There was slight controversy when it was revealed that WandaVision was seemingly rated TV-PG , which was lower than anticipated by fans. Although, upon its release, the rating is currently listed as TV-14, the same as Agent Carter . It should be acknowledged that television ratings are far broader than films, as multiple series with the same rating are far more violent.
Keeping all that in mind, the rating for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is actually quite surprising. It implies that this series will have levels of violence not seen in previous Marvel Studios productions.
On the other hand, if fans have been paying attention to behind-the-scenes footage, this rating might not be too much of a surprise after all.
MORE VIOLENT THAN TYPICAL MCU FILMS
Pointed out by Reddit user u/VirinR , the Dutch motion picture rating system, Kijkwijzer, rated The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as 16+ for its use of violence and foul language, making it a first for Marvel Studios.
An American equivalent for this rating would be TV-MA, like Django Unchained and season 7 of Game of Thrones , which were given the same 16+ rating. Using Marvel comparisons, the same rating was given to Marvel Television's The Defenders and the season 5 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D .
VIOLENCE WHEREVER JOHN WALKER GOES
Ever since it was announced that Wyatt Russell was cast as John Walker for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , it was only a matter of time until his harsher methods came to light. This was already glimpsed at by fans when Walker was shown fighting in a far more violent manner , even by Bucky's standards.
Plenty of footage from filming in Prague was leaked online, but the most shocking was John Walker seemingly caving in a Flag-Smasher's head using Captain America's shield.
Such brutality would certainly earn this show such an abnormally high rating for a Marvel Studios production.