January 11, 2006
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Movie Ratings
I think I may be the only person in America that actually follows the movie ratings. My oldest is 12 and he wants to watch PG-13 movies. I told him he is not 13 yet. I also told him when he is 13 he is not going to see every PG-13 movie. In fact, I doubt I will let him see very many at all.
I let him watch Spiderman because it wasn’t that bad. It was rated PG-13. I let my younger son watch it too even though he was I think only 7 at the time. I can’t believe what they put in movies these days. I did let my oldest watch the “Passion” also. He was 9-10 at the time.
All of his friends from school are watching PG-13 and Rated R material. When I was younger my parents didn’t let us watch very much of anything. I went to a friend’s house and watched a few movies that were Rated R. But by in large because of their rule I had less exposure to it. But I think standards have changed so much.
What is the appropriate age for a child to begin watching PG-13 and Rated R material?
Comments (173)
1st
At least 25.
top 5!
Boy, you went 11 entire hours without posting. You must have had the shakes from withdrawl.
My parents let me watch that stuff as long as i was with them. Looking back on it, i can’t believe that they let me!
I’m 17 and my parents still think I should be watching PG.
(I’ve watched R movies since I was five and I haven’t let the negative affect me.)
Most children could not handle it though… so I’d say 12ish for pg-13 and 15 for R.
haha… well not 10 for sure… i watched “attack of the killer clowns” gaaahh..!!
[and i think it was "aliens" that i watched at 8. it was whatever movie that at the end the woman had three babies (one good, one evil, and one alien). now that was nightmares for years...]
Yeah, I did not follow the ratings either ….
Pg-13=13, R=18 I would say.
When they are ready, and that varies from child to child, also from parent to parent. I will allow my 10-year-old to watch some rated R content, and yet won’t allow my 17-year old to watch some rated R content.
We live in a PG-13 household, so PG-13 doesn’t bother me a bit. My kids know not to repeat the foul language. If they can’t handle this, then no more PG-13.
I do preview R movies before allowing the kids to watch. And we usually either discuss it afterwards or during the movie (DVD’s can be paused)
But when the child is ready, he is ready.
every movie is different
Movies that are rated PG-13 and R contain much worse material than movies made 20 years ago that got the same rating. the classic musical “Annie” was and still is rated R. I’ve watched the movie and today it would be rated G. that’s a huge jump and decline in our morals.
To by today’s standards, what age is appropriate to watch PG-13 and R rated movies?
……..Much older than 13
I think it depends on the movie. I’ve seen rated R movies that weren’t as bad as some PG movies were. My parents followed the ratings a little, but usually they just watched the movie first if it was something I really wanted to see.
My little brothers-in law were watching Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer when they weren’t even 10 and they had nightmares. I never understood why their parents let them watch that.
I think it depends on the child, on the movie, whether the rating is for sexual innuendos, language, violence. A great site for movie reviews is http://www.pluggedinonline.com
I don’t think a child should be allowed to watch Rated R movies until 14-17…. depending on the movie.
My parents still don’t like me watchiing PG-13 and R rated movies, even now.
I think a lot depends on the movie, which is why it’s nice that underneath the rating, there is usually a short couple of words about why it got that rating. i.e. “violence, mild language, etc.”
So parents really need to look at the movie, and decide if that’s alright. Personally, violence isn’t that big of a deal to me, as long as a child can recognize that it’s fiction. Language isn’t a problem, because I think most swear words are just a foolish taboo. Sex is a little more iffy, because when a kid is young, they think it’s icky, but as they reach their teens and hormones start working and such, it probably becomes even more “dangerous” for them to see and accept it as the norm.
I’m guilty of allowing my 12 year old watch pg 13 and some R movies..it just depends on the movie really. As long as I watch it with her then I know what she can see and what she can’t.
i didn’t start watching R rated movies until i moved away from home. i was probably 19. i think instead of looking at the ratings, it’s good to watch what your child wants to watch first. or offer to watch with them… if it’s no good they probably will decline the offer and drop the subject, you know? my favorite movie is still sound of music and that’s pg:)
Unfortunately, too often the ratings aren’t very reliable. There are PG movies I wouldn’t allow my younger siblings to watch, but some PG-13 I would and have.
I don’t think you can pick an age and go solely by the ratings. Though I realize it’s more difficult for the parents, you usually need to go on a case-by-case basis, as you described.
I didn’t let my kids watch R movies for the longest time. I think they were both around 15 when I allowed it. PG-13, well, if I researched it and found the reasons for the -13 I would make a judgement call. There are several great websites for parents to check out movies before they allow the kiddies to see them. Kids In Mind and Parents Television Council. Both are excellent.
My parents wouldn’t let me watch Dirty Dancing until I was older..just because it had the word dirty in the title..
lol.. Becky
R is 17 officially, I think, right? In Tennessee, you have to be 18.
I personally think 17 for R and 11 for PG-13.
The ratings mean nothing…I think if your a concerned parent you need to watch the movie first…there were many times that I was watching a pg13 movie and had to close my kids eyes or fast forward the movie…be proactive….
PG13=13 and R=15
In general I would say 13 for PG-13 and 17 for R. For PG, just have an adult present. There are exceptions, certainly. I’d go younger for the Spider-Man movies, and younger for R movies like Schindler’s List and The Passion of the Christ. And sometimes the rating undersells the objectionable-ness of the movie, and in those cases I’d go even older if I allow them to watch at all. As parent, I’m not just protecting them from bad content, but teaching them to discern for themselves what entertainment options are good.
