Ratings on movies are based on what most American parents would consider the most appropriate, according to a film rating board appointed by the Classification and Rating Administration.
Criteria the rating board uses are theme, language, violence, drugs, nudity and sex. Ratings have nothing to do with quality.
G movies are for the General Audience. These films do not contain anything that should be considered offensive. Parents can feel at ease that their children aren’t exposed to nudity, sex, violence or language beyond everyday expressions.
PG movies suggest Parental Guidance. These movies may contain elements that some parents may not want to expose young children to. However, parents may be assured that there are no sexually explicit scenes or use of drugs. If nudity is present, these scenes are only brief and violence will not be more than moderate.
Movies rated PG-13 indicate that Parents should be Strongly Cautioned, especially for children under 13. These movies may contain drugs or occasional harsh language. Violence is still at a moderate level and contents of nudity will not be sexually explicit.
R rated movies are Restricted Under 17, unless accompanied by an adult.
These movies contain adult material, such as harsh language, violence, sex, drugs or an adult theme. Parents are strongly recommended to caution before allowing children see these movies.
NC-17 stands for No One 17 and Under Admitted. Movies rated at this level are not appropriate for children. This does not mean that these movies are pornographic, but they may sexually explicit. Sexual language and excessive violence can also be expected in movies rated NC-17.
A great way to see if a movie is okay for your child is to watch it from
beginning to end yourself. That way, you can see exactly what your child
would see, and decide for yourself. I would not recommend to rely on these ratings alone!
Stay Safe!