According to Mothe tion Picture Association of America, an R-rated movie is restricted for children below 17. Such films or movies may contain adult content like intense graphic violence, harsh language, nudity, adult activity, or drug abuse. For a child to watch such content, they need to be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
For children under the age of 17 years to attend R-rated performances, they must be in the company of a 21year or older guardian. Those who are 25 years and below need to show identification for R-rated performances.
This article highlights the purpose of rating movies, how to tell the content of a movie, and the effect of watching R-rated films. We also look at how to protect children from movie violence. Read on!
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What Is The Aim Of Film Rating?
Movie rating helps parents know in advance the content of a film and decide what is suitable for children of different ages. Since parents understand their individual kids’ sensibilities and sensitivities, the rating will help them pick movies. A board of parents assigns the ratings according to the content of the performances.
Since film ratings do not censor, approve, or disapprove movies, the critics and audiences do. The board looks at the factors that other parents would consider when judging whether a movie is appropriate for their kids. These factors include violence, nudity, language, sex, and abusing drugs.
How Would You Know The Type Of Materials In A Movie?
Apart from G-rated movies (they are deemed suitable for every age group), a film rating will give brief explanatory phrases specific to the movie and its ranking. Parents get information from these descriptions on what is contained in the movie. They can then decide on the suitability of the content according to their children’s sensitivity and maturity level.
What Are The Effects Of Watching R-Rated Movies?
According to some counselors, children who watch R-rated performances are likely to try alcohol early. These movies can glorify alcohol use, and the kids may want to take it to experience its effect.
If a child experiences abuse or violence at home, watching such movies may perpetuate and reinforce what they see in their everyday life. These children will tend to fight, kick, and hit others since they think it is the order of life. While some parents may have no problem taking their children with them to see the performances, others may feel concerned.
Parents who approve of their children watching R-rated movies need to help them filter adult and violent content. They should tell their kids how to react to some materials in the movie and explain why the actors had to do what they did. The parents need to monitor what the kids are watching and discuss it with them to process the content.
What Are Some Symptoms Of Watching Violent Content?
Children react differently after watching performances containing violence. But, the most common symptoms include;
1. Bedtime fears
2. Lack of concentration in their study
3. Viewing the world as a violent place
4. Feeling frightened and having flashbacks during the day
5. Nightmares that keep recurring
6. Being insensitive to people’s suffering
7. Some children may copy what they see in the movies and become violent towards others
How Can You Protect Your Kids From Movie Violence?
Protecting your children from movie violence is very important to safeguard their future. As a parent, there are several ways of doing this, including;
Try To Understand The Rating System
Before you can accompany your children into a movie theater, it is necessary to know why the film has an R-rating. Some are due to profanity, nudity, violence, and language. While nudity may be harmless depending on the material, violence will disturb the children. You must check the degree of violence since it could be rape or graphic violence, which affects most kids significantly.
Do Not Permit Children Below 13 Years To Watch R-Rated Movies.
Young children below the age of 13years may not differentiate between the characters they see in movies and reality. No matter how liberal you consider yourself to be; never allow these children to see profanity and nudity in movies. For children between 13 years and 16 years of age, a parent needs to consider their sensitivity and maturity before allowing them to see the movies.
Since R-rated movies contain sexual or graphic violence, they should not in any way be watched by kids below 17 years of age.
Choose Movies For Your Children.
Before allowing your kid to watch a film, it is important to read its review and know its contents. If you feel that a movie will cause potential harm to the young one, forbid them from seeing it no matter the pressure. You can check other parents’ reviews and keep a list of movies they approve.
Keep Watch On What Your Child Sees.
It is advisable to check what your child sees on rented videos, network TV, or cable TV. Unless you permit your child to watch a particular program, do not let them switch on the cable or network movie channel. These channels contain a lot of violent movies that are too scary for young children.
If you have kids of different ages, you can separate what they watch. For example, young children should not see what you have approved for their older siblings, even if it is news. Young children may feel unsafe after watching news of earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, terrorism, or war.
Discourage Your Children From Watching Violent Movies Away From Home
Make sure that you warn your child not to be influenced to watch violent movies at Halloween or sleep parties. You should advise your kid always to call you if their nanny or a family member is watching scary movies in their presence. You can also teach them to walk away from scary movies or any that upset them. It is also vital to teach them the importance of not sneaking into R-rated movies and obeying the theater policies.
Please Encourage Your Child To Discuss Movies That Upset Them
It is always important to allow your child express themselves about their experiences. Respect their feelings without making fun of them, and let them discuss with you their fears. Be sure to advise them and help them overcome the fears they get from watching the movies.
