Most Memorable MPAA Content Descriptors - Blu-ray Forum

PhysicalMediaMaestro · 08-21-2025, 08:33 PM

In addition to assigning age ratings to movies (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) also assigns brief explanations as to why a movie was rated higher than G. These explanations are called "content descriptors". The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has a standardized list of a few dozen content descriptors, but not the MPAA. The MPAA makes up their content descriptors on the fly.

Many of them are mundane, but many MPAA content descriptors stand out for the following reasons:
1. They sound more confusing than informative.
2. They make you laugh.
3. They sound like marketing blurbs.
4. They reveal information that should be obvious from the movie's marketing campaign.

Here are just a few that stick out in my mind, with explanations as to why they stick out in my mind.

"Monkey Trouble" (1994)-Rated PG for a moment of menace.

Where exactly is that moment of menace? Timestamp it and I can turn it into a G-rated movie. Easily.

"Grumpier Old Men" (1995)-Rated PG-13 for salty language and innuendos

Do any movies have sugary language? Or tangy language? Or spicy language?

"Twister" (1996)-Rated PG-13 for intense depiction of very bad weather.

Very bad weather? I never would have guessed that from the posters, trailers, and TV commercials. Thank you, MPAA!

"F6: Twister" (2012)-Rated PG for disaster images and brief language.

When they say "brief language", are they saying that the movie has a small number of bad words, or are they saying that the movie's characters are discussing Hanes underwear or some other kind of underwear?

"Batman Returns: (1992)-Rated PG-13 for brooding, dark violence.

If the violence in this movie was "light violence", would it get rated PG?

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005)-Rated PG for quirky situations, action and mild language.

What exactly are "quirky situations" in the eyes of the MPAA?

"Camp Nowhere" (1994)-Rated PG for some mild adolescent language and sensuality.

Does that mean that every movie in which an adolescent character says a single word must be rated PG? If so, the MPAA should have given "The Princess Diaries" and "High School Musical" PG ratings just to be consistent, because both those movies have words spoken by adolescent characters.

"Little Women" (1994)-Rated PG for two uses of mild language.

Why don't all MPAA content descriptors give us an exact count of the number of bad words in the movie?

"The Client" (1994)-Rated PG-13 for a child in jeopardy and brief language.

Instead of "a child in jeopardy", I would have used the phrase "endangering a child", to avoid disappointing anyone hoping to see a child on the "Jeopardy" game show.

"Schindler's List" (1993)-Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence.

Instead of "actuality violence", I would use the phrase "actual footage of actual violence".

"Three Colors: Red" (1994)-Rated R for a brief but strong sex scene.

What exactly makes a sex scene "strong"? Are they implying that sex scenes in PG-13 movies are weak by comparison?

"Demolition Man" (1993)-Rated R for non-stop action violence, and for strong language.

Those who saw this movie because of this descriptor may have been thinking, "If the action violence stops, I'm done with this movie, and I'm never trusting the MPAA again."

Those are just the examples I have found. But I am sure that you can find many more, as thousands of movies have been rated by the MPAA over the years. Feel free to share. Have a nice day and a great weekend.

08-21-2025, 08:33 PM	#1
PhysicalMediaMaestro Expert Member Member since:May 2025	Most Memorable MPAA Content Descriptors In addition to assigning age ratings to movies (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) also assigns brief explanations as to why a movie was rated higher than G. These explanations are called "content descriptors". The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has a standardized list of a few dozen content descriptors, but not the MPAA. The MPAA makes up their content descriptors on the fly. Many of them are mundane, but many MPAA content descriptors stand out for the following reasons: 1. They sound more confusing than informative. 2. They make you laugh. 3. They sound like marketing blurbs. 4. They reveal information that should be obvious from the movie's marketing campaign. Here are just a few that stick out in my mind, with explanations as to why they stick out in my mind. "Monkey Trouble" (1994)-Rated PG for a moment of menace. Where exactly is that moment of menace? Timestamp it and I can turn it into a G-rated movie. Easily. "Grumpier Old Men" (1995)-Rated PG-13 for salty language and innuendos Do any movies have sugary language? Or tangy language? Or spicy language? "Twister" (1996)-Rated PG-13 for intense depiction of very bad weather. Very bad weather? I never would have guessed that from the posters, trailers, and TV commercials. Thank you, MPAA! "F6: Twister" (2012)-Rated PG for disaster images and brief language. When they say "brief language", are they saying that the movie has a small number of bad words, or are they saying that the movie's characters are discussing Hanes underwear or some other kind of underwear? "Batman Returns: (1992)-Rated PG-13 for brooding, dark violence. If the violence in this movie was "light violence", would it get rated PG? "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005)-Rated PG for quirky situations, action and mild language. What exactly are "quirky situations" in the eyes of the MPAA? "Camp Nowhere" (1994)-Rated PG for some mild adolescent language and sensuality. Does that mean that every movie in which an adolescent character says a single word must be rated PG? If so, the MPAA should have given "The Princess Diaries" and "High School Musical" PG ratings just to be consistent, because both those movies have words spoken by adolescent characters. "Little Women" (1994)-Rated PG for two uses of mild language. Why don't all MPAA content descriptors give us an exact count of the number of bad words in the movie? "The Client" (1994)-Rated PG-13 for a child in jeopardy and brief language. Instead of "a child in jeopardy", I would have used the phrase "endangering a child", to avoid disappointing anyone hoping to see a child on the "Jeopardy" game show. "Schindler's List" (1993)-Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence. Instead of "actuality violence", I would use the phrase "actual footage of actual violence". "Three Colors: Red" (1994)-Rated R for a brief but strong sex scene. What exactly makes a sex scene "strong"? Are they implying that sex scenes in PG-13 movies are weak by comparison? "Demolition Man" (1993)-Rated R for non-stop action violence, and for strong language. Those who saw this movie because of this descriptor may have been thinking, "If the action violence stops, I'm done with this movie, and I'm never trusting the MPAA again." Those are just the examples I have found. But I am sure that you can find many more, as thousands of movies have been rated by the MPAA over the years. Feel free to share. Have a nice day and a great weekend.

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