Understanding The Principles Behind The MPAA Movie Rating System

     Here is a brief history behind the MPAA rating system. The MPAA adopted its present rating system in 1968- the end. Now let us look at some significant principles of this system.

    
      Hundreds of movies are released every year with each belonging to specific genres such as: action, drama, adventure, comedy, sci fi e.t.c. It is no surprise that each one of these movies has its own target audience, or rather “target demographic”.
However, regardless of the filmmakers intended target demographic, the MPAA is responsible for classifying these movies into respective demographic categories as deemed appropriate by the organization. This system helps movie audiences like parents to effectively decide the types of content that may or may not be appropriate for their children. Also it prepares moviegoers for what to expect when going to see a new movie. Furthermore, it would not be appropriate to write a post about the MPAA rating system without elaborating on the various types and the significance behind each of the categories. So, shall we proceed?

     There are five categories to the MPAA rating system and they are as follows: G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. Firstly, the “G ” rating, which stands for “General Audiences”, simply means that a movie’s content is appropriate for audiences of all ages. Secondly, “PG”, the most familiar acronym in the rating system stands for “Parental Guidance”. The PG and PG-13 rating cautions parents by informing them that some of the movie content might be inappropriate for certain children, due to profanity, violence, and other adult activities. The “R” rating stands for “Restricted”. This rating states that children under the age of seventeen must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Lastly, the “NC-17” rating, which in my book has the most straightforward description, “No One 17 and Under Admitted”, pretty self-explanatory I would say. These five ratings have become part of the DNA of movies in America; they are the differentiators that tell parents why Man of Steel is more appropriate for their thirteen-year-old son than the more profound Kick-Ass 2, even though they are both superhero movies.

     In conclusion, MPAA ratings are a blessing, and a curse. For example, a movie which was intended to be released as PG-13 could be slammed with an NC-17 rating due to a single scene that the organization might deem inappropriate for younger viewers. This could potentially affect the amount of audiences a movie is able to reach, which in turn impacts the sales of the movie. True story by the way, check out this article on Blue Valentine, a romantic drama flick starring Ryan Gosling.

I hope you now have a primary understanding of the principles behind the MPAA. Adios! Until next time.