G, M, R, X? - The Origin of U.S. Film Ratings

Have you ever wondered how we arrived at the current film rating system in the United States? The current ratings are: G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, listed in order from general to restricted audiences. If you're interested in learning more about the history of these film ratings, read the full article below.

The origin of these film ratings actually began in 1930 with the Motion Picture Production Code [1], created by Will H. Hays, head of the Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association. With the invention of talking pictures in 1927, a need arose to regulate the content of films being produced. Take a look at the Provisions of the Code on Wikipedia for exact details. The code was heavily enforced for several decades, but weakened in the 1950's. By the late 1950's, television had arrived, so the film producers needed more incentives to get the public out of their homes and to the theaters. Also in the 1950's, foreign films were starting to be shown more often in the United States, and those films were not bound by the Production Code. By the mid 1960's, enforcement of the code had become impossible, so the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) began working on a film rating system [2] that went into effect in 1968.

Initially, the film ratings of 1968 were: G (general audiences), M (mature audiences), R (restricted - 16+), and X (17+). Then in 1970, M was changed to GP, since there was confusion between the content of M and R rated films. In addition, the age limit for R rated films was raised to 17 years old. in 1972, the GP rating changed again, this time to PG, with additions that some content may not be suitable for pre-teenagers. Later in that decade, the wording was changed to 'may not be suitable for children'.

In the summer of 1984, with the release of films like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Gremlins, a new rating of PG-13 was suggested after the PG rating of those films received a public outcry and many complaints. The new rating was created as an intermediate between PG and R rated films. In 1990, the X rating was replaced by NC-17. It was generally understood that X rated films were non-pornographic, but contained other adult content. However, the X rating was not copyrighted by the MPAA, so the perception gradually changed that X or XXX films were pornographic in nature.

Still to this day, NC-17 rated fims will not be advertised by many major media outlets or distributed by major retailers. It is often not profitable to release a film theatrically with a NC-17 rating, so many films are edited to get a R rating in theaters. Films will sometimes later have a "Director's Cut" when released on homve video, adding in additional scenes that were not shown in the theaters.

Film trailers have ratings as well, from Green Band trailers for general audiences; Yellow Band trailers for age-appropriate audiences; and Red Band trailers for restricted audiences. Most of the trailers you see in theater previews are green, with the occasional red trailer only shown before R or NC-17 films.

Sources:
[1] Motion Picture Production Code
[2] Motion Picture Association of America film rating system