappropriate for kids or pre-teenagers. With the film’s PG-13 rating, this means that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is suitable for teenagers and adults, and not kids.
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