As someone that’s been going to the movies/streaming them on Netflix for what seems like forever- I never really understood the method in which they were rated. From first glance and a practicality standpoint, it seemed as if excessive nudity and profanity made a movie rated ‘R’ while some swearing and more minor viewer discretion caused for it to be rated PG-13 and so on. After viewing ‘This Film is Not Yet Rated’, a documentary highlighting the ways in which the Motion Picture Association of America uses its rating system to classify movie ratings, I was very surprised. Movies are given highly subjective ratings in a largely un-regulated organization leaving plenty of room for bias, personal opinion and prejudice to play a factor. This 18+ documentary incorporates both parts graphic and humor to fully outline the different aspects incorporated into designating movie ratings. For example, the distinction between a movie being rated R and NC-17 with viewings of sex and violence. The ratings board is shown through a critical lens and shows little sympathy to it’s obvious room for error.

One of the issues pointed out was how the ‘F’ word could only be spoken once in a film with a PG-13 rating. If it’s said twice, the it’s automatically given an ‘R’ rating. How shocking is that?

I found it interesting to read some of this film’s top reviews to see what other people thought of this very intense ‘in-your-face’ documentary and found that most people enjoyed the humor and outlined lack of sense in the grading. This movie is not for kids and some adults mentioned that that it was a little too vulgar for them and should in fact be rated ‘R’. There were a few people who rated it very low and thought the cast was just rude and unprofessional. Too much so to really prove any viable points or justify their view of this ‘unjust’ system. The 2006 documentary did really well, earning 7.5/10 stars on IDMB and winning a series of awards like the Austin Film Critics Award for Best Documentary.

After viewing this film, many will think twice before going by the mere rating of it. I don’t think ever see this announcement the same after going to my next movie.

Looking back at movies I’ve seen in theatre’s I can recall really questioning why a certain movie was rated the way it was. I remember one time going to see ‘Baby Driver’ when it first came out with my friend and forgetting my ID. We were both 16 and waited in line for what seemed like forever. I was never asked to show identification at a movie theatre before and when we finally got to the register, I was really surprised that the teller even asked me for it. It seemed like such a ‘teen movie’ but it was apparently, rated ‘R’. We left and ended up just getting frozen yoghurt that night, and laughing about it. Then, I went back to see it a few weeks later with my mom and just remember thinking ‘this is rated R?’ I saw no real reason except for maybe speeding and some swearing. Researching the given reasons now, it was given an ‘R’ rating by the MPAA for ‘violence and language throughout’. This alludes to there being ‘motor violence’, gun and weapon activity and the portrayal of blood. Needless to say, I never forgot to bring my I.D. to the movie theatre again.

This is an article on 10 movies you’d never guess would be rated ‘R’. I was shocked at some of the mentions including ‘The Breakfast Club’ and historical drama, ‘The King’s Speech’.

https://screenrant.com/movies-that-would-not-be-rated-r-today/

Has anyone been turned away from seeing a movie (while under 18) for not having an I.D. or not being with an adult? If so, do you think this was unnecessary?