How Do You Decide If Your Teen Is Ready For An R-Rated Movie?
Every parent fears that their teens may engage in actions that could impact their minds negatively. Parents desire their children to know the difference between right and wrong, especially when choosing the movies to watch. The following guideline can help you know when your kid is mature enough to see an R-rated movie;
Your Family Values
Each family has its culture and values that help distinguish right from wrong. These values can help a child know what to watch at the appropriate age. But, a thumb rule is, no child below the age of 12 needs to be exposed to vulgar or violent content. It is necessary to protect your young children from movie violence as this can interfere with their mental growth or progress.
If your family values consider strong language, violence, and nudity as a social evil, then advise your teen against such. You may also decide to abstain from R-rated movies as a family to help discourage your teens from getting attracted to them.
Your Teen’s Maturity
Children mature and grow differently, and as a parent, you should decide when the best time is to discuss real-life experiences. Since teens will be exposed to different materials at some point in life, it is your responsibility as a parent to prepare them. Please make your judgment after such discussion and decide when it is appropriate, but don’t allow them to watch R-rated movies on their own before turning 17.
How Teens Deal With Changing Times
In today’s world, teens can get exposed to foul language and inappropriate displays of affection in schools. How your child handles such exposures will tell a lot about their maturity. Parents need to help their kids filter what they watch before allowing them into movie theaters.
What Are The Different Guides To Movie Ratings?
There are different ratings for movies and their meanings. The table below is a summary of these ratings.
Rating | Meaning |
G (General Audiences) | Suitable for all ages since it does not contain sex, nudity, strong language, or violence |
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | The movie may contain content unsuitable for children. Parents should check the movie before allowing their kids to watch it. |
PG – 13 (Parents Cautioned Strongly) | The movie may contain some materials that are not suitable for children below 13 years. It may include nudity, theme, sensuality, violence, or adult activity. |
R (Restricted for Children Under 17 years) | Children under 17 years of age need to be in the company of an adult guardian or parent. The movie contains adult material, nudity, violence, sex, or drug abuse. |
NC – 17 (No One Under 17 Can be Admitted) | No child below 17 should be allowed into the movie theater. Although it is not ‘pornographic’ or ‘obscene,’ the content is only suitable for an adult audience. |
Conclusion
Movie rating helps the parents decide what content is appropriate for their children to watch. Therefore, one must be aware of the rating system not to expose their children to violence or adult material that may harm their minds and negatively impact their future.
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FAQs
What does rated R mean on a movie? ›
Restricted: R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
Is rated R the worst rate? ›The NC-17 rating is the highest rating (even higher than the R-rating) that a film can be given, and it means the movie is for adults only (ages 18 and older) and no one age 17 or younger will be admitted. This rating, prior to 1990, was previously rated X.
Can a 12 year old watch a rated R movie? ›The R-rating doesn't ban children under 17 from a movie, it restricts them to watching it with a parent or guardian (and includes a recommendation that parents and guardians learn more before allowing their child to see the movie).
Does everyone have to be 17 to see a rated R movie? ›As per the MPAA's film rating policy, patrons under the age of 17 will require an accompanying parent or guardian to attend an "R" rated film.
Why is it called Rated R? ›R: Restricted, Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian. This rating means the film contains adult material such as adult activity, harsh language, intense graphic violence, drug abuse and nudity.
Is rated R worse than Ma? ›TV-MA is worse than R because it contains both R and NC-17-rated material. R is OK for viewers under 17 as long as they're accompanied by an adult, but TV-MA is never appropriate for viewers under 18. Only adults are permitted to watch TV-MA.
What is higher than rated R? ›MPAA has five rating categories
The new ratings system began with four categories: G (general audiences), M (mature audiences, changed in 1969 to PG, parental guidance suggested), R (restricted, no children under 17 allowed without parents or adult guardians), and X (no one under 17 admitted).
Rated R: Restricted – Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Rated X: No one under 17 admitted.
What isn't allowed in R-rated movies? ›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.
Can a 17 year old take a 16 year old to R-rated movie? ›R: Restricted - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated movies unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 25 years of age or older.
Can a 20 year old take a minor to an R-rated movie? ›
ID is required. Persons aged 17 to 20 may purchase tickets only for themselves for any R-rated feature. Underage persons caught in R-rated features without an accompanying parent will be asked to leave the complex.
How many cuss words can be in a PG-13 movie? ›The restrictions set by the Us ratings board mean the F-word can only be used once in a PG-13 movie.
