Is The Color Purple 2023 safe for kids? Is The Color Purple 2023 OK for children? Read the The Color Purple 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Warner Bros. Pictures musical film, starring Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and Fantasia Barrino. No spoilers! #TheColorPurple #PurpleLove May contain commissioned links.
The Color Purple 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide
From a 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning book, to a 1985 classic film, to a Broadway musical success, The Color Purple is more than just a story. It’s a cultural phenomenon that spans beyond time – continually shaping and reshaping our world today.
But with The Color Purple’s magnitude of greatness already, is it worth the risk of a retelling?
In The Color Purple 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full TV-14 age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2023 The Color Purple parents guide to the new live action musical remake film. A no-spoiler parent review of The Color Purple movie, does this retelling even touch the greatness of the original 1985 film?
Can Oprah’s reimagination of a cultural phenomenon have the same impact, the same success of the iconic original pedestal? Or has The Color Purple’s resilience finally ended?
The Visuals
Visually, The Color Purple got more than a facelift. Introducing new camera angle sweeps, new costuming, and a play on color across the screen, The Color Purple 2023 feels more modern. Sharp, crisp details, stunning hair and makeup, and flashy wardrobes create a fresh look. But add in 30 new soundtrack songs combined with dancing camera shots – it’s definitely a visual success.
Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, The Color Purple 2023 has one lightning storm scene with bright, flashing, or strobing lights towards the end of the film. There are multiple scenes in darkness, also.
The Story
Based on the beloved novel, Broadway musical and the 1985 classic movie, Warner Bros. Pictures and Oprah’s powers combine to retell the combination of the 1982 book adaptation, the 1985 classic film, and the successful Broadway musical together in one movie remake. Directed by Blitz Bazawule (“The Burial of Kojo“), 2023 The Color Purple has an all-star cast including Taraji P. Hensen (“Hidden Figures“) as Shug Avery, Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black“) as Sofia, Colman Domingo (“Euphoria“) as Mister, Corey Hawkins (“The Walking Dead“) as Harpo, Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson aka H.E.R. (“We the People“) as Squeak, Halle Bailey (“The Little Mermaid“) as Nettie, and Fantasia Barrino (“American Idol“) as Celie.
A story of love and resilience based on the novel, the 1985 film, and the Broadway musical, THE COLOR PURPLE is a decades-spanning tale of one woman’s journey to independence in the early 1900’s. Following the hardships of the life of Celie, The Color Purple 2023 follows much of the same plot line as what we have seen before. However, this time we have a new 2023 twist.
Told through the eyes of new, fresh actors, this reimagination delicately steps on the footholds of a foundation of a strong story and strong character building, while holding deep to the roots of an already successful culture-changing franchise. The characters are gripping – each casted with purposeful assurance. Colman Domingo steals the show and demands your attention, Danielle Brooks and Taraji P. Henson give strong performances, and Fantasia Barrino is perfectly casted.
The Color Purple feels fresh, with unexpected bright colors and visuals dancing across the screen to breakup the intensity. But the powerful message still speaks to us today. The powerful and lasting impact still remains. And a new generation of appreciation is born.
The Color Purple 2023 PG-13 Rating Explained
Is The Color Purple 2023 safe for kids? Is Oprah’s reimagination of the original 1985 The Color Purple film OK for kids? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPA 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.
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 The Color Purple 2023 rated PG-13? In The Color Purple 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this Oprah produced reimagination of the 1985 classic film remake combined with the modern introduction of The Color Purple Broadway musical is rated PG-13 for “language and intense violence.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like The Color Purple 2023 is kid friendly.
Is The Color Purple remake OK for kids? Is The Color Purple 2023 too violent for kids? Is The Color Purple 2023 too adult for kids? Let’s breakdown that PG-13 age rating in The Color Purple 2023 parents guide below.
Violence/Suspense. Emphasis on hardships. The domestic violence themes play a hard hand throughout the film (bravo to Colman Domingo on his performance). Intensity and convincing acting ensure a truly gripping physical, verbal threats, sexual, and emotional abuse – that may be triggering and too intense for some. Mild suspense comes with, but most violence is anticipated throughout – especially for those familiar with the story. There is some use of weapons including guns, blunt object, knives, and a razor. Mild yet intense physical violence with resulting facial deformity/bruising, mild to moderate open wounds, blood, and cuts also seen.
