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Are G and PG Rated Movies Really for the Whole Family?

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Movie Rating Guide and System Not Always Family-Friendly

Can you trust the movie rating system guidelines? Do you ever take your child, children, grandchild or grandchildren to a PG movie and find that you have to shield them from words that aren't appropriate and scenes that are more adult than you expected for a PG movie?

Are you concerned about the decline in the moral integrity of movies?



Image Credit: Print by Charles E. Steinheimer...click here for more information

Claudia a/k/a happynutritionist
Updated 6/3/12

What You Should Know about the Movie Rating System

The letter and number codes and what they mean

Image Available for Download on Flickr

This movie rating chart gives you a quick view of what the movie rating letter codes mean in the movie rating system, they are:

G - General Audiences - Nothing that would offend parents, for viewing by children
PG - Parental Guidance Suggested - Parents urged to give "parental guidance" - May be some scenes parents would not like their young children to see.
PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned - Parents urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teens.
R - Restricted - Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
NC-17 - No One 17 and Under Admitted - Patently adult - children are not admitted.



Image: Used under creative commons license.

Share Your Opinion About the Movie Rating System

You can give us tips on kid-friendly movies, too

Even if you don't have children or grandchildren, please feel free to share your thoughts below. You can also recommend movies to our readers, if you like. Just start typing below and the options will appear.

Share your opinion about the movie rating system

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My children/grandchildren see too much ____ in G - PG13 rated movies:

ryokomayuka says:

Well I agree that I think they are pushing the envelope on some things and others reigning in. Some things that in the past might have pushed up the rating don't anymore (ie violence) and things that in the past might have not fazed anything can up the rating (ie smoking, drugs).

SudokuNut says:

In a way I think the animated movies are the worst offenders. I'm constantly shocked by the innuendo and adult humor which is slipped into many of the big blockbuster cartoons. That said, I also think all of that goes straight over most kids heads and is only there to keep the adults from dozing off. You're right though, there's very few PG movies which would have been considered PG a generation ago and many of those rated R would have been banned before they saw the light of day.

happynutritionist says:

I don't think I want to pick on one particular movie, but in general it seems like PG movies, which I expect to just need a little explaining...or used to need just a little explaining are what R rated movies were not so very many years ago.

You worry too much, here's how I choose movies for my children/grandchildren:

 

Good and Bad News about Movie Ratings

(Some artices may not apply)

PG-13 rating needs more definition
The MPAA's website says movie ratings ?simply provide basic information to parents about the level of various elements in the film, such as sex, violence and language so that parents can decide what their children can and cannot see.
Don't go in the water: But catch the movie 'Jaws' on the big screen at the Capri
The movie ratings site Rotten Tomatoes lists ?Jaws? as the No. 7 summer blockbuster of all time. The site, which averages out the reviews of movie critics, also give ?Jaws? a rare ?100 percent fresh? score. It's the kind of movie that sticks with you, ...
PG-13: Some material may be appropriate for box-office success
"Certainly, with violence, you can get away with a lot more," said Kevin Sandler, an associate professor at Arizona State University who specializes in movie ratings and censorship. As the recent battle over the R rating for the independently financed ...
Should YA Books Be Given Ratings?
(Not that this is the MPAA's argument for movie ratings.) "The exhibitors' theatres are built for the masses, for the cultivated and the rude, the mature and the immature, the self-respecting and the criminal. Films, unlike books and music, ...
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Do You Go to Movies or Wait for DVD's?

This can save you a lot of money!

Waiting until a movie comes out on DVD might be a good way to make sure it is appropriate for your child or grandchild. It will give you a chance to hear the reviews, view the movie in advance if you feel the need to, and at the price of going to movies today, which is many times what it used to be when we took our children, it is much more economical.

Everyone likes to go out to the movies, but this is a popular alternative during tough economic times, plus it puts you in an atmosphere where you can discuss scenes in the movie with your children more easily than if you were sitting in a movie theater.

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Sites to help you make the best family movie choices for your home

You can add some links to if you like

The following is a collection of links I've found, some helpful, some proving my point, and if you want to prove an opposing point, you're free to add links, too.