Whatever age you say it is, if its your kid. As for me, its a function of maturity. If I don’t want it in my head, I don’t want in his. And vice versa.
I believe that it’s on a case by case basis. There are movies that I wouldn’t let my little brother watch when I took him, and there were some I would never have taken him to. But we can not always shelter our family. There comes a point when they must be able to make their own decisions. If he came to me with valid reasons for wanting to see something that I believe was too graphic, I probably would let him.
I remember my Mom wouldnt let us watch 3′s Company. Movies these days arent appropriate for anyone. I have to limit myself on what I agree to go see…its poison.
Depends on the child.
I think the appropriate age SHOULD be 13. However, I think most of us have become so desensitized to the violence and content in most movies that really isn’t healthy for ANY of us to really be watching…that we don’t even see where the “bad” parts of the movie are, and we allow our children to watch them long before they are mature enough to handle the content. I think for the most part, this desensitizing explains the problems with the rebellion, violence, anger, and inappropriate behaviors of children these days…
If kids watch these movies before they are emotionally ready to handle any content that they’ve never been exposed to, the parents need to sit down with the kids and explain to them the difference between real life and movies, and how people are not to behave in the manner or do the innapropriate things that are in the movie they are going to watch or have watched. I also think it’s important for parents to screen movies before they allow their younger kids to watch them…I’ve even seen some PG movies that had content I was offended by. Imagine what it does to kids…and we’re not even realizing it.
It depends on the child (and their individual sensibilities), why the movie is rated PG-13 or R (is it violence, sexual content, language….) and whether or not you will be there with them to explain anything that you feel needs to be explained. In short – there is no set answer. I’ve seen R-rated movies that I’d let my children watch before some PG-13 movies ….. (Well – my youngest, now…. The older two are teens and watch just about anything I do….)
And Attack of the Killer Clowns is the scariest movie EVER.
It really depends on the movie.
*Killer Klowns from Outer Space
It really depends on the movie. I’d have to see it first before letting my kids watch it then decide
My parents were concerned with that as well and I wasn’t exposed to movies that weren’t appropriate. I’m always amazed to see parents bring little kids into R rated movies. They may not understand sexual undertones and more subtle factors but some scenes can be down right disturbing.
It depends on the subject matter of the film. I at 34 do not watch too many R rated films. I let my 7 year old watch Lord of the Rings a PG13
It depends alot on the movie…. when it comes to some R rated movies I think it also depends on the person…. some people can’t handle certain things like extreme violence and gore, for example, while others can without a problem. As far as PG13 goes…. I think that rating is a very broad one, but in general usually 12 or 13.
I think it depends on the movie. I have a 15 year old and a 10 year old. I watch the movie before them or with them. I have let my 10 year old see PG-13 movies, but it just depends. I won’t let the 15 year old see R rated.
It seems to me that all of the standards for those movies have changed. The content that constitutes a PG-13 rating is much different now than it was, say, 15 years ago when I was “young and impressionable.”
I don’t have an answer to this one. I’m just glad I don’t have children yet. Then again, I’m sure movies will only get racier and gorier the longer my husband and I delay reproduction. Sigh.
I’m commenting today because I actually read all of your posts on blogging yesterday. I, too, saw that article on blogging in USAToday. It was a little mind-numbing to me, actually. Granted, it focused mainly on MySpace and teens, but all those numbers shocked me. I guess that’s why many advertisers are setting up free MySpace and Xanga accounts. It’s like an advertising gold mine to reach the teen set. As a newspaper professional, I wonder where my job will go when all the advertising dollars are spent online.
Just wanted to raise a few more questions to the three you raised, I guess. Good posts.
I am too easy with this. I do not let my 8 year old watch much pg-13 but I DID let him watch spiderman and star wars. I say you are about right.
My best friend from the time was 11 … has gone by the movie rating.
She’s 25 and she just went and saw her first Rated R movie AT the theatre (she had seen them at home already.)
I would stick with the rules, 13 for pg-13, 18 for R. My parents definitly didnt allow me to watch rated R movies for a long time, but I was allowd occasionaly, but only if they were in the room and they would tell me when to close my eyes during a certain part.
But you’re right, alot of PG-13 movies should be rated R. I remember one time when my friend’s younger sister watched a movie called “Bring it on” and I just thought, “This is what is standard for PG-13 now?” Times have definitly changed.
It ought to be the parent who decides, based on the movie and the maturity of the child.
Oh Dan! Do you think you are a little over protective? I guess it depends on the kids. But most kids are going to see and hear a lot worse at school than they do at home. And there is no way to protect them from it!
Let me explain my reasoning on being less protective of my children.
When I was growing up, my mother was a complete innocent. They tried to protect us and not let us see certain things. We did whatever we wanted away from home, and knew so much more than either of my parents would have ever imagined. So when I had the girls, I decided that I would not censor them, with the exception of certain things. Do I let them watch porn? NO! But rated R they do see. I watch with them, and answer certain questions that have come up. Mild nudity is not a big deal unless you make it a big deal. Of course I have girls. And there is a difference there. It’s not a big deal for us to see half naked women. But there aren’t a lot of movies out there with men running around with their stuff showing, is there. So I guess with boys you do have a somewhat different outlook on it.
