Just what is the MPA? MPA stands for the Motion Picture Association (formally MPAA - the Motion Picture Association of America) which was established in 1922 (though under the name of the MPDAA, Motion Picture Distributors of Association of America). It is an in house rating system meant to provide warnings to parents to signal to them what is or is not meant for kids. Sort of. That’s basically how it’s used now. Back during the 1930’s it was more a form of censorship by the MPDAA/MPAA used to prevent actual laws from being formed and the government from stepping in. So instead of a director getting arrested for having ‘Damn’ in a movie, he just has to cut it to release it. For example, 1915 the Supreme Court actually ruled that free speech did not extend to film and that was not overturned until 1952. Crazy right.
Pre-Code! From the dawn of Hollywood and film all the way until 1934 is a time known as Pre-Code. This mean all the movies released got to be a tad more risque. But, all good things must come to an end. In 1922 with the creation with the MPDAA there was a list of things to do and things not to do. Which… people listened to… ish.
Hays Code! This is the first rating system to be created, humorously it wasn’t actually called the Hays Code it was known as Motion Picture Production Code but most people refer to it as the Hays Code after it’s creator William Hays. This was less a rating system and more of a formal list of what film’s could and couldn’t have in them. After a film was completed it was sent to get an MPDAA seal of approval. (click here to see it). Think of a racist, prejudice, Footloose rules for reference.
From MPDAA to MPAA: around the 1960′s the Hays Code was loosing steam and the MPDAA was renamed to MPAA and a rating system was put in place. This is (basically) the ratings we know today.
G: G is General Admittance with no warnings. Example: Toy Story
PG: Originally called M, then changed to GP until finally settling on PG for Parental Guidance. This rating is meant for kids but has warnings for mild things.
R: Restricted: no one under 17 is admitted without an adult.
NC-17: Originally called X and renamed NC-17 in 1990: this is adults only, so no one under 18 is admitted (whether or not they are with an adult does not matter). This is rare as most NATO (national association of theater owners) will not pick up films with this rating so producers/studios won’t allow them- they just aren’t money makers.
The addition of PG-13! In 1984 Steven Spielberg brought to us Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom & Gremlins… they were rated PG and parents were PO’d their kids saw melting faces and green murdering monsters. So Spielberg suggested a rating between PG and R; thus PG-13 was born and we will forever pay the price!
RANT TIME! In recent years there have been more and more horror movies coming out with a PG-13 rating. Deadpool was the first ‘superhero’ movie to get and R rating, followed quickly by Logan and people loved them. Deadpool was even the highest grossing R film (or Passion of the Christ was… inflation?). So why are horror films being made to be PG-13? Because over the past 20 years or so studios have developed this weird idea that teenagers are apparently the only people who go to see movies other than kids. WHY!?! According to the MPAA’s 2016 statistical report (I am so nerdy I read this entire damn document) the largest age demographic of movie goers are 25-39 second to 18-24; both of these age cohorts are able to see R movies. The 12-17 cohort was actually accounted for the smallest percentage of movie goers and were tied for four in percentage of tickets sold (meaning some teens were repeat customers). Basically more adults go to see films than children. So why SO much emphasis on PG-13? Because, 3D. Low and behold we have a winner! It was 3D in Asia with the $$. Studios like 3D, yeah it costs more to make, but they can charge more at the box office and most importantly Asia likes 3D (apparently). It’s 2017, we live in a world of globalization, now a days the domestic box office (U.S & Canada) makes up less than a third of total box office income, IF that. The biggest market by territory is Asia, accounting for 14.9 billion dollars in 2016; while U.S. & Canada made up 11.4$. And, for whatever reason, there seems to be a boom in 3D and Large Screen format (ie IMAX) ticket sales in Asia. Statistically the data indicates children are the demographic that 3D appeals to- so if your largest target segments has a specific product they purchase what do you make? You make 3D, PG-13 or child-friendlier films.
Ok yes, having a film rated PG-13 has no restrictions. Contrary to wide belief, you don’t have to be 13 to see a PG-13 film, a 10 year old can get a ticket without an adult for a PG-13 movie. The only ratings with restrictions are R and NC-17. So PG-13 CAN drawn a bigger crowd… that doesn’t mean it will. Over the years people started to notice how awful PG-13 horror, action, and sci-fi/fantasy movies are and it’s become a thing to look up a movie rating before making the investment to go to the theater for it. If the Evil Dead remake had been a PG-13 rating, would anyone would have wanted to see it? Not unless the brought Ash back. This is the attack of the Niche Market! Rise up cult followers and cinegeeks! Take back the R movies! It’s our time!!!
Back before Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and other streaming forms this was ok. Filmmakers could release an R/PG-13 movies with the more violent, lewd, sexual, mature, gory content removed then release a DVD/Blu-ray with the ‘Un-cut’ version. But… people just don’t buy movies as much as they use to so unless you have an unbelievable directors cut (NO I am not Batman v Superman! it makes no sense no matter what version.) people usually aren’t going to buy a home release. So we are stuck with films trying to cater to studios who are blinded by mass target audience and we’re getting crappy films because kids in Asia like 3D? What? (I am really making a leap based on the statistical data out of humor at this point- I blame 12 yr olds globally). I never knew how much I would hate being in my 20’s until I started being able to get into R movies right as they stopped coming out.
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