How to Understand the Movie Rating System

The movie rating system has been established to protect children from inappropriate movie content. The system is divided into categories based on age. Movies are graded on several different aspects of content: language, violence, sex, and adult themes. The movie rating system is one tool parents can use to decide what movies are good choices for their children. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Visit websites designed to grade movies based on the movie rating system. These companies specialize in putting meaning to the ratings.

2. Read reviews and synopses of movies and compare that to the rating assigned. Decide how close that rating is to what you would have given it yourself.

3. Research the background of the movie rating system. During different time periods the movie rating system represented different things.

4. View movies that are in several different categories without your children. Although not always consistent, after several viewings you'll begin to see why certain things fall into certain categories.

5. Realize that movies from the video store do not all come under the current movie rating system. Movies made twenty or even ten years ago will not adhere to the present rating.

6. Pay attention to the fine print as to why a movie received a certain rating. Reasons are always listed next to the rating, and this gives important decision making information.

7. Understand that your own personal standards for you family are the best movie rating system. Movie makers are not always the best judge of what is appropriate and should not be relied upon as your complete source of information.

Tips & Warnings

• Take time to watch movies with your children. Point out things that give the movie a certain rating and use this as a way to start conversations about what is age appropriate viewing.
• Keep an open mind as you learn about the movie rating system. Movie makers get their films rated on a volunteer basis, so the rating system really is there for you.
• Do not take your children to films that have not been rated. Preview all films first for suitability.

[AudreyBrown]

on 3/7/2008 Although I hated this film, there is a documentary about the MPAA called, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated". It's the worst documentary I've ever seen, but it does address the ratings process. Personally, I sided with the ratings board.