My son will be 14 and I still will not let him see all PG13 movies. And when it comes to R rated ones, he has only seen one. I did rent Passion of the Christ and we watched it together. I guess it really depends on the type of movie.
i think with the right supervision it would be ok. plus kids have to realize that movies are just movies and not real life. if ur child is mature enough to handle what is being shown then i think it would be ok to watch pg13 movies.
In most cases, that stuff shoul never be wattched in the first place
For a boy – 25. For a girl – 18. But then I am old school.
L,r
The rating system is a GUIDE to follow and nothing more. I’ve seen some movies rated PG-13 that I think should have been rated R.
You are not the only one who doesn’t allow his/her kids to watch any movie they want. When my kids were younger (18 and 19 now) I use to try and find out all I could about a movie before we would go. I used some of the family-friendly movie review websites that tell you in detail what was in the movies with regards to swearing, nudity, violence, questionable activies, etc. I would even go see some movies alone first to see if the content was acceptable.
My kids didn’t always like it, but I know it was worth it. My kids first real horror movie, for example, was “Halloween H20″ back in 1998. My kids were 10 and 11. The ONLY reason they saw it was because there was a good chance a local drive-in was going to close (it finally did this year) and up till that summer, my kids had never been to a drive-in. We wanted them have that experience so we were doing movies alot that summer. Also, while watching the movie, my wife and I did the ‘hands over the eyes’ deal whenever we suspected anything questionable was going to happen. In comparison, I knew many kids who were feeding on a steady diet of horror movies from the time they were three. My kids had a LOT LESS nightmares than these other kids.
Appropriate age? Depends on the child and why the movie has the rating…
I think that alot of it depends on the content of the movies,
I was allowed to see war movies that were rated PG-13 and R
far earlier than I was allowed to see other material.
In my family gore and language were far more acceptable than
sex and horror.
Depends on the child and on the movie content. Some kids are mature enough to handle thematic stuff at younger ages. My parents weren’t too strict with PG-13, although there were a few I wasn’t allowed to see. I also could not see R movies until I turned 17, with the exceptions of The Matrix and The Passion. My parents have a system that works pretty well — they have realized that movie ratings are basically bull, so they base their descisions more on content. Now that I’m 17, I can watch whatever I want. They’ve told me their standards, and they trust my decisions. My younger brother is being given the same freedoms that I have — there’s only a 16 month difference between us, so my parents generally let us do things at the same time. Not entirely fair, but he’s pretty mature for his age, so I don’t mind much.
My oldest is 10 and he watches all the movies I watch. It is a bit hypocritical to watch something myself that isn’t appropriate for the rest of my family. I do watch an occasional R movie. With explanation, son can handle anything I can. The problem with movie ratings is that they are misused so often. G-rated stuff is adulterated with bad words or violence in order to get a PG or Pg-13 rating because cynical movie-makers don’t believe anyone will come to a G-rated movie. And too often that assessment is correct. My children all loved the new Star Wars movie, and the Chronicles of Narnia. I didn’t get to see the Truman Capote biopic because I couldn’t justify taking a child to a movie about writing a book based on the lives of murderers. Movie ratings are not worth anything to those of us who really want to teach our children morality. We have to be active viewers and watch movies with our children. I’m sorry if I am preaching. It sounds to me like most of you agree with me anyway.
I think…it depends on the movie..^^
PG-13 movies 10 or so.
R- 15ish depends how mature the kid is.
Amanda
depends on the child and on the movie. Some movies are PG-13 because of the comments/jokes but the younger kids don’t get them. My 11 year old loves the James Bond movies he owns all of them. He knows the violence is just pretend and the sexual comments/scenes he just ignores, he is fasinated by the gadgets and intrigue. Parents know each of their children and how they react to situations in movies.
i follow the rules. but even then, it depends on what kind of movie. there are a lot of good r-rated movies out there but lots of the rated r movies are nothing less than just soft porn.
It’s different here in the UK.
We have a U certificate, which is suitable for all, PG, 12, 15 and 18.
Most PG-13′s in the US I have noticed are just PG’s over here, but some end up being 12′s. I think its because Europe views some things (like nudity) as less scandalous. A woman can go full frontal in a PG if it’s not sexual. But in America that’s an instant R. It’s all about the culture I guess…
i know a family who dubs the good movies but take out the bad language and nude scenes. however, is that illegal? anyway, i heard that there’s a company who does that now… forgot the name.
You are very strict Dan! Your morals are old fashion. I think that is good but I also think your kids might be too sheltered.
Overall I’d say 17 for R and 13 for PG-13. However, some movies can be exceptions if the parent previews it first. (I agree with randomneutralfirings about Spiderman and the others.) There are also some R movies that are worse than your typical R movie (Hostel for example.), and some PG-13 that should be R (can’t think of any, but I know I’ve seen some). Overall you just have to be aware as a parent. Read reviews and then if in doubt preview it before you let your child see it.
Lately, PG-13 movies have been worse than R rated movies. It’s ridiculous that they can put whatever trash in there that they want to for teenagers to see. Meh.
i’m totally strict about what my child watches. If there is any doubt, I watch it first without him. I try to stick to only G rated and a few PG, depending on the movie. There is no “right” age. When I think he can handle it, I’ll let him watch.
