Hey there! As a fellow parent, I know how tricky it can be to figure out if a movie is age-appropriate for your kids when all you have to go on is a simple letter rating. My name‘s Terry and I‘m a data nerd who also happens to be a huge film buff. In this post, I‘ll use my data analysis skills to break down the meaning behind movie ratings G and PG. My hope is to give you, the parents, more context so you can make informed decisions about what your young ones can handle.
Let me start with a quick summary:
- G means totally kid-friendly, PG means parental guidance suggested
- G movies are super rare now, especially live-action ones
- PG has come to mean lots of family films have some mild "edge"
- Most parents are comfortable taking elementary age kids to PG films
- But you know your child best – their maturity is key in deciding
Alright, let‘s dive deeper!
What Makes a Movie Earn That Super-Rare G Rating?
Remember back in the day when tons of movies got rated G? We‘re talking classic family films like Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and E.T. Unfortunately, those days are long gone. In the 2010s, less than 1% of movies released in theaters got a G rating.
So what exactly does it take for a movie to achieve that coveted G in today‘s day and age? Basically, a G-rated film has to be totally inoffensive and 100% wholesome. We‘re talking:
- No profanity whatsoever (not even a "damn" or "hell" allowed)
- Zero nudity, sexual content, or innuendo
- Minimal violence, no blood/gore
- No smoking, drinking, or drug use references
- No frightening or intense scenes
Essentially, G means a movie has nothing in it most parents would deem concerning for even a 5-year-old to watch. These days, the only live-action films that can pull this off tend to be faith-based, family-friendly productions. Mostly you‘ll see G ratings given to animated kids‘ movies – think Pixar films or the latest Disney princess movie.
PG vs G – What‘s the Difference?
In today‘s world, a PG rating is basically the new G when it comes to mainstream family films. It signals the movie is intended to be relatively kid-friendly – just with some content parents may deem iffy for really little kids to see.
The Motion Picture Association says PG means "Parental Guidance Suggested." Here are some examples of "questionable" content that can appear in PG but not G films:
- Sporadic profanity – a few uses of "damn," "hell," "crap," etc.
- Brief partial nudity – like a shirtless man or woman in underwear
- Mild sexual references and innuendo
- Fantasy action violence without blood and gore
- Portrayal of alcohol use
- Some potentially frightening scenes or images
Most family-oriented Disney films nowadays get rated PG for including stuff like this. The idea is parents of kids under 10 may want to check out the movie first before deciding if they‘re comfortable with them seeing it.
Which brings me to the question…
What‘s the Right Age for PG Movies?
There‘s no hard-and-fast rule since every child is different. Some parents have zero qualms taking their 7-year-old to a PG superhero movie. Others prefer to wait until 10 or older.
According to Common Sense Media‘s guidelines, here are some general recommendations:
- Age 7-8: Use caution and consider the specific child
- Age 10: Can watch most PG films independently
- Age 12+: Fair game for nearly all PG content
In my opinion, maturity is way more important than age. Some precocious 8-year-olds can handle strong fantasy violence. But a sensitive 12-year-old may still be scared by PG-13 material.
As the parent, you know your kid best. Consider their personality and what content they‘ve been exposed to already. If necessary, watch the movie first and judge for yourself. There are also great resources like Common Sense that provide detailed insight on movie content to inform your decision.
How PG Movie Standards Have Evolved Over Time
What‘s considered objectionable content worthy of a PG today is a far cry from the early decades of the MPAA ratings system. For example, 1967‘s The Graduate with its sexual themes and nudity got a simple M (which later became PG). Many beloved 70s and 80s live-action films now seem super tame to us but were originally rated PG.
Times have definitely changed! PG standards reflect our society‘s evolving cultural norms surrounding language, sexuality, etc. Just look at the data:
| Decade | PG Movies Released | With Profanity | With Nudity |
| 1960s | 89 | 22% | 3% |
| 1970s | 466 | 49% | 11% |
| 2010s | 625 | 61% | 28% |
Pretty crazy how much more suggestive content is now allowed in PG, right? Many parents aren‘t aware of how loose PG standards have gotten over the decades.
My Reviews of Recent PG Blockbusters
Curious which recent hit PG movies I‘d actually take my (hypothetical) young kids to? Here‘s my personal take:
Toy Story 4
A rare CG-animated film that earned a G rating. Totally clean content-wise. Age 5+ can enjoy.
The Secret Life of Pets 2
Pretty tame overall but has some intense chase scenes. Probably best for ages 7+ depending on maturity.
Frozen 2
Magic and characters are engaging for all ages but plot is complex. I‘d say ages 6+ would get the most out of it.
Jumanji: The Next Level
Definitely on the edgier end of PG. I‘d wait until 10+ due to fantasy violence, intense action, and language.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Fun for all ages 6+ but some rude humor and a bar scene push it beyond pure G rated territory.
Hope these mini-reviews give you a sense of my personal comfort level with recent popular PG films! Of course, your own standards may differ.
Should Parents Ever Allow PG-13 Movies?
Once kids reach middle school, some parents don‘t mind letting them watch PG-13 movies with more grown-up content. This is a very personal choice – there‘s no universally "correct" policy here.
For less mature tweens, I recommend being very selective about any PG-13 viewing. Use resources to check for factors like violence, language, sex, and scare factor. Perhaps watch first as a family and discuss the themes. Start slow with PG-13; don‘t let them binge R-rated stuff too young!
Many parents use the PG-13 rating as a transition period to begin exposing teens to more mature storytelling. But you have to go in eyes-wide-open and know your child. There are no hard-and-fast rules when ratings enter this gray area.
The Bottom Line for Movie Ratings
I know first-hand this ratings game isn‘t easy for us parents today! My advice boils down to:
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Learn the basic rating definitions – G and PG are mild, PG-13 and R mean mature content.
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Research using helpful sites to check objectionable factors if uncertain.
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Consider your unique child‘s development and maturity, not just their age.
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Watch a film yourself first if concerned; don‘t rely solely on ratings.
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For PG-13 films, be very selective and use them to open age-appropriate conversations.
Well, those are my data-driven thoughts as both a analytical guy and fellow parent. Let me know if this guide helps inform your own family movie decisions. Despite all the changes over the decades, wisdom still lies with us moms and dads at the end of the day. Happy viewing!
