MPAA Ratings
Content Descriptors
This guide provides a comprehensive list of content descriptors that appear with each MPAA rating classification. Note that each higher rating level may contain descriptors from lower rating levels in addition to its own specific descriptors.
G - General Audiences
All ages admitted. Nothing that would offend parents for viewing by children.
Content Descriptors
- None (G-rated films contain no content descriptors)
PG - Parental Guidance Suggested
Some material may not be suitable for children. Parents urged to give "parental guidance."
Content Descriptors
Language & Humor
- Mild language
- Brief mild language
- Some mild language
- Mild crude humor
- Mild rude humor
- Brief crude humor
- Some crude humor
Violence & Action
- Mild action
- Some action sequences
- Action/adventure
- Brief violence
- Mild violence
- Some violence
- Cartoon violence
- Comic violence
- Fantasy violence
Frightening Content
- Mild peril
- Some peril
- Brief scary images
- Some scary images
- Mild scary moments
Sexual Content & Nudity
- Brief suggestive content
- Mild suggestive content
- Some suggestive content
- Brief partial nudity
Substance Use
- Smoking
- Brief smoking
- Some smoking
Thematic Elements
- Mild thematic elements
- Some thematic elements
PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious.
Content Descriptors
Language & Humor
- Language
- Some language
- Brief strong language
- Crude and suggestive humor
- Crude humor
- Sexual humor
- Suggestive humor
Violence & Action
- Intense sequences
- Intense action sequences
- Action violence
- Sequences of action violence
- Violence
- Some violence
- Intense violence
- Brief violence
- Fantasy violence
- Sci-fi violence
- Western violence
- War violence
- Brief bloody violence
- Some bloody images
Frightening & Disturbing Content
- Disturbing images
- Brief disturbing images
- Some disturbing content
- Terror
- Brief terror
- Some terror
- Frightening images
- Brief frightening images
- Peril
- Some peril
- Intense peril
Sexual Content & Nudity
- Suggestive content
- Some suggestive content
- Sexual content
- Brief sexual content
- Some sexual material
- Partial nudity
- Brief partial nudity
- Some partial nudity
- Brief nudity
Substance Use
- Drug content
- Some drug content
- Brief drug use
- Drug material
- Smoking
- Some smoking
- Teen drinking
- Brief teen drinking
- Underage drinking
Thematic Elements
- Thematic elements
- Mature thematic elements
- Some mature themes
R - Restricted
Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material.
Content Descriptors
Language
- Strong language
- Pervasive language
- Strong language throughout
- Language throughout
Violence & Gore
- Violence
- Strong violence
- Intense violence
- Graphic violence
- Brutal violence
- Bloody violence
- Strong bloody violence
- Graphic bloody violence
- Disturbing violent content
- Strong disturbing violent content
- Gore
- Strong gore
- Graphic gore
- Horror violence
- Strong horror violence
Disturbing & Frightening Content
- Disturbing images
- Strong disturbing images
- Graphic disturbing images
- Terror
- Intense terror
- Strong terror
- Aberrant behavior
- Disturbing behavior
- Strong aberrant behavior
Sexual Content & Nudity
- Crude sexual content
- Strong crude sexual content
- Sexual content
- Strong sexual content
- Graphic sexual content
- Nudity
- Strong nudity
- Graphic nudity
- Brief graphic nudity
- Full nudity
Substance Use
- Drug use
- Strong drug use
- Pervasive drug use
- Drug content
- Strong drug content
- Substance abuse
- Alcohol abuse
- Some smoking
NC-17 - No One 17 and Under Admitted
Clearly adult. Children are not admitted.
Content Descriptors
Violence
- Graphic and prolonged scenes of intense violence
Sexual Content & Nudity
- Graphic and prolonged scenes of explicit sexual content
- Explicit sexual content
- Graphic sexual content throughout
- Explicit nudity
- Graphic nudity throughout
- Strong graphic sexual content
- Some explicit sexual content
Disturbing Content
- Aberrant behavior involving violence and sexuality
- Strong disturbing content involving rape and violence
Notes
- Content descriptors may be combined (e.g., "violence and language")
- "Brief" typically indicates short duration
- "Some" indicates moderate frequency or intensity
- "Strong" indicates high intensity
- "Graphic" indicates explicit visual detail
- "Pervasive" indicates throughout the film
- Regional variations may exist for international releases
- This list represents common descriptors as of 2024