Yes, when you perpetually take up most if not all of the top 5 Featured slots, plus often then some, it would make sense that your eProps would increase.
I disagree with the rating system. There are some R movies that I would let a 10 year old watch, and some PG movies have humor in them that I’m ashamed to be lauging at myself. To me, the PG-13 category seems to have the highest concentration of inappropriate content.
Depends on the movie and the child . . .
I havn’t seen anyone post this fact but…
US movie ratings have no government backup – technically anyone of any age can watch any movie at the theatre by themselves. A 10 year old boy can walk up by himself, try to buy a rated R ticket, be turned down, sue for discrimination, and then win. I worked at a movie theatre, we had to let anyone see whatever they wanted if they just complained enough about it. Or else we could be liable.
God Bless the Cinema.
I would say that much of the material in PG-13- and R-rated movies isn’t worth adults viewing, much less children.
It depends on the movie. My sons watch some pg 13 movies. But its up to me to view the content. If i think they can handle a situation.. then yes. There was this one movie -can’t remember the name of it, but it was pg 13 and it had some sexaul stuff in it. My husband and I told them to close thier eyes and ears. and when it was over.. they resumed watching the movie.
Christina
i think it depends on the child- that’s why establishing a connection is soo important
I think the ratiings system needs a serious overhaul. There are too many things in PG-13 movies that simply are not appropriate for 13 year olds and most of those movies should be rated R. Some movies are fine, like Spiderman, but there are just too many others that aren’t. For me, I probably won’t base my decision of whether my child can watch a movie on the ratings. I’ll probably base my decision on what I think is best. I don’t want to be watching a movie with my kid that makes me feel uncomfortable: lots of sexual references and that kind of thing.
Read my entry for January 8th. I think you’ll find it interesting. Now I have to read your comments!
I don’t think that all movies are rated equally, as for sexual content, language, drugs, etc.
My parents were really strict and never let us watch R rated movies as my friend’s parents did so I’d watch them at my friend’s house.
This is purely, purely reliant on the material of the film itself. Some R-Rated flicks I think are perfectly fine for seven-year-olds if they’re cool with zombies and such (like Army of Darkness, which I first viewed at age 6) and the parent doesn’t mind the kid seeing a bit of swearing. It’s all in WHY the movie is rated why it is. I’m sure there are some PG-13 movies out there that I wouldn’t allow most 12-year-olds to see, and some R-rated flicks that I wouldn’t allow any fifteen-year-old to see. Hell, there are some R-rated flicks that I wouldn’t allow some 20-year-olds to see, simply because the material could be too sophisticated for them.
There’s a movie called “Grave of the Fireflies.” It’s anime, and unrated, but placed in the Children’s Film section a lot of the time. It’s not like the film includes any sex, swearing, or violence (or at least no violence beyond the standard G/PG fare), but the film itself is one of the most powerful, moving, and sorrowful tales I’ve ever experienced through any medium. If the movie ever got rated, it would probably get a PG rating, a PG-13 at worst. However, due to the extremely intense emotional content, I wouldn’t allow most people under the age of fifteen to see it.
It’s most definitely NOT a children’s film.
If I’m judging whether or not something is good for my sister to see (I’m only eighteen, she’s nine), I go see it with my father first. If we agree that it’s okay (as we did for Spiderman), then my sister’s free to see it. If we don’t (like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), then she doesn’t see it.
This was especially important with Harry Potter. Many, many friends of my parents took their children to see it, COMPLETELY ignoring the PG-13 rating. Afterwards, the almost unanimous opinion was, “If I’d known it was like that, I would have never taken my kids to see it.”
As always, the responsibility lies with the parents.
This is especially important for video games, but I think that’s been done too many times already, despite being ignored every time…
My friend got upset because I bought her 8 year old boy Black Beauty. When he opened it, she mouthed to me ‘The horse dies’. I said “so”. This same friend does not think anything of taking her 13 year old daughter to see psycho movies or R rated movies. In fact, she has been doing it since her daughter was 6. Apparently it’s ok for kids to watch a human get their head cut off with a chainsaw, yet not to see a horse die a non-violent death.
Yeah, ratings don’t mean much always — screen it if you want to filter out what you consider objectionable.
The rating system here in the states is so terrible, PG-13 is such a vauge rating, most really have very few ‘controversial’ or offenseive points, but in rare moments, I do believe a parent should not let a kid go watch these movies.
Rated R movies should be open to kids who aren’t psycho and that really don’t invovle alot of sexual content.
But on the other hand, I believe the parent should be teaching the kids whats right and wrong, and the general messages from theses films. It should not be the duty of the government.
I’ve been watching pg-13 movies forever…
R movies… eh, 15? Depending on the film earlier…
I think now parents should preview just about everything before letting their kids watch it and be sure to discuss with them the aspects of pop culture that are represented in such a great light on the screen. Even movies like the Princes Diaries (either G or PG) shows teens making out passionately. That’s not a big deal to everyone, but maybe you don’t want your 10 year old thinking that’s what all normal teens should do. moviemom.com is another review site. She mentions EVERYTHING that could be offensive to people with even the strictest standards, like a beer bottle sitting on the table and rock music playing. That’s a bit much for most, but it certainly lets you know what’s in the show.
my parents viewed the movie first and made their own ratings. If they thought it needed parental guidance and but was only a G rating, they would watch it with us. If they thought we were ok to see a PG13 movie alone, we could see it by ourselves.
