Media which are exceptions to common age rating rules

This is an incomplete list of media which are exceptions to guidelines at different age ratings (such as one F-word in a film rated PG-13 by the MPA).

ACB (Australia)

Films

• American Pie Presents: Beta House - Rated MA 15+ despite realistic ejaculation scenes.
• American Pie Presents: The Book of Love - Rated MA 15+ despite simulated abhorrent sexual conduct.
• Dragon Ball (Collection Part 2) - Rated PG despite containing brutal bloody moments of violence.
• Elton John - Million Dollar Piano (Kiev Bonus material) - Rated PG despite a use of 'f**k'.
• The End of Evangelion - Rated M despite containing a depiction of a sexual fluid.
• Evangelion 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance - Rated PG despite gore and sexualised nudity.
• Fist of the North Star (1986) - Rated M despite graphic gory violence, the film was released in Australia after the introduction of the MA15+.
• GoldenEye - Rated PG despite having sex-related violence.
• Jefferson in Paris - Rated PG despite a puppet show sex-related erected penis.
• Invader Zim - The complete show release ia rated G despite some gruesome and bloody images. Rated PG in New Zealand.
• Julie & Julia - Rated PG on appeal despite an F-word not usually being allowed at the PG rating.
• Leave No Trace - Rated G despite a subtle/vague reference to sexual abuse and an incidental written depiction of strong language. Rated PG in New Zealand.
• Lost in Translation - Rated PG despite sexualised female upper-body nudity.
• Megan is Missing - Rated MA15+ despite its graphic scenes of sexual violence; the guidelines at MA15+ read "Sexual violence may be implied, if justified by context." Was refused classification in New Zealand.
• Men In Black 2 - Rated PG despite containing alien genital nudity.
• Nymphomaniac - Rated R18+ despite containing unsimulated sexual activity.
• Pride - Rated M despite containing brief full-frontal sexual nudity.
• Rocketman - Rated M despite a use of 'c**t', which usually results in a MA15+.
• Romance - Rated R18+ despite containing unsimulated sexual activity.
• Scary Movie 4 - Rated M despite a comical exaggerated erection scene.
• The Saint (1997) - Rated M despite graphic drug use which already at the time isn't normally permitted below MA15+.
• Sleuth - Rated M on appeal despite its three uses of 'c**t' (a word that is usually an automatic MA15+), which the Review Board said was "infrequent and justified by context."
• Thunderbolts* - Rated PG despite bloody moments, intense action violence and abuse/mental health problems. Rated M in New Zealand.
• Twister - Rated PG despite some F-word usage.
• Yu-Gi-Oh The Movie - Initially rated PG for Low level violence then months after in VHS release rated G without an appeal to the review board. Later releases retain the first rating.

Games

• Castle Crashers - Rated PG despite containing high amounts of cartoonish blood and gore. Remastered version rated M.
• Dog's Life - Rated G despite a crude sex reference and a use of 'ass'.
• Grand Theft Auto Advance - Rated M despite gameplay involving criminal activities and related violence.
• Silverball Product Version 8 - Was initially refused classification due to nudity tied to incentives/rewards (at this time there was no R18+ rating). Rated M on appeal due to the argument of the distributor that the nudity was 'incidental'.
• The Simpsons: Hit & Run - Rated G despite mild coarse language, suggestive images of partial nudity, drug use and violent content.
• The Simpsons Game (2007) - Rated PG despite instances of moderate and crude sexual humor and profanity.
• Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves - Rated G despite mild impact violence and a crude sex commentary - Sly 2 was classified G8+/PG due to violence having his sequel essentially the same type-degree of it. Sly Trilogy received a PG.
• Steins;Gate - The only MA15+ rated game that was given consumer advice of "references to sexual violence". (Australia's game classification guidelines state that "sexual violence, implied or otherwise, is not permitted" within the G, PG, M and MA15+ classifications, and that implied sexual violence is restricted to R18+ and will not be visually depicted, interactive, contextually unjustified or linked to incentives or rewards.)

Age rating system for North American manga releases

• Dragon Ball Z - Rated All Ages despite containing intense fantasy violence and bloody moments. Same for full color version.
• Hellsing - Originally rated 13+ for violence and mild language despite containing graphic violence and strong horror. Later re-rated 16+.
• Rave Master - First volumes were rated Youth despite containing bloody/carnage moments. Later they were re-rated Teen.
• Yu Yu Hakusho - Rated Teen despite some scenes of graphic violence.