Can a 16 year old go to a rated R movie with a 18 year old? ›R: Restricted - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated movies unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 25 years of age or older.
Does AMC check ID for Rated R? ›AMC Requires Adult Supervision For Guests Under 17 in R-Rated Movies. AMC policies specific to R-Rated titles include children under 6 are not allowed at R-Rated movies after 6pm at any theatre. Guests under 17 must be accompanied by a guardian who is 21 or older. Please be prepared to show ID at the theatre.
Can a 16 year old go to an R-rated movie? ›In the U.S., anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 21 to watch an R rated movie.
Why can't kids watch rated R? ›The R rating means that children under 17 years are not admitted to the theater without a parent. Movies may get an R rating for different reasons. This rating is given for nudity, profanity, or violence. Nudity, depending on the context, may be harmless.
When did Rated R become a thing? ›According to the report, 17,202 movies have been rated R since the system was instituted in 1968. Today, many movie theater chains will not admit audience members under age 17 to R-rated movies without an adult, though this is not enforced by any laws.
What is rated Y? ›The ratings are: TV-Y - programs aimed at a very young audience, including children from ages 2-6. TV-Y7 - programs most appropriate for children age 7 and up.
What does D stand for in age restrictions? ›Must be 18 and older. Symbols listed alphabetically: A – All Ages. B – Blasphemy. D – Drugs.
What is the difference between rated R and M? ›An R-rated film may contain "adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements." On the other hand, titles given an M rating may have content that includes "intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language."
What is rated U? ›
What does U mean? The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at this lower end of the category range.
Which is worse rated R or NC-17? ›The MPA gave the movie an NC-17 rating "for some sexual content." NC-17 is a higher classification than an R rating and means no one under 17 years old can be admitted to see the movie, whereas for rated-R films, those under 17 can see the movie with a parent or guardian.
What does rated G stand for? ›These are categories classified by EIRIN (Film Classification and Rating Committee) to restrict viewers' ages. G: Appropriate for people of all ages. PG 12: Parental guidance is required for children under the age of 12.
What is rated M? ›Mature (M)
Films and computer games classified M (Mature) contain content of a moderate impact. M-rated films and computer games are not recommended for children under the age of 15. They include portrayals of elements such as violence and themes that require a mature outlook.
MPAA instituted ratings on November 1st, 1968, and the first R-rated movie was released on November 4, 1968. It was The Split, starring Jim Brown and Gene Hackman.
Does Rated R mean horror? ›Horror often needs to be rated R to adequately deal with adult themes like death and loss and to show the violence and gore inherent in the story, so we do have a reason to be wary of films with a PG-13 rating. However, we shouldn't take this sentiment too far. Not every horror movie needs to be rated R.
What is meant by rated A? ›The Big 'A' - Stands for 'Adults Only', which obviously prohibits anybody under the age of 18 to watch the film in theatres. The Big 'S' - Stands for 'Restricted to special classes', which means only a certain members of the society, such as doctors, scientists, etc, are permitted to watch the film.
Can you get in trouble for sneaking into a rated R movie? ›Is sneaking into an R rated movie Illegal? Yes, the MPAA guidelines state that an R rating means an unaccompanied minor must be 17 to purchase a ticket. Be sure to have ID with you, as some cinemas strictly enforce this policy.
Can I sneak into a rated R movie? ›While this isn't as foolproof as going with them, you may be able to sneak in if your parent or sibling buys the R-rated ticket and then gives it to you. Just make sure you ask someone who is at least 21 years old, or else the ticket seller may ask to see the IDs of the people they're buying tickets for.
Can I take my 6 year old to a 15 movie? ›No one younger than 15 can go and see a 15 rated film in the cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video, DVD or download.
Do cinemas ask for ID? ›
Our staff are legally required to ask for proof that you are old enough to watch an age restricted film if they have any doubt.
What is 21 age rating? ›21 [2008] [PG-13] - 6.5.
What age is rated M? ›Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language.
How do you sneak snacks into a movie theater? ›Hide a small snack or two in your pockets.
Take a look in the mirror before leaving your house to make sure that none of the food is visible. Try putting a few coins in each pocket, so if they hear the crinkling of a bag, they instead hear coins. This will make them think you have money to buy snacks from the theatre.
An R rated film is unsuitable for minors. In this case, content is not suitable for under 17 years of age. Those under 17 must be accompanied by an adult (at least 18 years old). It may include strong brutal and graphic violence (including blood), excessive strong language, nudity, and drug use.