It really depends on what is in the movie. Like my parents do not care that i watch a rated R movie if it’s relating to a historical event like Passion of Christ, The Patriot, Schindler’s List, etc. I truly believe the because of the crap that is being put in PG-13 movies that you should be like 14-15 years old to watch PG-13 movies and honestly it’s your choice if you want to watch rated R movies when you become an adult, which is like 18 years old. Society today put’s so much junk in movies that it wouldn’t even matter if it’s rated PG it would still have adult events in it. A good example of this is when Shrek was rated PG but had cussing and adult humour and then the second one i believe was PG-13. Also the movie Ants had cussing and adult humour in it and it was rated PG as well. Today’s society is exposing children to this junk and it is becoming a great concern for me. I’m afraid that when I get married and have kids that the movies will end up being a dangerous thing to expose my children too because the material that is being aloud in these movies.
*^^*Brittley*^^*
One other thing. The ratings are absured. Sex in the City (on HBO, where it’s beed edited) is rated for T14. The’ve cut out the nudity and bleeped out the F word, but they still sleep with anyone and everyone they want to, have adulterous affairs, and mention oral sex repeatedly. Does anyone really think that a 14 year old should be watching that? What would it benefit him/her? Then again, what does the show benefit anyone? Just a thought.
in general, i’d say the current age-restrictions on ratings are correct. whether or not movies are rated appropriately is a different matter. but, yeah, i look older than i am, so i was sneaking into rated-r movies before i was 17. and i don’t remember when my parents let me see pg-13. probably when i was around 13 or if they were there also.
it should be up to the individual parents. most kids are not mature enough to view rated R movies and shouldn’t be allowed to till age 16 or 17. pg-13….i’d say a mature 13 year old should be able to see it.
p.s. i like old fashioned morals. =)
I would have to say that the content would effect that decision, just as you pointed out with Spiderman. Many PG-13 seem to have been poorly rated, having content that I don’t believe appropriate for younger teenagers. As for rated R, I believe the same answer applies. As stated by others, some movies have an historical aspect that can make the movie worthwhile to allow teenagers to view. Many have worked to earn their rating, making them rather wasted movies to me.
It depends on the child. I am rather strongly against sheltering children; those who are sheltered can’t be exposed to many of the things their peers can, and can’t handle new things as well. For a child who is treated as an adult, and expected to behave accordingly, from a young age, I believe most films are valid as viewable from the age of ten onward. Some PG-13 and R-rated movies should be witheld until they are at least fourteen, but that’s the limit.
Let him watch the movies. My parents weren’t very strict with what we were allowed to see. I remember going to see R movies with them all the time. My values and the decisions I made were influenced by my family and not what I saw on TV or a movie. Even as a child, I never understood wanting to be like a movie star or a character on a movie. I wanted to be me.
Erika
Depends on the content of the movie.
Like my parrents wont let me watch anything that has sexual content in it.
But blood and gore they don’t really care about…
I find one thing odd- You let your 9 yearold son watch a INCREDIBLY graphic, and gruesome movie (Passion) but you are iffy about letting your 12 yearold son watching a few PG-13 movies? Obviously as the parent, you know what your child can handle… I just think that Passion is just to much for a child that young.
I agree, the stuff they put in PG-13 movies these days is just too much. I think that 12 is a fine age to start watching PG-13 movies. However, Not every one by any means! And with supervision.
Have a good week =)
I think it depends on the child and on the movie. I watched all kinds of things when I was with my parents. They’d tell me when to close my eyes, when to leave the room, etc. But they had firmly established a sense of right and wrong in me so I knew what was appropriate to watch and what wasn’t. I watch pretty much anything now, but I’ve turned off a lot of movies because I was disgusted with the content.
It depends on the content. Why is it rated R? I remember our parents never hesitated to take us to movies like Terminator when we were in gradeschool, because the R rating came from violence, and we knew it was a movie and that we really shouldn’t go around trying to kill each other. However, there were PG-13 movies my parents wouldn’t allow me to see when I was fifteen, due to sexual content or something like that. Besides, who at 15 wants to watch a sex scene with your parents??
It really depends on the maturity of the kid and the movie, but I’d say PG-13 around age 13, R-rated movies between ages 16 and 18. But why let your kid watch the “Passion” at age 10, when it was such a graphic violent R-rated film, traumatic even for adults in some cases… and then not let him watch a PG-13 movie at the same age?
And I agree w prowlinglunatic, Grave of the Fireflies was a great movie, but definitely not children’s material…
13…as the Parental Guidance says. That was the rule we used
Depends on the kid. Depends on the parents. As a teacher, I can tell you some 10 year olds are more mature that some 16 year olds, so I don’t think you could just say THIS age is THE age.
It depends. I personally haven’t seen Passion of the christ because I have a hard time with violence. Some PG-13 might just be because someone does drugs or is gay. If those things are shown to be difficult and not glamorous, see I wouldn’t have a problem with it. OTOH, some PGs have what I consider too much violence and acting out, kwim?
At some point, though, your son needs to be brought into the decision making process even if you disagree or he won’t make good decisions on his own. Watch a questionable movie together and talk about how it makes you both feel vs. another movie you both love that has good values.
I look more for values than I do nakedness or specifically what people are doing.
i doubt a 10 year old would win a lawsuit (regarding previous comment). It would be thrown out of court.