BBFC

Films

• Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (Volume 1) - Rated U although Lovesick Sonic contains references to sexual threat- probably left out because of being subtle and a educative cautionary warning. Other video releases with this episode retained the rating.
• Akira - Formerly an exception: Contains strong bloody violence and sexual threat which is not normally permitted at 12. Some time later it was re-classified 15.
• Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie - Rated PG without cuts despite infrequent rude gestures which normally at minimum would be a 12.
• Black Christmas (2006) - Rated 15 despite containing sadistic gore on the level of torture porn.
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial - Contains use of mild language that would normally only be passed at 'PG'. The BBFC have stated that the film would likely not be passed at 'U' if submitted today.
• The Final Destination (2009) - Rated 15 even though a majority of the deaths are extremely grisly.
• Gemini Man - Rated 12A/12 despite a use of 'motherf**ker', which usually results in a 15.
• Happy Tree Friends - All UK video releases had been rated 12 despite the high amounts of cartoonish gore/graphic images.
• Hell Girl (episode 7) - Contains 13 F-words. The disc with the episode on it was rated 12 for "moderate sexuality, language and infrequent horror".
• His & Hers - Rated U despite containing one use of 'feck' which usually is an automatic 12/12A.
• Jefferson in Paris - Rated 12 despite graphic sexual nudity in a puppet show context.
• Justice League The Flashpoint Paradox - Initially rated 15 for 'strong violence and injury detail' but four years later it was re-rated 12 uncut for 'moderate fantasy action violence'. Retained its 15 rating in Ireland.
• The King's Speech - Contains 18 F-words. While originally classified 15, it was rerated 12A after an appeal; the current consumer advice reads "Contains strong language in a speech therapy context".
• Leave No Trace - Initially rated PG, but when submitted for home video release it was noted that there was a written 'motherf**ker' tattoo which increased the rating to 12 despite this word not normally being permitted at either category.
• Maid to Order - Rated U despite a use of the word 'f**k'.
• Mid-August Lunch - Rated U despite a use of 'son of a bitch'.
• Men (2022) - Rated 15 despite containing a graphic scene where men graphically give birth to each other.
• Men in Black 2 - Rated PG despite alien genital nudity.
• Princess Mononoke - Contains moderate bloody fantasy violence that is usually not allowed at the 'PG' rating. Rated 12 in Ireland.
• The Secret of Mamo - Contains female nudity and sexual content which is not normally permitted at 12. Applies only to the Manga UK dub. The Geneon dub was later classified 15 when released in 2008.
• Shrek 2 - Formerly an exception: Originally rated U despite two uses of 'bloody' as an expletive. Rerated PG in 2022.
• Sneakers - Formerly an exception: Originally rated 12 despite a use of 'motherf**ker'. Re-classified 15 some time later.
• The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie - Rated U despite containing the utterance 'mcspazzatron' which isn't normally allowed at such category.
• Tenchi Muyo! (Volume 2) - Rated PG despite female breast nudity and related sexual humour.
• There Will Be Blood - Initially classified 12A, the distributor appealed the decision as they wanted a higher rating which led the film to be re-rated 15 for strong violence.
• Twister - Formerly an exception: Contains infrequent strong language which is not permitted at PG. These scenes were later cut for the home video release. Rerated '12' in 2024.
• Watership Down - Formerly an exception: Contains moderate animated violence and infrequent mild language that are not usually permitted at the 'U' rating. Rerated 'PG' in 2022.

Games

• Area 51 - Rated 12 despite the frequent carnage/bloody images - probably because it was unrealistic and stylised.
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - According to the BBFC website it was rated 15 in 2006 but all images of the game cover have an 18 rating instead.
• Mageslayer - Despite the frequent moderate bloody fantasy violence it was passed 12.

