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How the Creation of the PG-13 Rating Changed Movies Forever
What Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg, and divorce had to do with a brand new rating
Look back on the last 10 movies you’ve watched. I’m certain at least 75% of them were rated PG-13. This rating has become the most prominent — and profitable — movie rating in entertainment.
PG-13 would perfectly bridge the gap between family movies and inaccessible R ratings. With PG-13, a movie could push the envelope, but not take it too far. The PG-13 rating also has an interesting origin story.
And it wouldn’t have happened without a certain swashbuckling hero…
The First Movie Rating System
The MPAA movie rating system started in 1968 with G, M, R, and X. They were there to provide parents with information on what would be best for children.
It was tougher to get movie insights in a pre-internet world, so they created a rating system. ORC International developed the system in 1968, and they rated an average of 587 movies per year.
In 1968, the “Hayes Code” was created to help rate movies. The country was more religious, so the code was used to give warnings for things like blasphemy or the mocking of the clergy.