I’m fifteen, and i’m not allowed to watch R movies.I’ve been watching pg-13 since i was 8 (as far as i know). my parents frown at my 18 year old sister watching R. But, i do watch rated R movies at friends houses, so you can’t really win that battle.
It’s just a number. I say it really depends on whether or not your child can handle it or not. If your child is sensitive and you bring him/her to a scary movie (pg13), then you’re probably making a bad choice. If your child is 11 and you think they can handle a pg13 movie, then it’s no problem. Same with R movies.
I truly believe it depends on the child.
Just thought i would like to point out, although someone else may have already, that movies rated R in the United States are often rated PG13 in Canada. The opposite is nearly always true (Canada’s pg13 movies are rated R in the US). I also think that there SHOULD be more emphasis on violence as opposed to nudity and sex. It makes sense, not only because exposing younger children to violence desensitizes them to it, but because recent statistics show that almost 50% of 13 year olds have experinced some form of sexual contact. I’m not saying it’s right, but if they’ve experienced it first hand, why would they be shocked by seeing someone nude on a television screen.
That being said, most of the movies i saw when I was 13, I saw in theatres. Whether or not my parents wanted me to see them, I was going to go and they couldnt really stop me.
Just a few thoughts.
I was close to 16 before I went to a PG 13, I still don’t see all of them because of all the crap they put in them. I don’t see R at all. I’d rather not expose myself to the sort of stuff that makes them R. I figure I can always get an edited version if I’m that worried about seeing it. (Like Braveheart).
For R Rated movies, the answer is NEVER.
For PG-13 movies, I’d say about twelve or thirteen, as it suggests.
pg-13…around 15 or 16….rated r around 17,18
I would say about 11, maybe 10 for PG-13 movies. I’ve been seeing PG-13 movies all my life because my sister was a teenager when I was born, but all the jokes went over my head until I was much older. Same with R rated movies, I don’t think I ever fully understood an R rated movie that was rated R for something other than violence until I was about 12, but I would say 14 because that’s the age most people start high school, and we’ve been required to watch lots of rated R movies in my high school since we were freshmen.
I saw my first PG-13 rated movied at about 5 or 6 whenever Titanic came out, and then I saw my first R rated movie at maybe age 10 or so, most of the R rated movies I have seen were rated R for violence, language (I have many CDs with Parental Advisories for explicit content, so my parents don’t really care about that matter) or drug use, and not sexual content.
Ok, so now I have a question for you, as we all know, it’s easier for kids to get a hold or and or listen to music than movies. What would you do if you son A) came to you and asked for a CD that contained drug use descriptions, extreme language, sexual content or anti-church messages or B) you found out that he was listening to these CDs without you permisson. Personally, I believe that what I child listens to, in many ways doesn’t affect them as much as what they see and even experience in their own homes, so I would not object to my child listening to any of those things, unless they began to exhibt that behavior. I was just wondering what you thought about that.
I think a lot of those ratings are ridiculous. I watched many an R movie before I was 17, including in theatres, and I turned out more or less normal, still knowing what the difference between inappropriate, and appropriate.
Well I watched Lord of the Rings (PG 13) when I was 12, and that wasn’t too bad. I also went to see Troy (R). And I had no problems with it. There was nudity but I don’t remember any sort of obvious exposure of any parts, no concentration on woman’s breats, any of that sort. If there was, I didn’t notice.
But I feel like these movies, or at least their stories have a little more depth to them than those movies with all this violence and guns and big explosions and cursing and explicit sex scenes and all of that. I mean, someone could find that sort of stuff interesting, but is it necessary to move the plot foward, to watch them have sex? No. Does it need to have huge firey explosions and buff looking guys with a cut across the forehead and some black leather jacket running for their lives (or for the girl)? No. Does there need to be cursing to express frustration? No. But that’s just the way society seems to be right now. And I’m not saying it’s a good thing just because the majority go for it.
It really depends on what it’s rated for, not the rating itself; I mean, the movie-raters are complete idiots. Honestly. I could rate better than them.
I’ve seen many R movies that I would consider to be PG movies if I were to rate them. Then of course there are also some PG-13 movies that I would rate X.
In my opinion, if you’ve tought your children right, they will know that they shouldn’t be watching it if they decide to watch it, and they will more than likely make wiser decisions in the future.
A TV Guardian really helps with watching movies/television at home, because it filters out bad language. It only costs around $50.00 and you can buy one from HERE.
Nicholas
Depends on the movie and the child.
pg-13: 10 years old. R: 13 years old.
i watched terminator 2 when i was 5
peace max
PG-13, 13 and R at least 18
pg-13 when they are 13…i would wait until 15-16 for SOME R rated movies, but I would probably watch them first to make sure they are ok.
doesnt really matter.. most movies are just like violence that make it high rating for age.. those movies are ok for kids. like the movies wif porn or sex in them arnt appropriate..
I think it depends heavily on the movie and the parents, but I suppose
PG-13…around 11 or 12 R…13 or so.
I was watching PG-13 when I was like…eight.
And as for R, well, I saw the Breakfast Club was I was real little, and that’s R rated… and those Rambo movies, too… but those aren’t bad. Nowadays… lol… I’d say 13.