ESRB

• 2064: Read Only Memories - Formerly an exception: rerated 'T' with a 'Mild Language' descriptor despite presence of the F-word. After complaints, the ESRB changed the rating back to M.
• Apotheon - The only game that received a T rating that was given a "Nudity" descriptor.
• Attack of the Mutant Penguins - Was rated K-A (the early equivalent to E) despite having a large amount of green cartoonish alien gore.
• Banjo-Tooie - Rated E despite a depiction of realistic blood during the Lord Woo Fak Fak boss fight.
• Crazy Taxi - The Dreamcast version features an uncensored version of "Way Down The Line" that contains the F-word despite its T rating.
• Dance Paradise - Rated T despite a single, fleeting visual depiction of the F-word in graffiti in the background of a music video.
• ESPN X-Games Snowboarding - The only game that received an E rating that was given a "Strong Language" descriptor.
• Grand Theft Auto 2 (PS1) - Rated T despite gameplay involving crime violence. The similar PC and Dreamcast versions were rated M.
• The Guy Game - Rated M despite being interactive softcore porn.
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver - Initially rated T, but was re-rated M when the PS1 Greatest Hits edition and Dreamcast version were released.
• Mega Man Battle Network 2 - Rated E despite containing mild language and innuendo.
• One Last Breath - Rated T despite a single, fleeting visual depiction of the F-word.
• The Orion Conspiracy - Contains multiple unbleeped F-words despite its T rating.
• Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc - Contains some mild sexual references despite its E rating. HD version rated E10+.
• River City Girls Zero - Rated E10+ despite two uncensored uses of "shit." They may not have been disclosed by the ESRB.
• Rocksmith - Rated T. Several DLCs were released uncensored on the original release, such as Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" ("Seemed a harmless little f**k"). (Despite the 'music downloads not rated by the ESRB' statement in the rating, the ESRB still has a rule that the downloads cannot exceed the game's actual rating.) When Rocksmith 2014 was released, all these DLC were changed to clean versions.
• Snatcher - One of the first games rated by the ESRB; contains a substantial amount of gore that would likely not be allowed in a T-rated video game today.
• T'ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger - In some promotional material prior to the game release it was announced with an E rating despite visible bloodletting violence like in the final product; in the end it was rated T.

FPB

• 127 Hours - Rated 13 LV despite graphic images of self-mutilation.
• Batman: the Killing Joke - Rated 10-12PG LV despite a scene of sexual violence which normally is forbidden below a 13.
• Commmando (1985) - Rated 13 V despite graphic action violence.
• Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero - Rated PG LV despite injury detail and blood.
• Jefferson in Paris - Rated PG S V despite the bawdy puppet show scene.
• Nymphomaniac - Despite containing explicit sexual conduct, the film only received an 18 LNSV.
• Sonic The Hedgehog 3 - Rated PG LV despite having intense sequences of fantasy violence.

ICAA (Spain)

• Titan A.E. - Rated A despite containing bloody moments.

IFCO

• The Angel's Share - Rated 15A cinema and 15 video uncut despite several uses of 'c**t'. Rated 18 uncut (15 cut) in the UK.
• F1 The Movie - Rated PG despite two f-bombs. Rated 12/12A in the UK.
• Frost/Nixon - Rated PG despite several uses of strong language. Rated 15 in the UK.
• J. Edgar - Rated 12A despite two uses of 'c**ksucker', which are normally forbidden below 15A.
• Karate Kid: Legends - Rated PG despite containing moderate martial arts violence including injury detail. Rated 12/12A in the UK.
• La La Land - Rated PG despite a use of the word 'f**k', which is normally forbidden below a 12A.
• Magic in the Moonlight - Rated PG despite, quoting Irish website content descriptor, one moderate sex reference. Rated 12A/12 in the UK.
• Nebraska - Rated 12A despite a use of the word 'c**ksucker', which is normally forbidden below a 15A.
• Red Army - Rated 12A in theaters despite a use of the word 'c**ksucker', which is normally forbidden below a 15A. Rerated 15 on DVD.
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Formerly an exception: Rated PG despite containing moderate sci-fi carnage and bloody injury detail. Re-rated 12 some years later. Rated 12/12A in the UK since initial release.
• Watership Down - Formerly an exception: Rated G despite their violence and blood; since at least 2005 it was re-rated at 12.