Adult Themes. Sexual themes including sensual innuendo and abuse play a huge role in this 2023 retelling. Implied family incest and attempted incest, sexual abuse, sex before marriage, pregnancy, birth, kissing between men and women and also woman to woman, sexual sounds including groaning, visuals of a shaking bed (nothing seen), sensual dancing, slapping butts, flirting, and characters in underwear/undergarments, verbal innuendo including “loose,” “screw,” “ho,” “give her the stick,” “push da button,” “find her spot,” – I could go on and on. The Color Purple is basically all of the sexual things on screen EXCEPT nudity.
Alcohol and drug usage is also prominent throughout the movie. Bar drinking, acting drunk, passing out, pipe smoking, tobacco spitting, and card gambling visuals are present. Grief, death and loss implied.
Language. And the most language used in a film for 2023 goes to…The Color Purple 2023 does not skimp on language. With foul language and swear words including 3 “@ss,” 6 “sh!t,” 3 “d@mn,” and 49 “H-E-double-hockey-sticks” (most of the H-E-L-L references are sung in song).
Milder insults and bad language phrases used in this film also include “ugly,” “dumb,” “stupid,” dummy,” “trollop,” “ho,” “shut up,” “Lord,” “pisses g-d off,” and “oh g-d.”
The Color Purple 2023 Age Rating for Kids
With a runtime of 2 hours 21 minutes, 2023 The Color Purple film is on the long side for a family friendly film. But add in intense domestic violence, strong adult themes and sexual content, alcohol consumption, language, and heavy dialogue, The Color Purple live action musical drama is truly a movie made for a more mature audience.
This 2023 The Color Purple live action musical film remake is most like The Color Purple 1985 original film (based on the book adaptation) combined with the more recent The Color Purple Broadway musical interpretation for a more modern reimagination of the movie.
This Oprah produced reimagination of the 1985 classic film remake combined with the modern introduction of The Color Purple Broadway musical is rated PG-13 for “language and intense violence” by the MPA.
No, there is no post credit scene in The Color Purple 2023 movie. However, there is a new mid credits song with animated stills visuals.
Based on my The Color Purple 2023 parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend The Color Purple film remake to kids younger than the mature age of 13-14 years old.
Considering the full PG-13 rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend The Color Purple film remake to kids younger than the age of 13-14 years old, and a mature 13-14 years old at that. This 2023 The Color Purple PG-13 age rating is pretty spot on and easily comparable to the original The Color Purple 1985 movie and The Color Purple Broadway musical.
With intense physical, verbal, and emotional domestic violence, sexual adult content, language, and heavy alcohol consumption, this reimagination of the 1985 classic film overall still contains much of the same themes and strong emotional ties that may be triggering and too intense for young children and families. The Color Purple film remake truly teeters the line of an R-rated film because of it’s intensity throughout. I strongly recommend parents to prescreen this new 2023 The Color Purple film for violence, sensual innuendo, strong adult themes, and language.
The Overall
Joining the ranks of Amistad, Malcolm X, Just Mercy, The Help, and Hidden Figures, The Color Purple is a cultural phenomenon that will continue to shape history and our world today.
The Color Purple is a testament of time – the power of a strong story, a strong message, and strong characters that is truly foundational for an impactful retelling. While maybe not fully embracing the overwhelming life-changing effect that the original 1985 classic film had on our childhoods, this new reinterpretation still combines powerful acting skills, strong musical numbers, and a lasting effect on a new generation of The Color Purple lovers.
The retelling may be flashier, but the outcome is the same. The Color Purple is still as impactful and relevant today as it was then.
Follow The Color Purple 2023 on social media:
- Website: https://thecolorpurplefilm.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecolorpurple/
- Twitter (“X”): https://twitter.com/TheColorPurple
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecolorpurple/
- #TheColorPurple #PurpleLove
Looking for more parent movie reviews and TV reviews like The Color Purple 2023 Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Check out these popular review posts:
The Color Purple 2023, the all-new live action musical film from Warner Bros. Pictures is singing into theaters starting Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, 2023. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen the new live action musical 2023 The Color Purple film in exchange for this The Color Purple 2023 Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
Leave a Reply