Movie Ratings: G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17 Explained
The U.S. MPA rating system is a voluntary industry system in which a board of parents assigns G, PG, PG-13, R or NC-17 and usually a content descriptor to help families judge age appropriateness; the rating is not a review of quality.
Timeline
- Submission: A distributor or filmmaker submits a film to the MPA's Classification and Rating Administration.
- Board review: A board of current parents considers content and assigns a category and, except for G, a descriptor.
- Exhibition: Theaters and distributors implement the voluntary system and any additional admission policies.
G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17 are categories in the Motion Picture Association's U.S. film-rating system. The Classification and Rating Administration, known as CARA, runs the process as voluntary industry self-regulation rather than government censorship. A board made up of current parents evaluates submitted films with the aim of assigning the rating it believes most American parents would consider appropriate. [1][2][3]
G means General Audiences. PG means Parental Guidance Suggested because some material may not be suitable for children. PG-13 means Parents Strongly Cautioned because some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. These categories provide increasing caution, but they do not declare that every child of the same age will react alike. Parents are expected to use the film-specific information and their knowledge of the child. [1][3]
R means Restricted: viewers under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian under the rating definition. NC-17 means Adults Only, with no one 17 and under admitted. CARA describes R and NC-17 as the system's restrictive ratings, while theaters are partners in implementing admissions and may also have their own policies. An R rating is not the same as NC-17 simply because both concern mature content. [1][3]
The letter is only part of the guidance. Except for G, a rating normally comes with a descriptor explaining the content behind it, such as violence, language, sexual material, nudity, drug use, smoking or thematic elements. Two PG-13 films can therefore pose very different concerns. Reading the descriptor—and, when needed, more detailed trusted information—usually tells a family more than the category alone. [1][2]
A rating does not grade artistic quality and is not a recommendation to see or avoid the film. CARA says the purpose is to provide parents with content information while protecting filmmakers' freedom to create. The board considers context and intensity, not merely whether an element appears once. Community expectations can evolve, so films with superficially similar content from different eras may not receive identical treatment. [1][3][4]
Unrated or 'not rated' is not another category above NC-17. It generally means the version was not submitted, has not received a rating, or differs from the version CARA rated. Independent producers can submit films, and distributors may edit and resubmit or appeal under the system's rules. A streaming service may also display its own maturity labels, which should not be confused automatically with an MPA theatrical rating. [1][2][4]
For a practical choice, confirm that the rating applies to the exact cut or version, read the descriptor, and consider the viewer's sensitivities rather than relying on age alone. The MPA categories discussed here are for U.S. audiences; other countries operate separate classification systems with different labels and legal effects. Theater admission policies and platform controls can also change, so check the exhibitor or service before attending or purchasing. [1][2][3]
Sources
- MPA Film Ratings — Resources and FAQs
- MPA Film Ratings — Who We Are
- MPA Film Ratings — G Is for Golden: The Rating Process
- CARA — Statement on the Voluntary Film Rating System