US Movie Ratings
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 snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are 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. A PG-rated motion picture should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision.
The more mature themes in some PG-rated motion pictures may call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence 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-rated motion picture.
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.
An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. 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. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.
An NC-17 rated motion picture is one that, in the view of the Rating Board, most parents would consider patently too adult for their children 17 and under. No children will be admitted. NC-17 does not mean “obscene” or “pornographic” in the common or legal meaning of those words, and should not be construed as a negative judgment in any sense. 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.
http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp
British Movie Ratings
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has the responsibility of providing British movie ratings along with British video ratings. Using an employed board of 16 examiners and 3 senior examiners, each movie is usually viewed by 2 people who apply one of the following classifications:
| Rating | Description |
|---|
| U | Universal, suitable for all. |
| PG | All ages admitted, but Parental Guidance is recommended. It is the board's policy that movies rated "PG" should not disturb a child of about 8 years of age or older; however, "parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset young or more sensitive children." |
| 12 | No one under 12 years of age may see a "12" film or rent or buy a "12" video. |
| 15 | No one under 15 years of age may see a "15" film or rent or buy a "15" video. |
| 18 | Suitable only for adults. No one under 18 years of age may see an "18" film or rent or buy an "18" video. |
| R18 | To be supplied only in licensed sex shops to adults of not less than 18 years of age. |
The BBFC's movie ratings are not enforced by national legislation, leaving local jurisdictions the power to overrule the movie ratings provided by the BBFC. For instance, David Cronenberg's Crash was rated 18 by the board, yet banned from exhibition by some local jurisdictions (notably Westminster).
However, in 1984, the BBFC was deputized as having authority to provide video ratings necessary for the new Video Recordings Act. To this day, the BBFC's ratings provide legislated control over the sale and rental of videotapes and DVDs throughout the U.K.
With this responsibility, the BBFC has recognized the inherent differences between video and theatrical viewing. For instance, young people may view a video repeatedly, allowing them to more accurately mimic undesirable behaviors such as illegal drug use. As well, it is understood that a video may be watched without adults present, and is shown with far less control than a theatrical presentation. As a result, the BBFC may classify movies released on video into a more restrictive rating than when the same movie was available in theaters.
Further, with new DVD technologies providing additional content such as deleted scenes, documentaries, and production commentaries, the BBFC is determined to account for all content on a DVD disc and provide one classification. Thus, a DVD may be classified more restrictively due to sexual, violent, or profane content in this extra material.
At this time, the BBFC is only rating videogames that have strong sexual or violent themes, or those that encourage or stimulate sex, violence, or criminal activity.
http://www.parentpreviews.com/movie-ratings/uk
German movie ratings
Germany
The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry, FSK) has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories:
- Ohne Altersbeschränkung (FSK 0): no age restriction (white sign)
- Freigegeben ab 6 Jahren (FSK 6): no children younger than 6 years admitted (yellow sign)
- Freigegeben ab 12 Jahren (FSK 12): children 12 or older admitted, children between 7 and 11 only when accompanied by parent or legal guardian (green sign)
- Freigegeben ab 16 Jahren (FSK 16): children 16 or older admitted (blue sign)
- Keine Jugendfreigabe (FSK 18): "no youth admitted", only adults. This rating was previously called "Nicht freigegeben unter 18 Jahren." (red sign)
