Writer-director James Gunn has always been vocal about his ideas on Twitter, and after having written the two live-action 2000s Scooby-Doo movies, he pondered the possibility of an R-rated Scooby-Doo 3. While it looks unlikely, it didn't keep users from imagining what absurd things could happen and what would be possible with the series with an R-rating.
In response to the idea, Redditors have some ideas of R-rated versions of kids' movies of their own. They're exceptionally inventive, and it's a mix of movies that exist and sequels that Redditors want, just like Scooby-Doo 3. Between what could be a historical war epic, a Kevin McCallister who has gone full-Jigsaw, and a more unwelcoming chocolate factory, Reddit is full of ideas.
Mulan (1998)
NickRashell wants to see an R-rated Mulan, noting, "That would actually be amazing." While the live-action Mulan remake could have been exactly that, or at least push the boundaries of a PG-13, it failed to deliver a gripping and devastating version of the 1998 original. The story about a female warrior in the middle of a huge battle could easily make for an amazing and graphically violent war epic.
However, some do actually exist. There have been several live-action Chinese movies about Mulan with some of them being excessively violent, most notably 2009's Mulan: Legendary Warrior. But even another animated remake could be just as epic and graphic, possibly even more so. It'd almost be like the very violent Studio Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke, and it'd be such a brave and bold film.
Home Alone (1990)
Where an R-rated Mulan might be brave and its violence bold, Home Alone would be exactly the opposite. This user thinks Home Alone would be much better if it was R-rated, but, in fairness, if the movie was released today, it'd definitely be slapped with an R rating. The sheer sadistic act of throwing bricks at the Wet bandits and all the other violent acts would never make it passed the MPAA in 2022.
However, an R-rated Home Alone movie could play on the fact that Kevin is a manipulative sadist, and it'd be closer to Saw than the sweet 1990 original. The 1990 festive film could use its R-rating to boost its comedy violence to a whole other level. It'd be like a Sam Raimi movie in the way that it'd be a comedy horror with outrageous practical violent comedy.
Hercules 2
Hercules is another beloved animated Disney movie from the 1990s, but it also deviated from the original mythos of the character. There was no other way around it, as Hercules' story is pitch-black dark and there's no way it's suitable content for a Disney movie. But Reginal_Fabia thinks the myth would make for a great follow-up to the 1997 film.
The Redditor posits, "Not a remake, but a sequel to the Disney version of Hercules. After he marries Megara, Hercules goes mad and kills her and their children, just like in the original myth." The original movie is getting the live-action remake treatment from Disney, and none other than Guy Ritchie is directing it. As Ritchie has a filmography full of British gangster movies, he'd be great a directing a darkly comedic adaptation of the source material. But, unfortunately, it'll not stray too far from the animated film just like the other live-action remakes.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is one of the most magical children's movies of all time, and between the inventive chocolate and candy, the eccentric chocolatier, and the Oompa Loompas, the film is absolutely fantastical. But this user wants to ruin the innocent children's movie with an R-rated version.
The Redditor comments, "Imagine what terrible things could happen to the factory visitors with an R-rated remake. Behind the closed (and locked) doors." In fairness, the original movie was already dark, as the boat ride was genuinely terrifying and Wonka ruined the lives of several children forever. And there's enough there that other creatives have been darkly influenced by the film. In Futurama, Fry visits the Slurm Factory where he learns about the disturbing way Slurm is created behind closed doors.
Batman: Mask Of Phantasm (1993)
Batman: The Animated Series is beloved amongst '90s kids, and is the spin-off movie, Batman: The Mask of Phantasm. Most fans think it's the best animated Batman movie, and a lot would take it further by saying it's the best Batman movie even taking into account the live-action films. But SYLOH isn't completely satisfied by the surprisingly emotional and exciting animated film, and they think it'd be better if it was R-rated.
The Redditor argues, "It would improve the film if the Phantasm got to kill people with blades rather than PGing everyone to death." The film could have shown that, as one of the movie's criticisms is that the Phantasm, although cool looking, doesn't come off as much of a threat. But that would hardly have made it R-rated. Given that The Batman showed the Riddler pummeling the Mayor of Gotham to death with a blunt object and still managed to be PG-13, the Reddit user must want to see the Phantasm do something truly disturbing for that R.
Monsters Inc. (2001)
Niarem22 wants to see an R-rated version of the classic Pixar movie Monsters Inc., noting, "That would be one hell of a horror movie." Though there are so many monster movies out there, few of them feature children as victims, which is essentially the premise of the family-friendly 2001 film. The thought of Sully walking into a kids' room in an R-rated horror movie is terrifying, and it'd be incredible.
Not only that, but as the doors in the movie allow the monsters to cross through dimensions, it could just as easily be a raunchy comedy a la Everything Everywhere All at Once too, and that way it could at least keep Monsters Inc.'s humor.
The Neverending Story (1984)
Heiferwolfe thinks The Neverending Story would make a great R-rated movie, and they even have a choice of director for the dark film. The Redditor adds, "As directed by Guillermo del Toro." del Toro is one of the greatest visionary directors working today, and a The Neverending Story remake would suit him perfectly, as he's so great at telling dark fairytales and makes incredible practical creature designs.
The filmmaker is even already hard at work on a dark remake of the children's movie, Pinocchio. However, that film proves that a del Toro-directed Neverending Story can be dark, strange, and potentially amazing without being R-rated, as Pinocchio will most likely be rated PG-13 at the most. But a Pan's Labyrinth-style Neverending Story would undoubtedly be spectacular.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Andresalejandro1120 wants to see The Land Before Time get the R-rated treatment. The Redditor notes, "I love comparing the original's aesthetic to the sequels. Everything is so bright and cheerful in the sequels, but when you look at the original, it's all dark and dreary." However, it's almost as if the user wants to see the sequels get the treatment more than the original film.
If Jurassic Park and its sequels can be PG-13 even though it shows a T-rex and other dinosaurs eating humans whole, it'd take a lot for The Land Before Time to be R-rated. That's especially the case given that there are no humans in the movie, and it's simply dinosaur-on-dinosaur fighting. But there's no doubt that any one of the 13 sequels would be better if they were more in keeping with the tone of the original film.
Small Soldiers (1998)
Small Soldiers is a forgotten '90s gem, as it's essentially a more violent version of Toy Story. The film sees a brand of toys with advanced microprocessors that come to life, and a group of military soldier toys and monster toys are become entangled in a war with each other. The film is already quite dark, as it sees the toys torturing each other and humans, and they even brainwash a group of Barbie dolls into becoming expendable frontliners. But LazerTRex thinks that's not enough.
The Redditor comments, "There are some scary bits too, the soldiers torturing the gorgons, the barbies attacking Kirsten Dunst, etc. It could probably be made into a pretty decent action movie for adults." It's a great pitch, and it could work. But the idea has probably already been explored by the studio given that a reboot has been in development hell for years. According to Looper, a reboot was being worked on at Fox before the studio was acquired by Disney.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
ThrowawayLazaretto thinks an R-rated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie could be great and more in line with the source material. The Redditor explains, "If anything for kids needs to be R-rated it's TMNT. Technically speaking, the very first incarnation of the Ninja Turtles was completely adult."
Many fans would argue alongside the Reddit user that no TMNT movie should have been aimed at kids in the first place, as the comic books' target age was much older than what general audiences would expect. The comics have more in common with The Boys than Superman. And many would kill to see the TMNT that's more accurate of the source material.