US movie and TV ratings: PG-13, R and TV-MA
US films use the Motion Picture Association (MPA) system. Television uses the separate TV Parental Guidelines, so TV-MA is not another name for R.
Scope: MPA film ratings and US television programme ratings
MPA movie ratings
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| G | All ages |
| PG | Parents should review suitability for children |
| PG-13 | Stronger caution for children under 13 |
| R | Under 17: accompanying parent or adult guardian required |
| NC-17 | 18 and over, even with an accompanying adult |
TV ratings
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| TV-Y | Designed for all children |
| TV-Y7 / TV-Y7-FV | Ages 7+, with FV identifying stronger fantasy violence |
| TV-G | General audience |
| TV-PG | Parental guidance advised |
| TV-14 | May be unsuitable under 14 |
| TV-MA | For adults, may be unsuitable under 17 |
Does R mean no children?
R allows under-17s with a parent or adult guardian. NC-17 does not. Cinemas may apply additional admission policies. MPA ratings are a voluntary industry system.
Source: MPA: resources and FAQWhat do the TV content letters mean?
D identifies suggestive dialogue, L language, S sexual situations and V violence. FV identifies fantasy violence in older children’s programming. Ratings can change between episodes and edited versions.
Source: TV Parental Guidelines: FAQs and episode ratingsCan PG-13 include nudity or strong language?
Yes. Read the film’s descriptor: nudity, sexual content, language and violence are separate concerns. Their detail and context matter, so the age label cannot tell you which scenes to avoid.
Source: MPA: ratings guideOfficial sources
Sources checked:
- MPA: ratings and definitions
Film categories and admission wording
- MPA: resources and FAQ
Voluntary system and cinema policies
- TV Parental Guidelines: ratings guide (PDF)
TV age categories
- TV Parental Guidelines: FAQs and episode ratings
Content letters and rating changes
- MPA: ratings guide
Content descriptors and context