Does venom 2 say the f-word? ›The F-word is dropped once in the movie, very briefly. This is one of the few Marvel movies that have the f-bomb in it and remain PG-13. There is one use of "turd" at the end of the film.
Does the F-word make a movie rated R? ›There are exceptions, usually when the word is just repeated in a short time or used as part of an emotional scene, McMahon said. But any movie with more than three F-bombs likely couldn't remain PG-13, she said. And if the word is used to signify sex, the film automatically gets an R rating.
What are G rated swear words? ›- Jackface.
- Bull sugar.
- Are you cussing kidding me.
- Turdwaffle.
Once your toddler turns 2, up to one hour of screen time use is OK, but parents should watch with their children to help them understand what they are viewing. So, given that movies range from an hour and a half to two hours long, they should be the rare exception, not the rule, on your toddler's list of activities.
Can 11 year old go to cinema alone? ›Children under 8 years old cannot attend a screening unaccompanied (regardless of film certification). They should be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or older. Children under 12 cannot attend a screening unaccompanied after 7pm (regardless of film certification).
What is Smile rated? ›
Rating: Rated R for strong violent content and grisly images, and language.
Does Walmart ID for rated R movies? ›We take our role as a responsible retailer seriously and, since we do carry some “R” rated selections, we have set our cash registers to prompt the cashier to ask for identification showing that the customer is 17 before a customer may purchase this rating. We do not carry any adult-rated titles.
Can I see a rated R movie with my parents? ›Restricted: R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
What happens if you don't have an ID for a rated R movie? ›The cashier will see that the movie is R, and ask for your ID. If you don't have an ID, he will either give you a ticket to a non-R movie, or refund your ticket.
What is G vs PG? ›Each of the designated ratings is defined as follows under the Motion Picture Classification and Rating program. G: GENERAL AUDIENCES. All ages admitted. PG: PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED.
What does rating NR mean? ›The movie rating N R indicates a movie has not yet been rated by the Motion Picture Association of America , (MPAA). If a movie has not been submitted for a rating or is an uncut version of a movie that was submitted, the label Not Rated is often used.
Why is Smile rated R? ›Smile Age Rating is R for strong violent content and grisly images, and language.
Is R-rated worse than 18? ›R is merely the second extreme rating for television, whereas TV-MA is the most extreme. TV-MA is worse than R because it contains both R and NC-17-rated material. R is OK for viewers under 17 as long as they're accompanied by an adult, but TV-MA is never appropriate for viewers under 18.
Can my child watch a rated R movie? ›As per the MPAA's film rating policy, patrons under the age of 17 will require an accompanying parent or guardian to attend an "R" rated film.
What is PG-13 vs R? ›PG-13: PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. R: RESTRICTED. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
What is R vs NC-17? ›
The MPA gave the movie an NC-17 rating "for some sexual content." NC-17 is a higher classification than an R rating and means no one under 17 years old can be admitted to see the movie, whereas for rated-R films, those under 17 can see the movie with a parent or guardian.
Can a 6 year old go to a rated R movie? ›The R rating means that children under 17 years are not admitted to the theater without a parent. Movies may get an R rating for different reasons. This rating is given for nudity, profanity, or violence.
Can an 18 year old take a 15 year old to see a rated R movie? ›Children under age 17 requires an accompanying parent or guardian (age 21 or older) to attend R rated performances. 25 years and under must show ID for R rated performances.
Can a 17 year old watch a 18 rated movie? ›18 – for adults only
Films, videos and downloads rated 18 are not suitable for children. No one younger than 18 can go and see an 18 rated film in the cinema. No one younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated video, DVD or download.
Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers. While The Motion Picture Association of America recommends that children under 13 do not see PG-13 movies, there is no magical age.
Why are R-rated movies 17+? ›R: Restricted, Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian. This rating means the film contains adult material such as adult activity, harsh language, intense graphic violence, drug abuse and nudity.
What does a K+ rating mean? ›K+: Some content may not be suitable for young children, usually those below nine years of age. There may be minor violence without serious injury, mild suggestive material, or minor coarse language that is justified by context. Equivalent to PG. T: Contains content not suitable for children.
Is unrated worse than R? ›R applies to movies that have strong language, sex, and violence, by accordance of the MPAA. Unrated is a cut extended with raunchier content that was not been seen by the MPAA. This usually applies to R Rated movies.
What is an R 15 rating? ›R15+ (R-15): Restricted to teenagers 15 and over only. Children and pre-teenagers under the age of 15 are banned from viewing the film. Films with this rating are strongly stimulating.