The story is played out as a romance between Clara and the Nutcracker / Prince.

There is no sex or nudity at all, but Clara is notably uneasy and seems to be "creeped out" by her godfather Drosselmeyer, who has a smile which uncomfortably resembles a leer, and Clara behaves as if she were afraid he might try to make a pass at her.

Later on, in Clara's dream, Drosselmeyer turns up as a Pasha, keeper of a harem, brandishing a whip to introduce the "Russian Dance", "Chinese Dance", "Arabian Dance", and so on. The Arabian Dance is performed by what is supposed to be a peacock, but instead resembles a half-woman, half-bird that has been captured and brought to the harem in a cage.

A sexually-tinged rivalry appears to exist between the Pasha and the Nutcracker/ Prince, as the Pasha tries to get Clara to sit with him, but the Prince refuses to allow it.

The Battle with the Mice is no more violent than usual, but it is more frightening. See the section on "Frightening/Intense Scenes".

None.

This movie would have earned a PG rating if it was released theatrically today because of scary images and action, despite its G rating.

A very dark spin is put into the story, especially during the battle with the Mouse King. The Nutcracker has already been shown slowly coming to life, but at the height of the battle he suddenly springs, in full, looming closeup, out of a jack-in-the-box - like a prop in a funhouse. The mice are threatening, with very creepy "squeaking" sound effects during the battle, and there is a truly disturbing moment in a prologue near the beginning of the film, where Clara dreams that she has been turned into a grotesque, mouse-like creature.

During the Christmas party, Fritz, Clara's brother, is given a puppet that looks exactly like the mouse that terrified Clara in the dream, and Clara is clearly very uncomfortable with this. Some may welcome this approach, others may be turned off by it.