IMDA

Films

• Accepted - Rated PG uncut despite strong artistic full-frontal nudity.
• As Good as It Gets - Rated PG uncut despite containing homosexual content.
• Ben 10 Alien Force (Volume 1 Part 1) - Rated G despite being darker and more violent than previous installments of the franchise which were rated PG.
• Chronicle - Rated PG despite bloody injury detail after the PG13 rating introduction.
• The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 - Rated PG despite intense violence and bloody injury detail after PG13 rating introduction.
• Drag Me To Hell - Rated PG despite gory horror.
• Dragon Ball - Funimation's season 3 dvd rated PG13 despite brief female upper body nudity in a comical sexually-oriented context and Season 4 dvd rated PG despite bloody/gory moments.
• End of Evangelion - Rated NC16 uncut despite a depiction of a sexual fluid.
• The Expatriate - Rated PG despite containing intense action violence and bloody moments after the introduction of the PG13 rating.
• Fantastic Four (2015) - Rated PG despite containing bloody images after the introduction of the PG13 rating.
• Gemini Man - Rated PG13 despite an utterance of "motherf**ker" which normally is at a minimum an NC16. The IMDA apparently misheard it as "my f**ker".
• Hanna - Rated PG despite containing injury/cruelty detail related violence and a homosexual scene after the introduction of the PG13 rating.
• Happy Death Day - Rated PG13 despite a scene of same-sex affection.
• Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox - Rated PG despite containing bloody/gory violence after the PG13 rating be introduced.
• Kite Runner - Rated PG despite a scene of sexual violence.
• Lakeview Terrace - Rated PG despite racial discrimination/stereotypes themes.
• Mary Magdalene - Rated PG despite containing bloody and cruelty images.
• Men In Black II - Rated PG uncut despite containing alien genital nudity.
• Romeo Must Die - Rated NC16 despite female breast nudity in a homosexual arousing play context.
• The Saint (1997) - Rated PG uncut despite containing explicit hard drug use.
• X-Files (The Complete Ninth Season) - Rated PG with a consumer advice that says 'some gore'. Other seasons had been rated NC16 for violence/gore.

Games

• Bully: Scholarship Edition - Rated ADV16 despite containing gameplay involving same-sex affection.
• Devil May Cry HD Collection - Rated General despite containing blood/gore and horror.
• Just Cause 2 - Rated General despite strong realistic violence and gameplay involving drug/sex trafficking.
• One Last Breath - Rated General despite brief use of the word 'f**k'. It's likely that the IMDA didn't notice it.
• Spiderman: Web of Shadows (PS3/Xbox 360/Wii versions) - Rated General containing strong fantasy violence and suggestive partial nudity.
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PS2/PSP/Wii versions) - Rated General despite intense action sci-fi violence and blood.

Kijkwijzer

Nederlandse Filmkeuring (191?-2001)

• Pokemon - Rated AL despite having violence and fear, rerated MG6 post NLFK

Kijkwijzer (2001-present)

• Cars 2 - initially rated AL but rerated 6 (ala MPAA PG) due to scenes of cars dying. In 2020 this also applies to Belgium replacing Kinderen Toegelaten.
• Full Metal Alchemist (2017 movie) - Rated 9 for fear despite gore and intense scary sequences.
• A Futile & Stupid Gesture - Rated 6 despite hard drug use.
• The Little Panda Fighter - rated the equivalent to BBFC’s U rating due to violence and being rated PG in UK, same with cars which is G in Netherlands but PG in uk.
• 'Lost in Translation - Rated AL but contains sexualised nudity.
• Open Season - the PSP version was rated 6 for fear (the correct rating), but the DVDs and blurays always had AL without the fear descriptor.
• Spiderman and his amazing friends 2021 - rated 6, which is local TV-Y7 due to violence and fear, in which the USA got TV-Y.
• Spongebob - Rated AL (local TV-Y) for the first 12 seasons despite violence and fear.
• Zoolander - Rated 6 despite containing a sex-orgy scene.

MPA

Production Code Administration (1934-1968)

• The Scarlet Express - Approved in 1934 despite fleeting breast nudity.
• Gone with the Wind - Approved in 1939 despite one use of "damn". The exception was made because it was a direct quote from the source material. The use of "damn" and "hell" were generally not approved by the PCA outside of certain contexts (specifically, historical contexts and direct quotations from source materials in adaptations) until the December 1956 revision which deemed the words "sometimes dramatically valid" though stated that they should be used in moderation.
• Anatomy of a Murder - Approved in 1959 despite the subject of the film being the trial of a murderer of a rapist. It also included sexual language that hadn't been heard in mainstream American films up to that point, as well as the words "bitch" and "slut".
• Elmer Gantry - Approved in 1960 despite its negative depiction of religion and sexual themes. To compensate the term "For Adults Only" was printed on the poster and the film opens up with a disclaimer stating that it was not to reflect upon religion as a whole. Later rated PG for post-PCA theatrical reissues.
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Approved in 1966 despite one instance of blatantly sexual dialogue. Later rated R upon establishment of the rating system.
• Bonnie and Clyde - Approved in 1967 without a Suggested for Mature Audiences label despite the graphically violent ending. It was then rated M in 1969 and was rerated R in 2007.

