How Does the Movie Rating System Work?

The U.S. movie rating system was established in 1968, replacing the Hays Production Code that was in use at the time. The Hays Production Code simply gave the Production Code Administration’s approval or disapproval of a film without any additional information or insight, so the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), and the International Film Importers & Distributors of America (IFIDA) worked together to create a new rating system to help classify content into different categories and give parents a way to determine whether or not a movie is appropriate for their children to view.

The MPAA rating system is administered by the Classification & Ratings Administration (CARA), an independent division of the MPAA. The rating process itself is carried out by the Rating Board (part of CARA), located in Los Angeles, CA. The Rating Board consists of parents of young children. They review and analyze each film submitted, discuss their thoughts as a group, and vote on the rating that the film should receive. If the film’s producer disagrees with the decision from the Rating Board, they have the opportunity to either appeal the decision or to edit their film and resubmit it for an updated rating.

Currently, the rating system consists of the five ratings:

• G – General Audiences. All Ages Admitted.
  A “G” rating means that the film does not contain any content that would offend parents for viewing by children. There is no nudity, sexual content, drug use, or strong language, and violence may be minimal. Although a G rating is considered appropriate for viewing by children, it does not necessarily mean that it is a movie geared towards children.
• PG – Parental Guidance Suggested. Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children.
  A “PG” rating means that a film contains some content that parents may find offensive for viewing by children. The film may contain some violence, brief nudity, or profanity but not in excess. A film with a PG rating should not include drug use, though.
• PG-13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13.
  A “PG-13” rating means that a film contains content that may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers (children under 13 years of age). The level of violence, profanity or sexual content in the film may be high enough that parents would not want their younger children exposed to such materials, but it is also not intense enough to warrant an “R” rating. Films that include drug use will be given a minimum of a PG-13 rating.
• R – Restricted. Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian.
  An “R” rating means that a film contains a high level of adult content, such as extreme violence, considerable amount of drug use, explicit sexual content, and highly offensive language. In some states, movie goers must be at least 18 years of age to watch an R rated movie without an accompanying parent or adult guardian.
• NC-17 – No One 17 And Under Admitted.
  Originally called “X,” an “NC-17” rating means that a film is inappropriate for children to watch, and no one under the age of 18 years will be admitted.

To learn more about movie ratings, visit https://filmratings.com/

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