Hey friend! If you‘re a parent like me, you know just how tricky it can be to find movies to enjoy with your kids amid all those PG-13 superhero flicks. There was a time when G rated films were made for the whole family, but they‘ve become incredibly rare nowadays. In this article, I‘ll take you through what a G rating really signals, the fascinating history behind movie ratings, and whether we could ever see a comeback of quality all-ages films.
Origins of Movie Ratings – How We Got Here
It may surprise you to learn movie ratings only began in the late 1960s. Up until then, virtually no guidance was provided to American parents on film content. Concerns over more adult themes in movies like Who‘s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? led the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to pioneer a voluntary rating system with four categories on November 1, 1968:
- G (General Audiences)
- M (Mature Audiences – later changed to PG in 1969)
- R (Restricted, under 17 requires adult guardian)
- X
This move helped avoid potential government censorship by self-regulating content for parents. The G rating was meant to identify films with minimal concerning material suitable for even young viewers.
Over the years, ratings were added and tweaked based on public concerns:
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1984 – PG-13 rating introduced in response to violence in PG films like Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
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1990 – X replaced by NC-17 to remove pornographic stigma
So the evolution of movie ratings reflects changing standards and expectations around film content over the decades. But one thing has remained consistent – the G rating‘s purpose as a guidepost for inoffensive, family-friendly fare.
What Exactly Does G Rated Mean?
The MPAA gives a G rating to films containing little to no content parents would consider offensive for even young viewers. Some key guidelines:
- No harsh language stronger than "heck" or "darn"
- Very limited and mild violence, no blood or gore
- No nudity, sex scenes, or drug use
- No frightening or psychologically intense scenarios
Essentially, G rated films are appropriate for literally all ages. You can feel good about showing a G rated movie to children as young as 2 or 3 without concerns.
Some classic examples I fondly remember from childhood include Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, 101 Dalmatians, and The Wizard of Oz. Today, you‘ll mainly see G ratings on tame animation, superhero and adventure films from studios like Disney and Pixar.
The Vanishing G Rated Movie – A Dwindling Breed
While parents may wish for more films to share with the whole family, the numbers reveal G rated movies are increasingly rare in theaters:
| Year | Total Films Released | G Rated Films | Percentage G Rated |
| 2021 | 305 | 9 | 3% |
| 2020 | 532 | 14 | 2.6% |
| 2019 | 564 | 16 | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 561 | 13 | 2.3% |
| 2008 | 625 | 26 | 4.1% |
| 1998 | 549 | 43 | 7.8% |
| 1988 | 475 | 70 | 14.7% |
| 1978 | 425 | 137 | 32.2% |
In the 1970s through 80s, G rated films accounted for 15-30% of theatrical releases. But in the last decade, that share has dwindled to 2-4% of films. What changed?
Why Family-Friendly Films Have Declined
Based on my years analyzing audience data and entertainment industry trends, I‘d point to a few key factors:
1. Pursuit of the widest audience – Studios now rely on blockbusters, which increasingly means PG-13 action films that appeal to teens and adults. G may seem like it limits the audience.
2. Loosening standards – A film with brief nudity, some swearing or dark themes can probably slip by with a PG-13 instead of an R today.
3. Prestige over family-friendly – For filmmakers, there can be a sense that serious dramas demand an R rating, while G is frivolous.
4. Financial incentives – PG-13 films tend to be the most lucrative at the box office, earning 75% more than G films on average.
5. Home entertainment explosion – With streaming and digital downloads, theaters are now dominated by spectacle films best seen on the big screen. Smaller family films may debut directly on streaming instead.
In many ways, the availability of adult content in living rooms via streaming has pushed theaters to offer spectacle and thrills mainly suitable for teens and up. But for families like us, high quality G rated films still hold tremendous value, even if they‘ve become uncommon.
How Parents Can Make Sense of Ratings
Beyond G, here‘s a quick look at the other MPAA ratings categories and what content they may signal:
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PG – Parental guidance suggested. Some mature themes, mild language, brief nudity.
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PG-13 – Parents strongly cautioned. Moderate language, violence, sexual content and drug use.
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R – Restricted under 17. Strong language, graphic violence, sex scenes, drug use.
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NC-17 – Adults only. Explicit/disturbing content.
Of course, ratings provide limited guidance. I suggest reading parent reviews to get a sense of concerning elements like language, gore, and moments that may frighten young kids. Sites like Common Sense Media are a great resource.
And remember – follow your own judgement when deciding on appropriateness. You know your kids best. My rule of thumb is to watch new films first myself before sharing with my children.
Could We See More G Rated Movies in Theaters?
I believe quality G rated films still have an audience, even if the economics don‘t make them the easiest sell for studios nowadays.
Today‘s parents grew up with beloved classics like E.T., Home Alone and Beauty and the Beast that enchanted us as kids. We want to share similar memorable experiences with our own children.
There are promising signs that families will turn out for entertainment bearing the G rating:
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The LEGO Movie grossed over $250 million in 2014, showing inoffensive doesn‘t have to mean unentertaining.
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Pixar‘s Up and Coco achieved critical praise and huge box office as PG and G rated films respectively.
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Polls show parents feel overwhelmed navigating content ratings and desire more films suitable for the whole family.
With the right combination of story, talent, and marketing, I believe studios could produce films which embrace their G rating. Nostalgia for 80s classics primed for remakes and adaptation of kid-friendly books provide ample creative sources.
While we may never see G films at 30%+ of releases like decades ago, even one beautifully animated or clever live-action film per year could offer families a worthwhile cinematic experience. If you ask me, there‘s still magic to be found in movies rated G.
I hope this provided helpful context on the history of movie ratings and especially that scarce treasure – the G rated gem approved for all ages. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to chat more and share insights from my work in entertainment analytics.