Classification and Rating Administration (1968-present)

• 1776 - Rated G despite extensive use of mild profanity. Restored Director's Cut rated PG in 2002.
• Accepted - Rated PG-13 despite strong artistic full-frontal nudity- probably because is infrequent and non-sexualized.
• The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - Rated PG despite a scene of female frontal nudity.
• All the President's Men - Rated PG on appeal despite several uses of the word "f**k".
• American Pie Presents: The Beta House - Rated R despite realistic depiction of ejaculation.
• American Pie Presents: The Book of Love - Rated R despite simulated grotesque sexual scenes/behavior.
• As Good as It Gets - Rated PG-13 on appeal despite 3 uses of the word "f**k".
• Asteroid City - Rated PG-13 on appeal despite a brief scene of full-frontal female nudity. (though is not sexual in nature)
• Beetlejuice - Was rated PG after the creation of the PG-13 rating despite Beetlejuice yelling "Nice f**kin' model!" in one scene. (Edited in some home video releases.)
• Benny & Joon - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Big - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• A Bridge Too Far - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k". (Edited in some home video releases.)
• The Bridges of Madison County - Rated PG-13 on appeal despite a use of the word "f**k" in a sexual context.
• The Brink's Job - Rated PG on appeal despite a use of the word "f**k".
• The Corsican Brothers - Rated PG despite multiple uses of the word "f**k".
• Draft Day - Rated PG-13 on appeal despite a use of the word "motherf**ker".
• Drag Me To Hell - Rated PG-13 despite many gory scenes of horror violence.
• Eight Men Out - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• The Front - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Full Metal Alchemist The Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa - Rated PG-13 despite female upper-body/partial frontal nudity, probably because they were brief, non-sexual and simplified.
• Funny Farm - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Gemini Man - Like Draft Day, it was rated PG-13 despite a use of the word "motherf**ker".
• Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Rated PG-13 despite strong gore/graphic violence - probably because all involving cyborgs.
• The Graduate - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Guilty by Suspicion - Rated PG-13 despite 9 uses of the word "f**k".
• Gunner Palace - Holds the record for the most F-words in a PG-13 rated movie (42, 2 used sexually) due to a successful appeal arguing the documentary context of the film and the importance of its themes for young teenagers.
• Hanky Panky - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Hero - Rated PG-13 despite 11 uses of the word "f**k".
• The Hip Hop Project - Rated PG-13 on appeal despite containing 17 F-words.
• The Hunt for Red October - Formerly an exception: Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k". The word has since been censored on all releases beginning with second run theatrical prints, as well as all home video releases including the screener.
• Jefferson in Paris - Rated PG-13 despite strong full-frontal nudity in a sexual context - involving puppets.
• The Kids Are Alright - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Maid to Order - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Ocean's 13 - Rated PG-13 despite a french expelling of "motherfu***r".
• Philomena - Rated PG-13 on appeal despite 4 uses of the word 'f**k'.
• The Photograph - Rated PG-13 despite the inclusion of a fairly long and detailed sex scene. Albeit with no nudity other than cleavage and silhouettes.
• Poltergeist - Rated PG on appeal despite a graphic gory scene.
• The Poseidon Adventure - Rated PG despite an ad-libbed use of the word "f**k". (Rendered as "holy mackerel" in the DVD subtitles by either a prudish subtitler or one who simply misheard it.)
• Red Army - Rated PG despite a use of the word "c**ksucker".
• The Right Stuff - Rated PG despite multiple uses of the word "f**k".
• Rollercoaster - Rated PG despite a graphic gory scene. (Edited in some releases.)
• The Saint (1997) - Rated PG-13 despite containing graphic drug use which is normally forbidden below R.
• Scarface: The Shame of the Nation - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Scary Movie 4 - Rated PG-13 despite having a scene of an exaggerated erection and related penetration to the ground.
• Secret Window - Rated PG-13 despite a use of the word "f**k" in a sexual context.
• Sheena - Rated PG despite extensive female nudity.
• Sixteen Candles - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k" and female frontal nudity.
• Sneakers - Rated PG-13 despite a use of the word "motherf**ker". It's believed the MPA went easy on this film because there was nothing else to warrant a rating higher than G.
• Sorcerer - Rated PG despite the prolonged bleak visceral intensity including numerous strong moments of graphic violence. There are also two uses of the F-bomb.
• Spaceballs - Rated PG despite a use of the word "f**k".
• Speed Racer - Rated PG despite an appearance of the bird.
• Summer School - Rated PG-13 despite a graphic gory scene - probably because of its comical prank context.
• Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour - Rated PG-13 despite 4 uses of the word "f**k" and 6 uses of said word in the "Taylor's Version" cut.
• Titanic - Rated PG-13 despite clear bare breast nudity, which at this point would earn most films an R.
• Watership Down- Rated PG despite a scene where a rabbit has his throat torn out by another rabbit onscreen with high amounts of blood detail (likely cause its animated)
• We Bought A Zoo - Rated PG despite 5 uses of "sh*t", and 1 use each of "son of a b*tch", "d*ck", and "a*shole".
• Yoga Hosers - Initially received an R mainly for a drawing depiction of male genitalia; re-rated PG-13 on appeal.
• Zack and Miri Makes a Porno - Rated R on appeal despite a depiction of coprophilia.

