The Ratings Systems

Remembering that I am a film major and an Anglophile it should come as no surprise that I love anything to do with a combination of the two. Accordingly I am fascinated by the rating systems in place in both countries and how they are often divergent. (If you have been reading my blog from the beginning you may note that I am now finally broaching this subject, as I mentioned it in my very first post!) I began looking into the topic because the British seem to be becoming more and more progressive, as the Americans are going the other direction in terms of censoring films. I have been working on some essays regarding these differences, doing research to try and find some explanations. I plan to bring you some of my findings in the future, but for now I thought it might be useful to lay out the rules of the ratings, with a little more detail than you might get off their website. 

The American film ratings system, as we know it today, has been around since 1968. The Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA) gives the ratings and they began as follows: G for general audiences, M for mature audiences, R for restricted audiences and X for adult audiences only. Two years after the system was implemented, PG was added and PG-13 came out in 1984 when it was determined that PG movies had become too violent and inappropriate for younger viewers. X rated films were acceptable to audiences, one going as far as to win the Best Picture Academy Award in 1969 (Midnight Cowboy) but over time the porn industry adopted the symbol and the sophistication factor of the X rated film disappeared. 1990 brought the final change that most directly clashes with the British system and that perhaps has had the greatest affect on adult films. It even makes it hard to use the term “adult film” because now that commonly only refers to pornography. In 1990 the X rating was officially changed to NC-17 but the damage had already been done. Few distributors or exhibitors wanted to show films that were NC-17 and while it is not illegal for a film to be released unrated it is uncommon because of economic pressures. 

While the NC-17 is a dreaded rating in the United States, its British equivalent is not considered to be the kiss of death. The current British system, as determined by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is as follows: U for universal, PG for parental guidance, 12 for those over age 12, 15 for those over 15, 18 for adults only (no one younger than 18 is allowed in, parent present or not) and Restricted 18 (only screens in licensed theatres or sold in sex shops). The exact ages of the viewers is a little bit off but it is interesting to note that in the US children are allowed in to movies rated above their age group if they are with a parent. In the UK you must be of the rating age in order to even enter the cinema. In the 1950s the British were much stricter with their censorship, often cutting or editing films until deemed appropriate but in the decades following the limits have been greatly relaxed. In fact the NC-17 equivalent of R18 does not spell disaster for the filmmakers. It is even likely that the film rated NC-17 by the MPAA might only get an 18 rating from the BBFC. 

Another difference that should be noted, especially as it most directly relates to films of an adult nature, is that the MPAA rating is voluntary. Filmmakers need to pay for the MPAA to rate their film, and if they disagree with the rating awarded they must go through an appeals process. This is currently the case with the film Blue Valentine, which was given the unfair (according to the director) rating of NC-17. Thus, filmmakers can choose to release their films unrated but this is a risky option because many exhibitors will not show films that were not rated by the MPAA. In Great Britain the ratings systems is not voluntary, mostly because of laws pertaining to the film’s DVD release (which do require a rating), but it is accepted nonetheless. 

And there you have it. The MPAA and the BBFC. I hope this has been enlightening and will make you curious to read what I discover.