Is Arthur the King OK for kids? Is Arthur the King safe for kids? Read the Arthur the King Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the new live action based-on-a-true-story dog film Arthur the King 2024 from Lionsgate, starring Mark Wahlberg as Michael Light, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, with Bear Grylls, and Paul Guilfoyle. No spoilers! #ArthurTheKing May contain commissioned links.
Arthur the King Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide
They’re smelly, slobbery, and stubborn. And yet we cannot get enough of seeing “man’s best friend” up on the big screen.
Like creatures of habit, we perpetually root for the underdog. We desperately crave that emotional connection, relatability, and the unexpected successful feeling that we too one day will be big winners. And so it’s no surprise that Lionsgate is back again with another pull at your heartstrings – for dog lovers and underdog lovers everywhere.
Arthur the King is the all-new Lionsgate 2024 dog film based on the real-life story of Mikael Lindhord, his relationship with stray dog Arthur, and their race across Ecuador as told in the 2016 memoir Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home. Sounds like a heartwarming kids movie, right?
But with a PG-13 age rating slapped on this doggie – are kids invited to watch Arthur the King too?
In this Arthur the King Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2024 Arthur the King parents guide to the new Lionsgate based on a true story dog film. A no-spoiler parent review of Arthur the King 2024, are kids invited to the dog party? Or is this dog movie too foul for kids?
The Visuals
Visually, it’s a Lionsgate film guys. Calm down. While certainly missing some of the Disney-esque cinematography, Arthur the King does hold it’s own on highlighting beautiful landscapes and enhancing the overall movie experience for the audience. Not a bad visual display at all.
Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, there are no scenes of bright flashing or strobing lights of note. Plenty of scenes occur in darkness (racing at night). Expect a few scenes with dizzying and fast spinning camera movements that could be nausea inducing for some. There are also some shaky extreme close up scenes that could disorient viewers.
The Story
Arthur the King 2024 is directed by Simon Cellan Jones (“Some Voices“) and written by Michael Brandt (“3:10 to Yuma“). This 2024 based-on-a-true-story dog movie from Lionsgate stars Mark Wahlberg (“The Italian Job“) as pro racer Michael Light. Co-stars include Simu Liu (“Barbie“) as Leo, Juliet Rylance (“Perry Mason“), Nathalie Emmanuel (“Game of Thrones“) as Olivia, Ali Suliman (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan“) as Chik, with Bear Grylls (“Man vs. Wild“) and Paul Guilfoyle (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation“) as we race to the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic.
Based on an incredible true story of the unbreakable bond between man and dog – we catch up with pro adventure racer Michael Light, desperate for a race win. Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, Light forges a relationship with a scrappy street dog named Arthur as he and his team are pushed to their outer limits of endurance.
Rediscovering purpose in life and inspiring dog lovers – Arthur the King redefines victory, loyalty, and friendship through a short yet engaging tale mixed with action, adventure, humor, and relatability.
Arthur the King PG-13 Rating Explained
Is Arthur the King safe for kids? A Lionsgate based on a true story inspirational film rated PG-13? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option to help guide parents.
PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.
Why is Arthur the King rated PG-13? In this Arthur the King Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this 2024 live action based-on-a-true-story dog film from Lionsgate is rated PG-13 for “some strong language.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Arthur the King is kid friendly. Is Arthur the King too crude for kids? Is Arthur the King OK for kids? Let’s breakdown that PG-13 age rating in this Arthur the King parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. While overall there is no violence in the new Arthur the King movie, there are plenty of action/adventure peril scenes (aka “don’t try this at home kids!” like stunts) and a couple of light injuries including close-up visual removal of a bloody blister and a scene of human vomiting.
Those sensitive to animal blood and gore, Arthur the King may be triggering. There are multiple scenes with bloody fur, “near death” scenes with enhanced CGI visuals, and open wound visuals – including heartbreaking animal noises to enhance pain and suffering. There are multiple references to animal abuse and animal injuries including descriptive verbal discussions about infection, infestation, and “die with dignity.” One scene of a character attempting to kick a dog. Scenes of animal caging, hospitalization, and surgery also present.
Adult Themes. There is a mild presence of alcohol consumption in Arthur the King – including drinking from beer bottles and holding wine glasses. No one acts drunk. No smoking or illicit drug references. However, there is verbal discussion of IV fluids and visual of IV bags.
