Movie ratings such as G, PG, PG-13, and R in the United States are issued by the Motion Picture Association's Classification and Rating Administration, a voluntary industry system rather than a government-run legal requirement.
Studios submit finished or nearly finished films to the ratings board, which is made up of parents who watch each film and vote on an appropriate rating based on factors like violence, language, sexual content, and drug use.
A Voluntary Industry System, Not a Law
How a Rating Actually Gets Assigned
A rating comes with a short explanation, like 'rated R for language and violence,' summarizing the specific content that influenced the board's decision, and studios can appeal a rating or re-edit a film to try to secure a different one.
Because the system is voluntary, filmmakers can release a film unrated, though many theater chains and retailers choose not to carry unrated content, which gives the ratings board significant practical influence despite having no legal enforcement power.
Sources
- Wikipedia — overview of the MPA film rating system
- Motion Picture Association (official site) — official explanation of how ratings are assigned
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — background on movie rating systems generally
FAQ
Are movie ratings legally enforced by the government?
No — in the US, the rating system is a voluntary industry program, though many theaters independently choose to enforce age restrictions at the box office.
Who actually decides a movie's rating?
A board of parents affiliated with the Motion Picture Association's rating administration watches each film and votes on the rating, based on guidelines around content like violence and language.
Can a studio change a film's rating after it's assigned?
Yes — a studio can appeal the decision or re-edit the film and resubmit it, which sometimes results in a different final rating.
About the Author
We reference Wikipedia, Motion Picture Association (official site), and Encyclopaedia Britannica to explain the background and current understanding of this topic.
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