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Film classification 101: USA
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(Official MPAA Poster)
Regulated by: Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
Brief history: The MPAA began the classification of films using a rating system when it was introduced on November 1st 1968. Jack Valenti was president of the organization at the time having taken up the post in 1966. During this time (the 60s) there was what Valenti has described as “the emergence of a ‘new kind’ of American movie – frank and open, made by filmmakers subject to very few self-imposed restraints.” (www.mpaa.org)
This led to a concern that the government might step in and issue restraints on film content. In response the MPAA chose to create the ratings system in conjunction with the NATO (National Association of Theater Owners) and the IFIDA (International Film Importers and Distributors of America). After nearly five months of meetings the first American film ratings system was created.
When the ratings system was first introduced there were four different rating categories:
G – “general audiences”
M – “mature audiences”
R – “restricted” those under 16/17 (depending on local mandates) were not admitted
X – “no one under 17”
They way the system function’s is that films are submitted to the MPAA, and then viewed by the ratings board. The ratings board is overseen by CARA (Classification and Ratings Administrations), which employs raters who have no affiliations with the film industry, so as not to influence their decisions. The raters then decided on the rating they feel the films should receive. A brief explanation as to the decision is then given to the filmmakers, and made available to the public.
Several changes have taken place since the rating system was first adopted. A year later the M rating had its name changed to PG. Additional changes didn’t occur until July of 1984 when the PG-13 classification was introduced. The X rating also underwent a name change and began to be known as NC-17 in September of 1990.
The goal of the MPAA’s rating system is to:
“find a balance between preserving creative freedoms and notifying people about films content so that people could make decisions about what movies they wanted to see and what movies were appropriate for their children.”
Current ratings system:
Note: the following categories are used for both films released into cinemas and onto home video/DVD.
Unrestricted (those ratings which do not limit the public’s viewership)
G - General Audiences |
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“No stronger words are present in G-rated motion pictures. Depictions of violence are minimal. No nudity, sex scenes or drug use are present in the motion picture.” | |
Examples: Aladdin (1992), Buena Vista Social Club (1999) and Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005) | |
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PG - Parental Guidance |
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“There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated motion picture.” | |
Examples: Spy Kids (2001), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) | |
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PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned |
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“A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category.” | |
Examples: A Beautiful Mind (2001), Serenity (2005) and The Proposal (2009) | |
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R – Restricted (those under 17 must be accompanied by an adult) |
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“An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously" | |
Examples: 28 Days Later (2002), 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and Wanted (2008) | |
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NC-17 – No One 17 and Under Admitted |
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“An NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.” | |
Examples: (as originally rated, before being edited to receive an R rating) Showgirls (1995), American Psycho (2000) and Saw (2004) | |
Official website: http://www.mpaa.org
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