A PG-13 rated film, in the United States, is not recommended for children (preteens) under the age of 13. This rating exceeds the PG rating when it comes to rating material. It can have intense violence, brief strong language, partial nudity, and (as the minimum rating) drug use. PG-13 is normally unrestricted. Unlike rated R features, there is no legal enforcement, and placing age restrictions on rated PG-13 features is voluntary by cinemas. The rating was introduced in 1984 to fill the gap between PG and R. The first title to receive a PG-13 rating is The Flamingo Kid. However, it was shelved, so Red Dawn is the first title that was released with a PG-13 rating. It means: Parents Strongly Cautioned (also known as Parental Guidance 13) - Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13.
Since the PG-13 rating is unrestricted, these movies can be targeted to teens and even tweens. Major PG-13 rated blockbuster features can perform particularly well in the box office. The top 10 grossing movies in the domestic box office are all rated PG-13.
Equivalent to: TV Parental Guidelines' TV-14 and ESRB's T rating (but T-rated video games usually do not permit use of the F-word unless it's censored or partially heard).
Factors[]
Violence[]
Intense and/or strong depictions of violence may be allowed. Gore must be brief and infrequently depicted. Sexual violence is not allowed unless implied or referenced. Depictions of blood are allowed if they aren't too gratuitous. Violence without injury detail is virtually unrestricted.
Sexual content[]
PG-13 rated movies can contain sex scenes if they are brief, implied, or infrequent. Sexual references or humor can be allowed if they aren't too graphic or crude. Nudity is allowed if it is not sexualized or too detailed.
Language[]
Multiple instances of swear words except the F- and C-words (such as "b*tch," "sh*t," "slut," etc...) may be permitted.
To avoid an R rating, the F-word must be used only once and not in a sexual matter. More than one use of the F-word and if the word is used in a sexual matter, will result in an R rating. However, there have been movies with multiple uses of the F-word and still be rated PG-13 (e.g. The Martian, The Hip Hop Project, Gunner Palace (originally an R), Adventures in Babysitting, Thelma, Antworm Fisher, Philomena (originally an R), Bully (originally an R), etc...).
Derogatory slurs (such as "f****t" and "n****r/n***a") should be justified by context.
Drug use[]
Drug use may be allowed if it's implied or brief and not graphic. Smoking and alcohol use is allowed.
Themes[]
Any theme is allowed but the depictions of certain activities can lead to an R rating.
List[]
- List of titles
- 8,300+ titles as of February 1, 2024
Trivia[]
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is the first 3-D computer-animated film to be rated PG-13.
- The first Disney film to receive an PG-13 rating was Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Until Deadpool & Wolverine, which got rated R, all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe theatrical features had been rated PG-13 (though The Avengers had to be edited down from an R). Oddly enough, the R-rated version of The Avengers, which edited an impalement to receive a PG-13 rating, is available on Blu-ray 3D with the PG-13 rating.
Gallery[]
Video[]
| Motion Picture Association film rating system |
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     Formerly used ratings: M | GP | X |