Arthur the King 2024 has two verbal references to “needing to pee,” but overall light on toilet humor. There are multiple vet hospital scenes that may be triggering to sensitive animal lovers – with medical equipment including anesthesia masks, medicine, and needles present.
Sexual content includes 1 kiss between characters, hugging, and one short and shirtless Simu Liu scene (you’re welcome). One scene implying that Mark Wahlberg just got out of the shower – but no nudity seen (only shoulders and up). Sensual innuendo includes verbal references to visual and verbal reference to character pointing to his covered bottom while saying “how’s my @ss?” along with verbal references to “church bells for nuts” and “has the balls.” Overall, Arthur the King is light on innuendo.
Language. Does Arthur the King movie have strong language? Strong doesn’t begin to cover it, This 2024 dog film covers a wide spectrum of colorful word choices – with over 50 swear words alone. But it’s not just the plethora of foul language – but even the placement in the script. I can understand language being expressed to convey the emotional and physical turmoil of the race itself (435 miles!), but with the F-bomb dropping at an unexpectedly calm moment in the film? I don’t get it. More thoughts on the overall language of Arthur the King in the overall summary below.
Foul language phrases and swear words in Arthur the King include: 1 “f*cking,” 2 “d!ck,” 1 “@sshole,” 3 “@ss,” 1 “b!tch,” 25 “sh!t” (including 1 holy “sh!t”), 2 “bullsh!t,” 1 “g-dd@mn,” 8 “d@mn,” 14 “H-E-double-hockey-sticks,” and 1 “crap.”
Milder bad language phrases and insults in Arthur the King include: “stupid,” “balls,” “nuts,” “freaking,” “shut up,” “g-d,” “oh my gosh,” “my god,” “oh my g-d,” “oh g-d,” “g-d,” and “Jesus.”
Arthur the King Age Rating for Kids
With a running time of 1 hours 30 minutes, this Arthur the King 2024 film is actually on the shorter side of a based-on-a-true underdog story. Action, adventure, and even story pacing keeps the audience engaged from beginning to end. However, with multiple strong swear words used throughout, this “inspiring film” may display confusing messaging for little kids.
Strong language throughout and multiple scenes of peril and death defying stunts, Arthur the King is an adventure drama movie that is the next level above more kid friendly dog films like Eight Below or Hachi.
Arthur the King is most like the based-on-a-true-story inspirational dog movie Dog (2018). Or a fouler version of: Eight Below (2006), Hachi (2010), Togo (2019), Marley & Me (2008), and A Dog’s Purpose (2017).
This 2024 live action based-on-a-true-story dog movie from Lionsgate is rated PG-13 for “some strong language” by the MPAA.
Yes, Arthur the King does have one end credit scene that occurs at the beginning of the credits – showing still photos of the real-life racer and dog Arthur. There are no other end credit scenes.
Based on my Arthur the King parents guide and mom review above, I would not recommend Arthur the King to kids younger than the age of 10-11 years old.
With strong language and peril, Arthur the King is an adventure drama that is the next level above more kid friendly adventure films like Eight Below or Goonies. I advise parents to prescreen the film for swear words and foul language throughout.
Considering the full PG-13 age rating breakdown and Arthur the King parents guide above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Arthur the King to kids younger than the age of 10-11 years old. This Arthur the King PG-13 rating is overall light if you are comfortable with your children watching a film with copious amounts of swear words and foul language sprinkled throughout.
The Overall
New underdog story, same underdog feels.
Don’t mess with the underdog. We are creatures in desperate need of hope and inspiration – especially in dark times. The emotional connection to man’s best friend – that’s not a bond that you want to mess with. The power to believe in something bigger than ourselves – that’s why we keep coming back again and again.
Arthur the King is an inspirational dog movie that I would want kids to see. The physical and emotional strain of adventure racing is thrilling as it is grueling – which makes for great action/adventure entertainment. But the fact that Arthur the King currently stands as one of the most foul language “family” movies of 2024 – this inspirational film sends a whole lot of mixed messages to future generations.
Sometimes the old dog doesn’t need new tricks – the same ones work just fine. Arthur the King is proof that we will always root for a good underdog. This one is just has a potty mouth.
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Arthur the King, the all-new 2024 based on a true story dog film from Lionsgate is racing into theaters starting Friday March 15, 2024. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen the Lionsgate based-on-a-true-story dog film Arthur the King 2024 in exchange for this Arthur the King Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Lionsgate. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie reviews, television updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment, and behind-the-scenes info!
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