Motion Picture Association of America Rating System
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Rating System is a voluntary classification system that provides guidance on the suitability of films for different audiences, helping parents make informed viewing choices. Established in 1968, this system replaced the earlier Motion Picture Production Code, which faced criticism and legal challenges due to its restrictive nature. The initial categories included G (General Audiences), M (Mature Audiences), R (Restricted), and X (no one under 16 admitted). Over time, the system evolved, introducing categories such as PG (Parental Guidance) in 1972, PG-13 in 1984, and changing X to NC-17 in 1990 to better reflect contemporary societal standards. The MPAA conducts regular surveys to ensure the effectiveness and relevance of the ratings, which are widely accepted by theater owners and beneficial for parents seeking age-appropriate content for their children. The overall impact of the rating system has been significant, promoting transparency in the film industry while respecting diverse audience perspectives.
Motion Picture Association of America Rating System
A voluntary, self-regulating film rating system adopted by Hollywood. The Motion Picture Association of America introduced the system in the 1960’s to provide parents with information on a film’s content.
Origins and History
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) was established in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) under the leadership of Will H. Hays, former United States postmaster general. The association’s goal was to police and govern the film industry without federal and state interference and to actively promote a positive image of the industry among the American public. The MPPDA initiated self-censorship when it established the Motion Picture Production Code in 1930. The Code, as it became known, was regulated by the Production Code Administration (PCA). In the mid-1940’s, the MPPDA changed its name to the Motion Picture Association of America.
After World War II, domestic and foreign films increasingly began to reflect important social, political, religious, and moral issues that denied them the PCA seal of approval. Frustrated filmmakers mounted legal challenges to the whole concept of PCA censorship. The U.S. Supreme Court rulings on censorship, obscenity, and cinema’s constitutional status, along with sweeping societal changes, gave the Code a negative public image. In 1966, newly selected MPAA president Jack Valenti initiated a reexamination of the Code.
In 1968, Valenti abolished the controversial Code and introduced a self-regulating, voluntary rating system under the MPAA Classification and Rating Administration. This system established four categories: G, general audiences, all ages admitted; M, mature audiences, parental guidance suggested but all ages admitted; R, restricted, children under sixteen not admitted without accompanying parent or adult guardian; and X, no one under sixteen admitted. The MPAA, as part of its continuing self-regulatory procedure, checked all advertising to ensure that films carried a rating and examined the content of all film trailers so that they were shown only to appropriate audiences.
Impact
The impact on the U.S. film industry and the public was immediate. Motion picture theater owners liked the new rating system and generally adhered to the stated admission policies. Parents approved because it gave them advance information on a film’s content. To make sure that the rating system remained effective, the MPAA conducted a yearly poll through the Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton.
Subsequent Events
The MPAA film rating system remains in effect but has undergone slight changes. In 1970, the age restriction on films rated R and X was raised to seventeen. The M category became PG for parental guidance suggested, then in 1984, the system gained a new category, PG-13, which did not restrict admittance to the film but warned parents that it contained some material that may be inappropriate for children under age thirteen. Six years later, the X category was changed to NC-17, for no one under seventeen admitted.
Additional Information
In 1996, the MPAA reissued its pamphlet “The Voluntary Movie Rating System” by Jack Valenti, which covers all aspects of the rating system from its beginnings to how it is applied and regulated.