MA 15+ stands for Mature Accompanied. These movies and games have strong content. That's why shops and cinemas are not legally allowed to sell under 15s MA 15+ games or movies without a parent or guardian present.
Mature Accompanied (MA 15+) is one of the seven classification categories of the Australian film rating system and one of the six for the computer game system of the Australian Classification Board. This classification category was created in 1993 to fill the large gap between the M and the R ratings. The symbol is MA enclosed in a hexagon and the colour is red.
It is a legally partially restricted classification category as it contains strong content that is not generally suitable for exhibition to persons under 15 years. A person may be asked to show proof of their age before hiring or purchasing an MA 15+ classified film or computer game. Cinema staff may also request that the unaccompanied person show proof of their age before allowing them to watch an MA 15+ classified film. People under 15 years must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian for the duration of the exhibition. Material classified MA 15+ may not be sold to anyone under the age stated without adult accompaniment. If a person under 15 wants to see an MA 15+ classified film and they are accompanied, the adult must purchase the movie ticket for the child. Queensland state law paradoxically allows unaccompanied children aged under two to see an MA 15+ classified film in a cinema. This applies only to public exhibition, not for sale or hire.
MA 15+ rated content is described as strong.
Factors[]
Violence[]
Intense violence with a strong impact is allowed within the MA 15+ rating. Gory images are permitted if they aren't overly detailed or frequent. Sexual violence may be permitted if it is implied and infrequent or justified by context.
Language[]
In terms of coarse language, "c**t" may be used if not excessive or aggressive. Aggressive or frequent use of "f**k" is permitted within the MA 15+ category as long as it isn't used in an overly assaultive way.
Sex[]
In the classification guidelines of computer games, sexual activity that is related to incentives and rewards cannot be accommodated within the MA 15+ category. Instead, games containing the aforementioned material will automatically receive an R 18+ classification. Sex scenes can be allowed if they aren't graphic and must be non-interactive. Graphic nudity is allowed.
Drug use[]
Drug taking scenes may be portrayed as long as it is not condoned and non-interactive.
Themes[]
Serious themes presented in graphic detail like child abuse, domestic violence and mental health can be accommodated within the MA 15+ level.
Examples of MA 15+ classified material[]
A significant majority of films here belong to the Horror, Crime, War or Thriller genre, even though some superhero movies like Deadpool and Logan are rated here due to the higher amount of violence, and in the case of the latter, language. For TV shows, the genre tend to be the same as films, however a lot amount of adult comedies are also included. Anime included here tends to be Seinen (young adult) anime, however like Superhero movies, some Shonen anime such as Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure are rated this due to their brutal amounts of violence and dark themes, but language tends to be milder than Western Animated adult comedies.
Statistics[]
During the financial year that ended on 30 June 2022, the MA 15+ classification was given to 127 films for public exhibition and 37 computer games.
List[]
- As of March 24, 2023, there are over 22,000 MA15+ rated titles according to IMDb. (list)
Trivia[]
- MA 15+ classified material may be broadcast from 8:30 p.m. on Australian television. Some stronger MA 15+ classified material was previously placed into an AV 15+ category that was broadcast from 9:30 p.m.; this classification was removed on December 2015 according to ACMA's new broadcasting guidelines.
- At least three animated series have been re-classified with an MA 15+ rating. Big Mouth was formerly rated R 18+, whereas South Park and Family Guy were both formerly classified M.
- Prior to 2013, computer games could only be classified up to MA 15+, and a computer game which has high impact content would be Refused Classification.
- Sometimes, in unusual cases, there are movies that are originally classified MA 15+ by the Australian Classification Board that would later get an M rating, often on appeal or often when they're cut or are sometimes mistakenly applied to the film.
- The theatrical version of Lethal Weapon 4 was initially classified MA 15+ for "Medium level violence", but the distributor cut the film and the film was then re-rated M for "Medium level violence, Medium level coarse language". While the film indeed was re-rated back to MA15+ for home video releases as it was the uncut version, but the rental release was rated M.
- The 2012 film Snow White and the Huntsman was supposedly originally given an MA 15+ classification for "Strong fantasy violence", however, the distributor appealed and approximately 10 seconds of the film was cut, therefore downgrading the classification to M for "Fantasy themes and violence". However, this was a false rumour, as proven by the film's home video release, which was rated M for "Fantasy themes and violence" yet featured the film uncut.
- On some streaming services, films that are actually rated M (which is an advisory rating) in Australia sometimes mistakenly display the MA 15+ classification (which is legally restricted). This includes (or did include) but is not limited to: Snow White and the Huntsman (rated MA 15+ for "Strong Fantasy Violence, Blood and Gore, Themes"), Just Go With It (rated MA 15+ for "Strong Sexual References"), Long Shot (rated MA 15+ for "Strong Drug Use, Sex Scenes"), Escape from New York (rated MA 15+ for "Strong Sexual Violence") and Avengers: Infinity War (rated MA 15+ for "Strong Themes"). Granted, it is due to Australia's auto-classification system they use for streaming sometimes displaying the wrong ratings and irrelevant consumer advice, and these issues are often fixed.
| Australian Classification Board (ACB) |
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