OFLC (New Zealand)

• Fifty Shades of Grey - The book was given an unrestricted M despite being more explicit than the film which obtained an R16.
• Highlander: The Search for Vengeance - Cross-rated M although the film deals with gory violence that if seen by the OFLC would earn a restricted label. Rated 15 in the UK.
• Into the River - Initially given an unrestricted M; some time later re-rated R14; then banned on appeal and in the same year re-rated as an unrestricted M.
• Resident Evil 3 Nemesis - Rated M despite containing horror and bloody violence; previous entries were rated R16. Rated MA 15+ in Australia.
• Split - Formerly an exception: Initially cross-rated M despite the film deals with disturbing content that normally would be unacceptable at unrestricted. Later would be rated R13 by the OFLC.

Ontario Ratings Board

• Blue Gender - All DVD volumes and the film received a PG despite graphic sex and violence. Rated 14A in Manitoba.
• Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn - Rated G despite containing mild swearing, crude hand gestures, bloody moments, injury detail and fantasy violence.
• Full Metal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa - Rated PG despite gory moments and partial frontal nudity.
• Happy Tree Friends - Volumes 1 and 2 have been rated "G" despite their gory cartoon violence. Other volumes are PG, 14A, and 18A despite the same level of content.
• The Hunger Games - Originally rated PG (Not recommended for young children), later after backslash from parents it was re-rated 14A on appeal.