Eh..weell..I’m 16..and i def. wasn’t allowed to watch PG-13 till i was 13 either…nor willl i be allowed to watch R movies till i’m 17…lame? at times…buut..i dunno I watch them anyway so i don’t care much…like my parents don’t ever know of course…buutt…i’d say junior high for pg-13 and like 9th or 10th grade for R..i hate using ages b/c it’s dumb…i’m a high school junior…but i won’t be 17 till i’m a senior…but i’m supposed to be a sophomore…so like..if my mom had set some rule that i had be like 15…it wouldn’t have made sense b/c i could have been starting my sophomore or starting my freshman…big diff there. soo…yeah i’m anti age and pro-grade level. *please excuse my random tangent…that’s def. a pet peeve of mine*
Soooo many PG-13 movies are more appropriate than they let on. And R movies have never been a problem in my mind, but I also could tell from the synopsis of a movie if it was something that I would want to watch, if I could handle it.
Eva.
pg13 at 10, R at 13
PG-13 13
R 17
Maybe teenagers wouldn’t cuss so much if they weren’t exposed to it as often.
Depends on the movie.
I was not allowed to watch PG-13 until I was actually 13. My younger brothers got to see PG-13 before they turned 13. My youngest brother was watching R movies when he was 13. I would say 16 is appropriate for R movies, and maybe 12 appropriate for PG-13, but then it would also depend on the content of the movie. If it’s rated such for language, not a big deal. If it’s rated such for gore and blatant sexual activity, that is a big deal.
Fluid.
I have no limitations…. I’ve been watching Rated R movies since I was 3…. It all depends on the child’s maturity, which mine was above all other children… that’s why I hate kids, I never understood them and I still don’t….
I think it depends on a lot of factors — the movie, the content, the maturity of the child…etc. I was raised pretty strictly regarding movies, which I don’t regret one bit. I firmly believe “garbage in, garbage out” and am of the opinion that much of what Hollywood puts out are not compatible with my values as a Christian — therefore I have to ask myself why should I watch it? I try to read reviews written from a Christian perspective, too (Plugged In, Christianity Today, etc.).
o come on dont be one of those parent who are like o my gosh my kid is gonna be a murder when he grows up if he sees this !!!! ITS A FREAKIN MOVIE!!!!let your kids deside on what they want to watch u have to let go like say they want to see a R rated horror well let them see it its gonna scare them to death then they wont want to see another R rated movie!
its as simple as that
12 for PG-13 and 15-16 for R.
Depends on Maturity and Life experiences.
I guess 10 and up would be pretty good for PG-13, and as for R’s, 13 and up.
But this is a kid you’re talking to.
it depends on the movie
r-14/15
pg-13 -7
It’s entirely maturity-dependent. Before mine turned 17, I screened the movies she wanted to see – or at least went to the parent websites and checked contents.
Depends on how mature the child is, like the store thing. I watched PG-13 movies when I was 8, at least. And I can watch R now, and I’m 13. The same is with all my friends. And my cousin Eric (who is 3 years younger than me) was watching PG-13 movie when I was allowed (only because I was there though).
I don’t think mature movies have an effect on children. As long as the kids understand that their parents will beat the shit out of them if they replicate any of the behavior they see in the movies, like my mother did, everything will be fine.
I think it depends on the maturity of the child and how the parent feels.
PG-13 14 R 18
No one under the age of 18 should watch and R rated movie.
If they are Christian they should not watch it all.
Sweeeet
I believe it sort of depends on the maturity of the person.
Then again, I just saw pkpiano2′s comment, so I’d have to agree with them as well I suppose.
It depends on your moral values that you wish your children to inherit. Watch the movie first and if it is something that you would not mind your child watching and understanding then gtg. Dont rely on a lable be involved or they will go watch it a friends house anyway.
Good for you Dan. 1. for sticking to your guns and for watching out for you kids!!!
Well….I learned from my son. When watching cartoons together one day, when he was about 10, he said…”why are they advertising R rated movies on the Cartoons? Don’t they know there are kids watching this? I think they want kids to violate the law and go to these movies.” I agreed. We decided to write to the channel, etc. What a piece of blah blah we got! We did a minor effort of signatures. Then later, as this boy had made his committments for purity until marriage, he again said, “why do you watch R movies moma if you don’t want me to do it?” I thought about it. I don’t watch them anymore. Purity is too precious. Actually, we will watch a swartzenegger…but no more new ones of those now. And we are not in love with gratuitous violence, so we actually do this. Thank God we live in a society that values Rule of Law. Historyically, places that lived without this were pretty bad. Even today. It is worth it! all the best
You let your kids watch a film where Jesus Christ is beaten bloody and tortured for 2 hours? But you worry that they might see a woman’s breast?
How screwed up are you?
Release your children from your archaic, deluded moral standards. How else are they ever supposed to learn about what’s going on in the world?
Most adults shouldn’t be watching a lot of Rated R films.
Gabriel
it depends on maturity level, age wise, someone may be ready to watch PG-13 movies, or R movies, but if they cannot handle it mentally, they should not be watching them.
I don’t know if the t.v is what is causing children to kill and to serve Satan or not. But it has definatly had an effect on their imaginations. When I was a child, I played outside and used my mind. Now children spend hours in front of the t.v., computers and video games. The imagination is turned to poison. I really believe t.v. is the ruination of the world. The actors and actresses now have to alter their vain bodies to please the eye. God’s eye is only thing we need to please. He is watching us all be sure of that. So watch your children for him and guide them in the way he chose for us to.
pg13-13 R-16
I think 11-12′s an appropriate age for PG-13. I was watching R at that age, but then again I was a pretty mature child.
