The Majority of Films Have Been Rated R Since the Inception of the MPAA
THR is reporting that a new report from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) shows that most movies have been given an R rating. This report comes on the heels of the MPAA’s 50th anniversary. Here’s a quick breakdown of the report:
29,791 films have been approved by the movie ratings board since it began in 1968
17,202 have been rated R
5,578 have been rated PG (Includes movies that used M and GP ratings)
4,913 have been rated PG-13
1,574 have been rated G
524 have been rated NC-17 (previously referred to as X)
It is important to note that the PG-13 rating was not added to the ratings system until 1984, which probably accounts for it taking third place. After all, in 2003, PG-13 was the second highest category with 186 films (645 were rated R that year). That’s a huge difference. What are your thoughts on these findings? I was shocked at how large the gap is between R and other ratings.
Current MPAA chairman, Charles Rivkin, had this to say in the report:
“My predecessor Jack Valenti created the MPAA ratings in 1968 amid mounting calls for censorship and the specter of government intervention. It is important to remember the context of the transformative year and decade for American life — the sexual revolution, Vietnam, political assassinations, racial strife — and how the expansion of mass media was seen as a threat by many corners of society.
Given the extraordinary changes in our culture, environment, entertainment and society over the past 50 years, this anniversary feels particularly hard-earned and special. We could point to many factors behind the ratings’ success, but the clearest of all comes directly from our founding mission: to maintain the trust and confidence of American parents.”
Joan Graves, MPAA senior VP and chair of the Classification and Ratings Administration said:
“We often find that when people have problems or issues with the ratings, they are based on misconceptions about our purpose and role. It is our hope that with the release of these materials, we can promote a greater understanding how the MPAA ratings serve parents, young audiences and filmmakers alike.”
What are your thoughts on all this?