Rating System Wiki
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Canadaratings

In the past, there was a wide range of rating categories and practices in the various provinces. However, the five rating systems outside Quebec now all use categories and logos derived from the Canadian motion picture rating system.

In general, these categories are:[1]

G: General - Suitable for all. It contains occasional violence, no swearing and coarse language, and the most innocent of no sexually suggestive scenes and nudity. Equivalent to the United States G and ESRB's E and defunct EC ratings.

PG: Parental Guidance - Parental guidance advised. Theme or content may not be suitable for all children. Although there is no age restriction. It should not frighten children over 9 years of age. In Manitoba, it's not recommended for children under 12. May contain less subtle sexually suggestive scenes and nudity and a more realistic portrayal of violence than in the General category; coarse language may occur more often than in the General category. Equivalent to the United States PG and ESRB's E10+ rating.

14A: 14 Accompaniment - Suitable for viewers 14 years of age or older. Viewers under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. No one younger than 14 may purchase or rent material with this category on home video. May contain violence (may be graphic in some cases), coarse language or sexually suggestive scenes, or any combination of them. Equivalent to the United States PG-13 and ESRB's T rating.

18A: 18 Accompaniment - Suitable for viewers 18 years of age or older. Viewers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. No one younger than 18 may purchase or rent material with this category on home video. Will contain horror, explicit violence, frequent coarse language or scenes that are more sexually suggestive than in the 14A category, or any combination of them. In the Maritimes and Manitoba, the child who is accompanied must be 18 or over, and persons under 14 will not be admitted (in a cinema). Equivalent to the United States R and ESRB's M rating.

R: Restricted - Restricted to viewers 18 years of age and over. Minors under 18 are not allowed under any circumstances. In British Columbia and New Brunswick, minors under 19 are not allowed under any circumstances. This category is not to be confused with the American R rating, which has a different definition (restricted to people 17 and over, but underage people accompanied by a parent is allowed). May contain explicit sex scenes, violence, or content that is deemed to be suitable only for an adult audience. The director assigns this category to motion pictures if the director considers that the theme, subject matter or plot of the adult motion picture is artistic, historical, political, educational or scientific. Equivalent to the United States NC-17 and ESRB's AO rating.

A: Adult - Restricted to viewers 18 years of age and over. Minors under 18 are not allowed under any circumstances. In British Columbia and Saskatchewan, minors under 19 are not allowed under any circumstances. May contain explicit sex scenes or scenes of brutality or torture to persons or animals, or any combination of them, which are portrayed in a realistic, explicit and explotative manner; this rating would be given if the sole purpouse of the film is to shown sex,violence etc... however, the scenes would, in the director's opinion, be tolerable to the community. This category is used only in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Maritimes (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island). Equivalent to FPB's X18 and XX ratings.

Video works that are given Restricted or Adult ratings are legally restricted, and it is against the law (enforced by every council in Canada, but not the board by itself) for anybody underage to obtain such material. In the Maritimes and Manitoba, under provincial law, it is against the law for persons under 14 to view a film rated 18A in a cinema, even if accompanied by an adult.

Ontario_Film_Review_Board-PSA

Ontario Film Review Board-PSA

The_Lineup_(Ontario_Film_Review_Board)

The Lineup (Ontario Film Review Board)

Film_classification_awareness

Film classification awareness

References[]

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