Gremlins (airing this month on SYFY), which will turn 40 years old this summer, was one of two films that prompted the invention of the PG-13 rating. It may shock younger viewers to learn that the Joe Dante-directed film, which features blood, mayhem, and murder in addition to its many laughs, is rated a mere PG.
The "PG-13" rating was introduced on July 1, 1984, with the advisory "Parents Are Strongly Cautioned to Give Special Guidance for Attendance of Children Under 13 – Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Young Children". The first film to be released with this rating was the John Milius war film Red Dawn.
The Black Cauldron, in 1985, was the first animated feature to receive a PG rating. The first PG-13 film did not come until 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Print. TLDR: Yes, children under 13 years of age can watch PG13 movies. Films rated PG13 is an advisory rating for parents to note there are scenes or themes unsuitable for younger children. However, there's no age restriction; so the parent can choose to allow or bring the child for the movie.
While you shouldn't let your children watch PG-13 films alone, you can sit with them with a bucket of popcorn to enjoy some wholesome bonding time. Here are some PG-13 movies you can enjoy with your kids, even if they are yet to turn 13.
The introduction of the PG-13 rating in 1984 expanded the scope of the rating system. Not intended to be tied to any specific age, the rating is a stronger note of caution suggesting to parents to further investigate the content of the motion picture before allowing their children to see it.
A motion picture's single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context.
Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are responsible for the PG-13 rating. Not unlike the way the cute, cuddly Mogwai transform into evil, impish Grelmins, the iconic '80s comedy-horror flick helped transform movies forever.
Other than a couple of suspenseful scenes, the movie isn't too scary as it's mostly mischevious creatures being mischevious. At first the mogwai are cute, but once they "morph" into the more dangerous gremlins, they seem creepy and scary. A lot of the violence may be scary, but all of it is meant to be so over the top.
One report describes Gremlins as "in general too disturbing for children and [playing] far too highly with childish fears and insecurities while having fun with the adults". The gremlins themselves, once fed and watered, are nasty things to look at and the final 'melty' sequence is a gruesome sight.
Deadpool is the alter ego of Wade Wilson, a disfigured Canadian mercenary with superhuman regenerative healing abilities. He is known for his tendency to joke incessantly and break the fourth wall for humorous effect.
There are crude sex references throughout, including to pornography, ball gags, sex toys and oral sex. The film also contains infrequent strong language ('f**k'), multiple examples of bleeped or implied strong language (including 'motherfudger' and 'effed') and instances of mouthed strong language.
Strong language is permissible within a 12A but the frequency of use in Deadpool puts it firmly at 15. There is no upper limit on the number of uses of strong language at 15. The BBFC ratings info, then called BBFC Insight, noted the film contains strong bloody violence, strong language and sex references.
A G rating would mean there's no content that parents would be concerned about, a PG rating means there's some content that parents may want to know about, a PG-13 rating indicates there's even more content that families may not find appropriate and R means the film has adult content (same with NC-17).
PG: PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED. Some material may not be suitable for children. PG-13: PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers. While The Motion Picture Association of America recommends that children under 13 do not see PG-13 movies, there is no magical age. This is going to be different for every family and maybe even every child.
Trademark. parental guidance for children under 13: a rating assigned to a movie by the MPA advising parents that a film contains material they may deem unsuitable for children under the age of 13.
Anyone under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Films classified 12A contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