TV Parental Guidelines

• All American- Rated TV PG (on The CW) despite a rather graphic scene of gun violence, sexual content, and a stabbing.
• Andi Mack- Disney Channel Show rated TV G dispite themes of teen pregnacy, and gun safety
• Batman Beyond - The Winning Edge episode was rated TV-Y7-FV despite steroid use/theme, probably because the Venom substance is fictional, also some episodes contains too violent/disturbing content (e.g. Rebirth, Bloodsport etc...). In other channels all the episodes are rated TV-PG.
• Ben 10 Ultimate Alien - The Forge of Creation episode is rated TV-Y7-FV despite containing some mildly suggestive dialogue; also Catch a Falling Star features mature thematic elements.
• Dragon Ball Z - All edited dub episodes on CN Toonami were rated TV-Y7-FV despite containing, although not all, blood/violent details and some mild swearing.
• Fullmetal Alchemist - Rated TV-PG on all Funimation DVDs despite many of them containing gory images — even more strange — considering some of these episodes were transmitted under a TV-14 on Adult Swim. The Blu-ray release of the complete series is rated TV-14.
  • Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa - The DVD rating is TV-PG despite gore and semi-explicit nudity. In the Blu-ray edition and Adult Swim broadcast it's a TV-14.
• Highwaymen Live! - Rated TV-G on PBS despite one use of "bastard" in the opening number, "Highwayman".
• Histeria! - Rated TV-Y despite multiple uses of "damn" in "The U.S. Civil War Part II" and "hell" in "General Sherman's Campsite".
• Impossible Builds - "The Skinny Skyscraper" is rated TV-G despite one use of "ass".
• King of the Hill - On the episodes "High Anxiety" and "Lost in MySpace", it was given a TV-PG for Suggestive Dialogue (D) and Violence (V) by Fox, FX, and other syndicated airings. But on Adult Swim, it was rated TV-14 for drug use and suicide references.
• Kirby: Right Back at Ya! - "Cappy Town Down" is rated TV-Y7-FV despite one use of "damn".
• Lizzie McGuire - Rated TV-G despite one depiction of graphic injury detail.
• Outlaw Star - Rated TV-Y7-FV on Cartoon Network's Toonami block despite some episodes of this edited version initially containing bad language (e.g., damn, son of a b*tch, bastard, etc.). In later airings these were edited out.
• Press Your Luck - The February 26, 1985 episode is rated TV-G despite one use of "f**k" and two of "sh*t".
• Pulp Fiction - Formerly an exception: El Rey Network rated the film uncut with a TV-14 despite graphic violence and strong language. El Rey acknowledged the gross error, and future uncut airings were rated TV-MA.
• Rave Master - In some episodes blood detail is present but all episodes were rated TV-Y7-FV in Cartoon Network - probably because the blood is black. In Syfy the series always carried a TV-PG-V.
• The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest - Contains moderate action adventure violence which is too realistic and detailed for its TV-Y7-FV rating on Cartoon Network's Toonami. In other stations the show is rated TV-PG.
• Reboot - One episode is rated TV-Y7 despite a use of the word "f**k" in binary, and "Painted Windows" is also rated TV-Y7 despite an utterance of "damn".
• Regular Show - Initial airings of the season 1 episodes "The Power", "Free Cake", and "Meat Your Maker" were rated TV-PG without the "L" for language subheading despite usage of the word "pissed". Airings of these episodes on Cartoon Network and Boomerang since 2013 have edited it to "ticked". Additionally, the season 2 episode "Brain Eraser" is rated TV-PG without the "D" for suggestive dialogue or "S" for sexual situations subheadings despite the amount of dirty jokes and sexual innuendos throughout the episode.
• Stranger Things - Rated TV 14 despite Graphic Violence, involving gore, a school shooting, and strong language such as "fuck"
• Shaman King - In "The Shaman Fight" "jackass" is used once despite the TV-Y7-FV rating.
• Speed Racer - "The Race Against the Mammoth Car Part 1" is rated TV-Y7 despite one use of "damn".
• SpongeBob SquarePants - "Dying for a Pie" has always been children rated (TV-Y or TV-Y7) despite brief mild cartoon gore, similar thing happens with Mid-Life Crustacean having some mild suggestive dialogues/situations although this one was retired from official channels circulation since 2018.
• Static Shock - "Jimmy" is rated TV-Y7-FV despite containing school shooting theme and related violence.
• The Simpsons - "Bart the Mother" was initially rated TV-G despite Bart accidentally killing a bird with a BB gun, Nelson's reckless and antisocial behavior earlier in the episode, and containing a few suggestive jokes. The episode was later re-rated to TV-PG sometime around 2021 in recent FXX airings.
• Tenchi Muyo! - Edited version for Toonami broadcast contained suggestive dialogues/situations despite being rated TV-Y7-FV.
• The Walking Dead - Formerly an exception: AMC rated the first 2 seasons as TV-14 despite intense graphic gore/violence. Later they were re-rated TV-MA.
• We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists - Broadcast uncensored on Pivot TV with a TV-14 rating despite its indecent crude language.

Videogame Rating Council

• Castlevania: Bloodlines - Rated GA despite the level of violence.
• Mortal Kombat - The Genesis version was rated MA-13 despite the presence of gore and fatalities. This may be because the blood and gore was hidden behind a code in this release, however said code was heavily publicized and became well known. The Sega CD version (effectively the same content wise, except the gore was turned on by default) was rated MA-17, as was its sequel.
• Splatterhouse 3 - Rated MA-13 despite the level of blood and gore present throughout.
• Robocop Versus Terminator - Rated MA-13 despite the persistent level of graphic violence and gore.

Trivia

• One of the reasons for this is trying to not follow a strict application of the guidelines and take into account a contextual justification which in the opinion of the classifiers mitigates the impact.
  • Other times classifiers are unaware of an specific element.
• Commonly this phenomenon is generally linked by people on classifier bias, interests and/or incompetence e.g. money, ideology, preferential treatment, not seeing the content etc...