The Addams Family is weird. It’s kooky. We all know the song. But if you’re sitting on the couch with a remote in your hand, wondering if the Addams Family rating means your seven-year-old is about to see something they can't unsee, the answer is a bit of a mixed bag. It depends on which version you're watching.
Creepy? Yes.
Kooky? Absolutely.
But "appropriate" is a moving target in Hollywood.
The Confusion Around The Addams Family Rating
Most people think of the 1991 movie starring Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia when they search for the Addams Family rating. That film is rated PG. Back in the early 90s, PG was a bit of a "wild west" category. It wasn't quite the sanitized G-rated experience of a Disney cartoon, but it wasn't the "teenager-only" zone of PG-13.
If you watch it today, you might be surprised. There are jokes about death, graveyard sequences, and some suggestive dialogue between Gomez and Morticia that definitely flies over kids' heads but makes parents do a double-take.
Then you have the 2019 animated version. Also PG. But the vibe is totally different. It's bouncy. It’s bright, despite the gothic aesthetic. The violence is "slapstick," meaning nobody actually gets hurt in a way that feels real.
Why the PG tag is tricky
Ratings boards like the MPA (Motion Picture Association) look at specific boxes: Language, Violence, Nudity, and Substance Abuse. The Addams Family usually skates by because its "violence" is stylized. Wednesday Addams trying to electrocute her brother Pugsley is technically "peril," but because it's played for laughs and has a supernatural tint, it gets a pass.
Honestly, the Addams Family rating is more about "thematic elements." That’s the catch-all term the MPA uses when a movie is just generally dark or deals with macabre subjects. If your kid is sensitive to the idea of ghosts or graveyards, the PG rating might feel a little light.
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Breaking Down the Different Versions
You can't just look at one rating and call it a day. The franchise has been around since Charles Addams started drawing cartoons for The New Yorker in the 1930s.
The 1964 TV Series: This wasn't even rated by the MPA because it was broadcast television. By today's standards, it's TV-G. It’s incredibly tame. The "scary" parts are mostly just puns and the fact that they have a pet lion.
The 1991 and 1993 Movies: The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. Both are PG. Values is actually much darker. It features a sequence where Wednesday burns down a summer camp. It’s iconic, but it’s definitely "edgy" PG.
The Netflix "Wednesday" Series: This is the big one for modern parents. It is rated TV-14. This is a massive jump from the Addams Family rating of previous iterations. There is actual blood. There is a monster that kills people. It’s a teen drama, not a family comedy.
The Animated Movies (2019/2021): These are the safest bets for toddlers and young elementary kids. They are PG, but they feel like Hotel Transylvania.
What parents actually say
Common Sense Media, which is basically the gold standard for parent-led reviews, often notes that the 90s films have "mild swearing" and "macabre humor." Some parents find the obsession with death a bit much for preschoolers. Others think it’s a great way to introduce kids to the idea that being "different" is actually cool.
It’s about context.
If you see a PG Addams Family rating, expect some talk of guillotines. Expect some "sensual" dancing between the parents. But don't expect gore—unless you've switched over to the Netflix show.
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Why Wednesday Changed Everything
When Tim Burton took over the franchise for Netflix, the Addams Family rating landscape shifted. By targeting the Young Adult (YA) audience, the show moved into TV-14 territory.
This isn't just about "spooky" stuff anymore.
In Wednesday, you have dismembered body parts. You have a murder mystery that is actually quite gruesome. The tone is closer to Riverdale than it is to the original sitcom.
If you have a ten-year-old who wants to watch it because they saw the TikTok dance, you should probably watch the first episode with them. The jump from a PG movie to a TV-14 show is significant.
The "Scare" Factor vs. The "Cool" Factor
The genius of the Addams Family is that they don't see themselves as scary. They think everyone else is weird. This inversion is why the Addams Family rating usually stays in the family-friendly zone. The "violence" isn't malicious.
When Wednesday shoots an arrow at Pugsley, she isn't trying to be a villain. It’s just how they play.
Psychologically, this makes a difference for kids. Most children can tell the difference between "fantasy violence" and "mean violence." The Addams family is fiercely loyal. They love each other deeply. That emotional core is why the movies get away with a PG rating despite having a character named "Thing" that is just a severed hand.
Semantic Variations and Global Ratings
In the UK, the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) usually gives these films a 'PG' or '12A'. A '12A' means children under 12 can see it, but only with an adult. This is often a more accurate reflection of the content than the American PG. It suggests that while it’s not "adult," it’s also not "Bambi."
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Navigating the Addams Family Rating for Your Next Movie Night
So, how do you handle this?
Don't just look at the letters on the box.
If you are looking for the lowest-stakes entry point, go with the 2019 animated film. It’s the softest version of the characters.
If you want the "classic" experience, the 1991 film is the way to go, but be ready for some 90s-era "adult" jokes that survived the edit.
If your kids are older and want something "edgy," the Netflix show is the current peak of the franchise, but it earns that TV-14.
The Addams Family rating is a guide, not a rule. But in a world where "family-friendly" can mean anything from Paw Patrol to The Simpsons, knowing the nuance between these versions saves you from a very awkward conversation in the middle of the living room.
Actionable Advice for Parents
- Check the Year: Anything before 1990 is likely very safe.
- Watch the Trailer: For the 90s films, the trailers accurately capture the "dark" comedy.
- Monitor the Netflix Show: Wednesday is not for little kids. The "TV-14" is there for a reason, specifically for language and some pretty grisly visuals of the "Hyde" monster.
- Focus on the Theme: Talk to your kids about the humor. If they get that it's a joke that they like "deadly" things, they'll handle the movies much better.
The Addams Family rating serves as a reminder that "family" doesn't always have to be sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, it’s a bit of rain and a thunderstorm. And for a lot of kids, that’s exactly what makes it fun.