The new Spider-Man movie swings into cinemas today, and there will be little fans all around the country pointing at posters and adverts on the side of buses and asking their parents if they can go see it.
So, how suitable is it for a younger audience? Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a UK age rating of 12A. This means it is suitable for people aged 12 and over, but children under 12 can watch it in cinema if accompanied by an adult. So, it's up to the parent to decide if the movie's content is right for their child.
Brand New Day follows on from the events of No Way Home, where Peter Parker's secret identity is revealed to the world, pulling in villains from across the multiverse. To stop the multiverse from breaking completely, Peter asks Doctor Strange to cast a spell making the entire world forget Peter Parker ever existed. But this means his girlfriend MJ and his best friend Ned also forget about him completely.
In Brand New Day, Peter Parker is fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn't remember him. But through social media and a chance encounter, Peter sees his old friends moving on without him. It sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a terrifying new threat to New York City and the people he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see.
I took my excited 11-year-old son Odhran, to an early screening. As a huge Marvel fan, he'd been counting down to this for months and it lived up to his high expectations.
As fans of Stranger Things, we were delighted when it was announced that Sadie Sink would also be starring in Brand New Day. Luckily, we'd avoided any online spoilers. So, her character in the movie was a complete surprise to us, but made perfect sense once revealed.
Odhran said, 'I don't think it was as good as No Way Home, but Brand New Day is surprising, funny and kind of sad. Tom Holland's performance was spectacular and I really felt for Sadie Sink's character. Younger kids can't watch the TV show of The Punisher as it's 18+. But he appears in this movie in a way that's great for a younger audience to get to know his story better. I can't wait to see how the ending of Brand New Day ties in with Avengers Doomsday in December.'
For a younger audience, this next stage in the Spider-Man adventure isn't as lighthearted and funny as its predecessors. Peter Parker's relationship with Ned and MJ has changed, and they've all moved on to a more adult stage in life. I pined a little for the trios high school days. But where the comedy moments aren't frequent, there is plenty of heartfelt drama. Peter Park is grappling with the loneliness that comes from being different. There is one scene between Peter and MJ where Tom Holland gives such a great performance, my heart ached at his sense of loss. These are mature themes that a little kid looking for little more than laughs and web-slinging action might find too heavy. It's quite a long movie at 2hrs 25mins. So, you'll want to be sure your child is old enough to last the duration and not be asking 'when does this film end?' as soon as they've finished their bucket of popcorn!
As I attended a press screening with Odhran, tickets were limited, otherwise I would have also taken his eight-year-old brother Reuben. He's also a big Spider-Man fan so I will be returning to the cinema over the next couple of days to watch Brand New Day as a family. Odhran is keen to see it again. Reuben has been exposed to 12A Avengers and Spider-Man movies since the age of around six, so I know he'll enjoy it. But if your child has only watched Spidey cartoons and the shorter, PG -rated Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, then thematically, Brand New Day will likely be a leap too far.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in cinemas from Wednesday 29th July.