MPAA ratings: Guidelines for parents

MPAA ratings: Guidelines for parents

The State Theatre is careful to provide ratings for the films it shows, whenever ratings are available, in an effort to provide parents with approved guidelines in selecting films that will or will not be appropriate for their children to view. These guidelines, set forth by MPAA, the Motion Picture Association of America, are not a commentary on a film's content, nor are they meant to suggest censorship. Instead, the rating system exists to give parents clear, concise information about a film's content, in order to help them determine whether a movie is suitable for their children. The State Theatre's board of directors asks that parents adhere to these guidelines when selecting films based on their appropriateness for children. We play our role in enforcing these guidelines by refusing admission to R-rated movies by unaccompanied children, or allowing children admittance to NC-17 movies whether accompanied or not. We appreciate your adherence to these guidelines.

G: General Audiences
All ages admitted
A G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture. The G rating is not a "certificate of approval," nor does it signify a "children's" motion picture. Some language may go beyond polite conversation but it is common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated motion pictures. Depictions of violence are minimal. No nudity, sex scenes or drug use are present in the motion picture. 

PG: Parental Guidance Suggested
Some material may not be suitable for children
These films should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The PG rating indicates that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their young children. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence, sensuality or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG film.

PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned.
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13
A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although depictions of activities related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the motion picture. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence. A motion picture's single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.

R: Restricted.
Children under 17 require accompanying parent or adult guardian
These films contain some adult material. An R-rated film may depict adult activity, hard language, intense graphic or persistent violence, sexually oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements. Parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated films unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about the particular film in determining its suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated movies.

NC-17: No one 17 and under admitted
These are films that the Rating Board believes most parents would consider patently too adult for their children. No children will be admitted.
NC-17 does not necessarily mean "obscene" or "pornographic" and should not be construed as a negative judgment on the content of the film. The rating simply signals that the content is appropriate only for an adult audience. An NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.