It depends on the kid.
Plus, you’re the parent.
its about maturity. its about weather his mind is still influential or not…i mean if your scared about what he will see youc an’t always control that…he’s gonna hear it somewhere. if he has good morals he’ll know when its right or wrong.. there are some movies though that are pg-13 and should be rated X. I think its just about good judgment calls.
I can’t believe you let a 9 year old watch the Passion. You just let them wast 2.5 hours of their precious life. That goes for everyone. Plus it’s UBER violent (and full of unnecessary violence). An 11 minute scene of somebody getting whipped with hooks on the ends… well, that’s just too much. Plus kids are so impressionable… showing them more adult-content movies makes them think that really is how the world works…
How about a geography board game about the idea for a worldwide highway?
Totally Random This Is.
I think it totally depends on the maturaty of the child and the individual movie. Some movies are rated PG-13 are comepletly harmeless while some are rated PG-13 and make even me blush!… My kids are 4, 7, 14 & 21… Of course I can’t control the 21y/o but I do monitor what the others watch… and will continue doing so. A lot of my 14 y/o’s friends get to watch anything that they want… I don’t agree with that at all.
It really depends on the movie itse;f, I would say. It depends why is it PG13 or R? But as a general rule, PG13= 13 or 14 and R = 17 or 18.
I don’t think it is the age that matters, but the level of maturity…..
I think its good that you care about what your kids watch. I know i’m glad that my parents limit what I see because there are things in movies that don’t need to be watched by anybody– especially kids. I’m thirteen and I still don’t watch some PG-13 movies bacause of the content. So no, you are not the only one who goes by the movies ratings.
No! It affects the way of thinking if you watch it when you are too young.
personally, i think there is a wide range in pg-13 movies. spiderman and spiderman 2 were fine. a lot rnt
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Maybe ten for some PG-13, by the time they’re 12 all PG-13, when they’re 15, R.
My parents were very liberal with me, I plan to be rather liberal with my own children- assuming I have children at all, which I’m not really planning on doing.
I think it depends what the rating is based on. My dad let me watch ‘The Life of Brian’ when I was six, but wouldn’t let me watch Psycho until I was 12. I don’t really agree with your choice to let your son watch ‘The Passion’, but I have no right to talk because I’m 14 and I’ve seen it. However, it was possibly the goriest movie I’ve ever seen. S
My dad made us wait until we were 13 to watch PG-13, and he still doesn’t think anyone should watch R-rated movies. That having been said… my older sister let me watch Speed (rated R for violence & language) at her apartment when I was about 10, and it didn’t affect me. On the other side though… Rent was PG-13, and I would not have wanted my 15-year-old niece to watch it.
5 years old for both. Reality is reality at any age. People fuck, swear, kill, and do evil things, that’s just what we do, and to shield a child’s eyes from the world is not only nonsensical, but also counterproductive.
Just because a movie is rated PG-13 or R doesn’t mean it’s bad. Spiderman and The Passion were your two examples, but they’re not the only ones. Do you use screenit.com? Not allowing your kids to watch PG-13 movies solely because they’re rated PG-13 (especially if one is twelve years old) sounds more than a bit tyrannical.
Of course, I may be a bit biased, as I am only fifteen myself…
I think a 12 year old can handle a PG-13 movie, maybe not rated R though. I was never allowed to watch a rated R movie and I’m still not allowed to go see them in theaters because I’m only 16 and can’t get in yet. I also think it depends on the maturity level of a kid. I have always watched rated R movies even if my parents never let me because I knew I could handle it.
As a general rule of thumb, you can follow the ages reccommended by the rating system. However, of course as many have pointed out, there are exceptions. Bear in mind that the PG-13 rating came around about 1985. So, some movies from that time rated R or PG really would be rated PG-13.
But of course, only you can be the best judge of what you feel is best for your kids, so if you have any doubts, you should personally watch it first.
i think it depends on what the content is…if its just violence and language, then about 9-10 for PG13 and 13 for R. I dont think violence has a negative impact on children and the language is so much worse in middle school anyway. But if it has sexual content, id say like 15-16 for R. or maybe even 17.
I watched “Chuckie” when I was really little and it still haunts me to this day.
Ratings are not reliable, as i have experianced. I think parents should preveiw movies before letting their kids watch it. Its up to the parents to decide what their child eats, why not control what they watch as well. Hopefully these parents will have a head on their shoudlers and be responsible about it.
Depends on the child and how realistic the parent IS about said child. My children watch all the violence, NO sex. We discuss violence as a REAL part of life; it is an ugly but real part. Sex, I have a different view on; my kids don’t even watch MTV (thank God).
My parents let me watch Rated PG-13 movies from when I was like 8 but R’s started like when I was like 11 or 12 and they thought it was ok just as long I was with them. I’m 14 now and my mom trusts me to watch things without really learning from them!
PG-13=10-12
R=14-16
The maturity of a child/teenager should be the deciding factor in whether or not he or she is allowed to see the movie discussed. But, the age should not be too far away. It really depends on the parent’s morals and beliefs whether or not they let their child see differently rated movies. I do, however believe there are limits to what kids should see.
- – > Ariana