The MPA has rated DC Studios’ Clayface R for strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity, and brief drug use. The film opens in theaters on October 23, 2026. This is the first R-rated film in James Gunn’s DCU.
The rating descriptors are extensive for a comic-book adaptation. “Strong bloody violence” and “gore” are separate items on the MPA’s list, typically indicating a film where the camera does not cut away from graphic content.
The rating confirms the tone established in the July trailer. That footage depicted transformation as a symptom rather than an upgrade, showing skin that sags and splits, a face that will not settle into one shape, and a man trying to hold his own features in place with his hands. A PG-13 rating would have required removing most of this content.
James Watkins directs the film. His previous work includes Eden Lake, The Woman in Black, and Speak No Evil. These films are characterized by intense dread and realistic horror elements, distinct from traditional superhero grammar.