MPAA
Motion Picture Association of
America
Films are rated for US theatrical showings and video
formats by the MPAA.
The MPAA is a trade organisation, not a state censor.
Ratings are voluntary and are not sanctioned by US law. Distributors can
opt out of MPAA ratings and release the film MPAA Unrated.
The MPAA are also very active in actions against film
piracy.
The MPAA established the modern ratings under the
presidency of Jack Valenti
MPAA Presidents:
- Jack Valenti 1966-2004
- Dan Glickman 2004-2010
-
Chris Dodd 2011-present
MPAA Ratings:
- G: General Audiences: All ages admitted
- PG: Parental Guidance: Some material may not be suitable for children
- PG-13: Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13
- R: Restricted: Under 17 requires accompanying parent or
adult guardian
[in UK terms = 17A]
- NC-17: No one 17 and under admitted
[in UK terms = 18]
- Unrated, not an MPAA rating but a distributor opt out
Previously there was an X rating which was replaced by
the NC-17 in 1990. Distributors could also opt for this X rating without
submitting the film for rating. This opt out was commonly used by porn
distributors and the X rating became associated with porn. The
replacement NC-17 is only available for films submitted to the MPAA.
The NC-17 is commercially unattractive as many
theatres and a few retailers consider themselves 'family friendly'
and therefore refuse adults-only material.
MPAA's film rating department is called
Classification and Rating administration (CARA)
Websites:
MPAA
Corporate
CARA
Melon Farmers News:
US Censorship News
ESRB
Entertainment Software Ratings Board ESRB is a US trade
organisation that assigns the age and content ratings displayed on all
computer and video games, enforces marketing guidelines, and advises on
online privacy issues.
ESRB Ratings:
- EARLY CHILDHOOD (EC) Content that may be suitable for ages 3 and
older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
- EVERYONE (E) Content that may be suitable for ages 6
and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy
or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
- EVERYONE 10+ (E10+) Content that may be suitable for
ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon,
fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive
themes.
- TEEN (T) Content that may be suitable for ages 13
and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive
themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or
infrequent use of strong language.
- MATURE (M) Content that may be suitable for persons
ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence,
blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. This
category is particularly designed to ensure that the most adult possible
can be sold at many supposedly 'family friendly' retailers who refuse to
stock adults only titles
- ADULTS ONLY (AO) Content that should only be played
by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include
prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and
nudity. Many US retailers refuse to carry AO titles
- RATING PENDING (RP) Titles have been submitted to
the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in
advertising prior to a game's release.)
Websites:
ESRB
Melon Farmers News:
US Censorship News
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