Read Previous: Jujutsu Kaisen (Season 1) – Anime Review
TL;DR: Jujutsu Kaisen: 0 is a beautifully animated, emotionally driven film that explores love, grief, and sacrifice through intense action and dark supernatural themes. While it is one of the strongest entries in the series, its violence, disturbing imagery, and mature subject matter make it best suited for older teens and adults, with parental guidance strongly recommended.
Section 1: Jujutsu Kaisen: 0 Movie — At a Glance
Anime Summary | Taken Directly from MyAnimeList
Violent misfortunes frequently occur around 16-year-old Yuuta Okkotsu, a timid victim of high school bullying. Yuuta is saddled with a monstrous curse, a power that dishes out brutal revenge against his bullies. Rika Orimoto, Yuuta’s curse, is a shadow from his tragic childhood and a potentially lethal threat to anyone who dares wrong him.
Yuuta’s unique situation catches the attention of Satoru Gojou, a powerful sorcerer who teaches at Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School. Gojou sees immense potential in Yuuta, and he hopes to help the boy channel his deadly burden into a force for good. Yet Yuuta struggles to find his place among his talented classmates: the selectively mute Toge Inumaki, weapons expert Maki Zenin, and Panda.
Yuuta clumsily utilizes Rika on missions with the other first-year students, but the grisly aftermath of Rika’s tremendous displays of power draws the interest of the calculating curse user Suguru Getou. As Getou strives to claim Rika’s strength and use it to eliminate all non-jujutsu users from the world, Yuuta fights alongside his friends to stop the genocidal plot.
Genres & Themes
Action, Gore, Occult, Romance, School Life, Shounen, Supernatural
MyAnimeList Rating
R-17+ | Violence and Profanity
The Anime Momma Rating
R-17+ | Violence, Blood and Gore
Section 2: Star Levels
Each category below is rated on a five-star scale:
⭐️ = very little present | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = a lot present
- Action/Violence Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
- Addiction Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
- Blood/Gore Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
- Inappropriate, Heavy, or Mature Themes or Conduct: ⭐️☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Alternative Lifestyle Themes: ⭐️☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Level of Magical Elements: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
- Level of Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Section 3: Star Levels—Explained
Action/Violence Level
True to the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 contains a significant amount of action and violence.
One of the standout battles early in the film is Yuuta and Inumaki’s fight against the Curse known as Zomba. While there are visible injuries and some blood as the Curse is defeated, this encounter is relatively minute when set against later fights in the movie and the broader series. This scene also serves as an important character moment, giving viewers deeper insight into Inumaki’s compassion and protective nature.
The final act of the film—spanning roughly the last 35 minutes—is dominated by the climactic battle between Yuuta and Geto Suguru. With Geto summoning numerous Cursed Spirits and Yuuta unleashing Rika’s overwhelming cursed energy, the fight is fast-paced, emotionally charged, and expertly choreographed.
At the same time, the remaining Jujutsu Sorcerers are engaged in their own battles against Geto’s allies, who are attempting to prevent reinforcements from reaching Yuuta. While these fights are not as violent as Yuuta and Geto’s fight, they still contain consistent action.
Addictiveness Level
This movie is easily my favorite entry within the Jujutsu Kaisen universe. I believe much of its appeal lies in its focus on breaking a Curse rather than simply destroying one. The story centers on Yuuta and Rika’s relationship—how they met as children, grew close, and relied on one another for comfort and companionship.
This emotional grounding gives the film a tenderness that balances its darker elements and makes it especially compelling for viewers who value character-driven storytelling!
Blood/Gore Level
While blood and gore remain significant themes, the shorter runtime naturally limits the volume of disturbing material compared to a full season.
Early in the film, Yuuta is shown being bullied by classmates. When a Curse suddenly appears, the bullies are killed offscreen and later discovered crammed into a locker—a disturbing but brief visual.
It is soon revealed that this Curse, Rika, is bound to Yuuta. She is fiercely protective and frequently intervenes when he is in danger. However, despite her emotional connection to Yuuta, Rika’s cursed form is visually grotesque and unsettling.
Later, viewers learn that Rika was once Yuuta’s childhood friend who died in a car accident. This scene depicts her lifeless body on the pavement, blood pooling beneath her. As Yuuta watches from close by, her body begins to twitch and transform into her cursed form—a moment that is emotionally devastating as well as visually disturbing.
During the final battle, several characters—including Maki, Panda, and Inumaki—are beaten severely and left near death. Seeing Maki lying in a pool of her own blood prompts Yuuta to confront Geto alone, despite his inexperience. This decision leads to some of the film’s most intense and bloody moments.
Yuuta ultimately heals his fallen friends before returning to the fight. In order to defeat Geto, Yuuta promises his heart and soul to Rika—fully believing this vow will cost him his life.
Afterward, a badly injured Geto is found by Gojo. While not excessively gory, the scene is visibly bloody and emotionally heavy, as the two reflect on their shared past and Geto’s motivations.
The film concludes on a gentler note, revealing that Yuuta’s actions broke the Curse and freed Rika. Their final farewell is tender and bittersweet, offering emotional closure.
Inappropriate, Heavy, or Mature Themes or Conduct
Inappropriate themes are minimal in this movie. One minor element includes a shirtless villain who wears heart-shaped stickers on his chest, though this is not overtly sexualized. There is also profanity.
Alternative Lifestyle Themes
Alternative lifestyle themes are not frequently explored in this season.
Level of Magical Elements
As expected, Jujutsu Sorcerers rely heavily on Cursed Energy. This supernatural force is visually prominent, flowing through characters’ bodies and weapons, and is central to both combat and storytelling.
Level of Romance
Romantic elements are woven throughout this movie. Yuuta openly states that he is fighting for Rika, a declaration that Geto mocks as trivial. However, the film ultimately frames love not as weakness, but as a powerful—if dangerous—motivating force.
Section 4: Specific Notes for Parents & Guardians
Midway through the film, viewers learn that Maki endured emotional abuse within her family. She was frequently called a failure and told that no one should aspire to be like her—an experience that may resonate painfully with viewers familiar with familial rejection.
There are also brief scenes involving two young girls who have been physically abused by adults. Geto Suguru discovers them and kills their abusers. While the abuse itself is not graphically shown, the implications are heavy and may warrant discussion.
Final Thoughts
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 stands out as one of the strongest entries in the franchise, offering a more emotionally grounded story than the main series while still delivering intense action and dark themes. The focus on love, grief, and the cost of attachment adds depth, but it also introduces moments that may be emotionally overwhelming—especially for younger viewers.
While the film is beautifully animated and thoughtfully written, it remains firmly in the mature category due to its violence, disturbing imagery, and heavy emotional content. I strongly recommend parental discretion and, when appropriate, watching alongside teens to help process its themes.
This is a powerful story—but certainly not a light one.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in our future reviews. 💛
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Read Next: Jujutsu Kaisen (Season 2) – Anime Review
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