Want to show a film to the general public? you must apply for a movie rating. These ratings help viewers understand what to expect from the film. Often, this means making aware of content that is violent, contains swearing, shows drug abuse, and nudity.
Every country has a rating system that users age to determine who should watch the film. Keep reading for a complete movie ratings guide focused on US and UK rating systems. We also look into how to get a film rated and what themes contribute to a movie’s rating.
Movie Ratings Guide US
Since the beginning of cinema, there has been debate on film’s control over the public. In 1922, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA) began with the initial goal of ensuring the success of the American film industry before moving to movie censorship.
In 1927, the MPA created the Hays Code, a list of rules regarding what filmmakers can and can’t show in their films. This code was strict and forbade topics such as nudity, swearing, and mixed racial relationships. It also had a big impact on a filmmaker’s creative freedom.
In 1953, the MPA lifted the Hays Code and the rules became more relaxed. As of 1968, a new movie rating system was implemented that now adopts an age rating. Filmmakers can submit their films directly to the MPA for a rating and need to do so for theatrical releases.
| G – General audiences | All ages admitted, nothing that would offend parents viewing for children. |
| PG –Parental guidance | Some material is not suitable for children. Parents urged to give guidance. May contain some materials parents might not like for young children. |
| PG-13 – Parents strongly cautioned | Some material inappropriate for children under 13. Parents urged caution, some material inappropriate for pre-teenagers. |
| R – Restricted | Under 17s requires accompanying parents or adult guardian. Contains some adult material parents urged to learn more about the film before taking young children with them. |
| NC-17 – Adults only | No one 17 and under admitted. Clearly adult. No Children. |
Theatrical Trailers
The MPA also approved film trailers, print advertising, posters, and other media to promote films. Rating cards appear above the head of trailers in the US to indicate that the film has an MPA rating. Below, you can find a trailer movie rating guide by color code.
| Green | The majority of filmmakers choose to create a trailer within the green band. The green colour indicates that the trailer is for all audiences and doesn’t contain strong language, violence, or nudity. As such, it’s easier to market the trailer both online and in cinemas. |
| Yellow | The yellow title card exists to show trailers with restricted content on the internet. The yellow card indicates that a film has a rating of PG-13 or stronger. Although this is an official rating, it’s not widespread, and many filmmakers choose to promote with a green trailer. |
| Red | The red trailer indicates that the film did not gain approval from the MPA. As such, it is for restricted or mature audiences with a R or NC-17 rating. In addition, the trailer itself might contain swearing, nudity, and other content that is not suitable for children. |
How Does the MPA Rate a Movie?
When you submit a film to the MPA, its members will review it with a movie ratings guide. They will watch for certain subjects, judge the overall film, and provide a rating. The cost of the MPA rating a film depends on the budget, project length, and if it’s a studio film.
| Violence | The Movie ratings guide also restricts content showing drugs to PG-13 and above. This includes the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Since 2007, the MPA has become more strict with depictions of cigarette smoking to be removed all from G and PG-rated movies. |
| Swearing | Ratings for swearing in films are more complicated. Language beyond polite conversation gains a G rating with no strong words. While some rude language is allowed for PG films, more offensive language is left for PG-13 or above. Even so, language can change depending on the subject matter. If a film is deemed educational yet contains slurs and profanity, it can still get awarded a lower rating. |
| Drug Abuse | The Movie ratings guide also restricts content showing drugs to PG-13 and above. This includes the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Since 2007, the MPA has become more strict with depictions of cigarette smoking to be removed from all G and PG-rated movies. |
| Nudity | All nudity has an automatic PG or higher rating. Anything more than brief nudity has a rating of PG-13. Nudity that is sexually orientated will generally require an R rating. The nature of the nudity and the themes in the film will also determine the overall rating. |
Movie Ratings Guide UK
In the UK, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) determines movie ratings. The BBFC began in 1912 as a response to concerns about movie censorship. Similar to the MPA, it reviews films, television programs, trailers, and promotional materials.
The UK did not follow a written code like the US but had a similar set of rules. These rules became more relaxed in the 1960s and eventually changed to the current age rating system in 1982. In the 1980s, there were also further restrictions on video releases due to the video nasty campaign. As such, many horror films at this time were banned from VHS.
The Video Recordings Act of 1984 requires that all videos have an age rating system. The movie ratings system has changed many times over the past forty years, such as the introduction of the 12A in 2002. You can find a list of the current rating system below.
| U – Universal | Suitable for all. |
| PG – Parental guidance | General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. |
| 12A | Generally suitable for those aged 12 and over, those under 12 admitted, but only if accompanied by an adult. |
| 15 | Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over. (Not to be supplied to any person below that age). |
| 18 | Suitable only for persons of 18 years and over. (Not to be supplied to any person below that age). |
| R-18 – Restricted | To be supplied only in licensed sex shops to persons of not less than 18 years. |
Wrapping Up
In short, the movie ratings guide is there to help you decide if a film is right for you. The main priority of movie ratings is to protect children from harmful content. While ratings used to be about censorship, these days, a film with adult themes will receive a restricted rating.
So, if a film fails to receive a rating, it will likely feature illegal content. As such, it’s now incredibly rare for a movie to receive a complete ban from a rating provider. We hope this article has helped you learn more about the movie ratings guides in the US and UK.