2

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Media Influence - Bad Influence of Media on Children

Media influence on children is always bad. Read th more...0 points

4

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R-rated movies increase likelihood of underage children trying alcohol

This isn't about PG rated movies, but relevant and more...0 points

5

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Is Shrek Bad for Kids? - TIME

The green ogre and his movie comrades have upended more...0 points

6

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The FTC Web site on Entertainment Ratings - About the Ratings

The Federal Trade Commission's website on Entertai more...0 points

8

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Beware of the Movie Rating System

from wayoflife.org0 points

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The V-Chip: Putting Restrictions on What Your Children Watch

Federal Communications Commission - The V-Chip: Pu more...0 points

10

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Bad Effects Of Watching Movies Free Essays 1 - 30

Free Essays on Bad Effects Of Watching Movies for more...0 points

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NATO | About the Movie Ratings System

Not the NATO you may be thinking of:-)0 points

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PluggedIn.com

Shining a light on the world of popular entertainm more...0 points

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Watch Free Children, Kids and Family Movies

Threw this in just for fun0 points

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When good kids' movies become bad adult flicks from StarTribune.com

As someone who saw "Mad Max" at age 7 an more...0 points

Guess the Movie Theme - a fun break

This One for All Ages

Start playing, and a short clip from various movie themes will play. Don't peek, and as they play, guess what movies they're from. These are not all movies for children, by the way.

Pixar Shorts - Short Videos by Pixar

We Enjoy Most Pixar Animated Movies

I hope these are all as close to "G" rated as possible. Pixar animated films are great, and generally safe viewing, but sometimes themes for more mature minds can be found in animated movies.
Kiwi! SHORT FILMS - CORTO
by zezeox4ever | video info

8,634 ratings | 3,196,313 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Guess What Movies These Quotes Are From

A Short 5 Question Quiz

Latest Movie Listings

Click through any link and enter your zip code

I've entered my zip code, you can click through any movie title and enter yours and see what's playing in your area.
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Marvel Studios delivers the ultimate comic-book film, which ties together such characters as Iron Ma...
4. Battleship - $4.8M
Milton Bradley's enduringly popular strategic board game makes the leap to the big screen in Hancock...
5. The Dictator - $4.7M
Comic Sacha Baron Cohen re-teams with director Larry Charles (Borat, Bruno) for this satirical tale...

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News About G Rated Movies

New Disney studio chief's instructions: make good movies
But Horn stresses that he doesn't intend to make just G-rated movies. "I approved 'Happy Feet,' which appealed to the whole family," he said. "I also approved 'The Hangover.'" (Reporting By Ronald Grover; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
New Disney studio chief's instructions: make good movies
But Horn stresses that he doesnt intend to make just G-rated movies. 'I approved Happy Feet, which appealed to the whole family,' he said. 'I also approved The Hangover.' (Reporting By Ronald Grover; Editing by Chris Gallagher) This is an automated ...
New Disney chief's instructions: make good films
But Horn stresses that he doesn't intend to make just G-rated movies. "I approved 'Happy Feet,' which appealed to the whole family," he said. "I also approved 'The Hangover.'" New Disney studio chief's instructions : make good movies.
NBC Exec No Fan of Dish Network's Ad-Skipping DVR
... million weekly viewers through time-shifting, according to Nielsen Research. Separately, those who subscribe to Dish's Heartland Package or Blockbuster @Home service now can stream G-rated movies directly through their television or mobile devices.
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G Rated Movies

Available for a Limited Time

Be sure to check closely and make sure that these are really rated G and condition of the movie.
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What movies have you seen lately?

Guestbook - say hello

  • littlelotus Aug 16, 2011 @ 7:34 pm | delete
    hello :) haven't been to the movies in ages.... just rentdvds n watch at home now
  • SudokuNut Mar 21, 2011 @ 2:02 pm | delete
    It's hard to find where to draw the line between being over-protective or letting Hollywood dictate morality. I think the movie rating system is outdated and too loosely defined but thankfully there are better alternatives online for parents and everyone else to make a more informed decision. Good lens.
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Table of Contents

  1. What You Should Know about the Movie Rating System
  2. Share Your Opinion About the Movie Rating System
  3. Good and Bad News about Movie Ratings
  4. Do You Go to Movies or Wait for DVD's?
  5. Sites to help you make the best family movie choices for your home
  6. Guess the Movie Theme - a fun break
  7. Pixar Shorts - Short Videos by Pixar
  8. Guess What Movies These Quotes Are From
  9. Latest Movie Listings
  10. News About G Rated Movies
  11. G Rated Movies
  12. % of Sales Goes to Dog Tags for Kids
  13. Thumbs up, Pins, Facebook and Tweets
  15. What movies have you seen lately?
  17. Random unrelated pages you might like
  18. Follow Me on Twitter

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