Differences in movie/tv ratings between the EU and the US and other countries

[hobbsyoyo]

So I saw Skyfall recently. Compared to most Bond movies, there wasn't much to the single sex scene. But like all Bond movies, there was lots and lots of violence.

Skyfall is rated PG 13 in the US, which means anyone 13 and up can see it in theaters without parents with them. It was shocking to me because it is a very violent movie.

I have noticed that here in the US, tv shows and movies are allowed to have much violence and still maintain low MPAA ratings (the PG13, R, etc ratings scale). However, just one nipple can cause an R rating (you must be 17 to see it unacompannied) or cause a scene to be removed on television. Also, a movie with a lot of sex risks an X rating, which kills movies because of it's association with porn. But you can put insane amounts of violence and gore (Saw, Hostel, etc) and keep an R rating.

Sex is very much frowned upon and subject to censorship or higher ratings, violence isn't.

Oh and drug use usually falls between the hardcore censorship of sex and the lax cencorship of violence in movies that feature drugs. It isn't an automatic R like sex but it can get an R rating easier than violence. It isn't generally shown on TV.

How do movie/tv ratings and censorship work in Europe, the UK, Australia and elsewhere? (I couldn't fit every other region in the title)

 

[Arwon]

In the US it's an industry self-rating thing created largely to forestall regulation.

In some other parts of the world it's an official government body which is tasked with classifying media.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I see. So how are violence, sex and drugs usually treated under the Aussie system of classification?

 

[Arwon]

http://www.classification.gov.au/Pages/Guidelines/Guidelines.aspx

Info page

Note that the anomalous lack of an R rating for videogames has until recently been the cause of the various "banned in Australia" stories. It's also had the perverse impact of pushing R level games down to MA15+ instead.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I see the MA15 rating mentions sex and drugs but not violence. Overall though, it seems that your system is much more consistent overall.

As you noted, our system is self censorship which means mostly (I think) old white men who are studio heads decide the classifications and it shows.

 

[Arwon]

Oh the OFLC is pretty conservative as far as official censorship bodies go.

 

[Leoreth]

I haven't seen Skyfall, so I can't judge its content, but it's free for twelve year olds and older in Germany. Generally sexuality isn't that much of a problem compared to violence, but it also depends on the form of violence. I assume that Skyfall is mainly people being shot and explosions, which is usually seen as unproblematic. Gore is more of a problem.

 

[Camikaze]

I see. So how are violence, sex and drugs usually treated under the Aussie system of classification?

Movies containing nudity and more than a couple of sex scenes are either rated R or SBS.

 

[Mise]

UK ratings broadly follow US ratings. The age ranges are U, PG, 12, 15, and 18.

 

[amadeus]

Ratings in the U.S. are more than content ratings―they're basically used as much now to just tell you what demographic the movie's target. I'd say it breaks down to:

G: kids under 5-6
PG: 6-12
PG-13: 12-17
R: 17+

 

[JohannaK]

In Spain Skyfall is "Recommended for 12 and older." But I am yet to know anybody who would go to the cinema by himself at less than 12.

 

[Mise]

I did... EDIT: Well obviously not "by myself", but with friends who were also my age (i.e. 11).

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Ratings in the U.S. are more than content ratings―they're basically used as much now to just tell you what demographic the movie's target. I'd say it breaks down to:

G: kids under 5-6
PG: 6-12
PG-13: 12-17
R: 17+

Yeah, ratings can also sink movies here. Most movies strive for PG13 because movies rated PG13 make more than R rated films usually. The directors will go so far as to shoot many alternate scenes to try and satisfy the ratings board and sometimes this will lead to movies that are subpar due to the compromise.

I know Ridley Scott filmed a bloodless version of the alien abortion scene, but in the end didn't go with it because it hurt the film.

Edit: Also, as I mentioned before, movies that get an X rating generally are doomed. "X" ratings do not mean porn, but the porn industry co-opted the label and destroyed it's legitimate use. There has been talk of changing the X rating, but AFAIK it hasn't been changed yet.

One example (and I wish I could be more specific, but I slept since then) was a scene in a movie where a man was having sex doggy style with a women. In the scene, he was interrupted and had to pull out and thus expose his penis to the camera. The ratings board threatened the movie with an X rating if the man had an erect penis when he pulled out, they wanted him to be completely flaccid when he pulled out.

The director refused this, and in the end they compromised on semi-erect. I'm not joking! That's how off the ratings board can be. If you are going to allow the sex scene (and you're already giving it an R rating regardless so only adults can see it), then why does it matter if he's erect or not?

Also, I'd hate to be that actor, that's too many demands to make of a penis (they filmed all versions of the scene) without actual release.

I haven't seen Skyfall, so I can't judge its content, but it's free for twelve year olds and older in Germany. Generally sexuality isn't that much of a problem compared to violence, but it also depends on the form of violence. I assume that Skyfall is mainly people being shot and explosions, which is usually seen as unproblematic. Gore is more of a problem.

Skyfall had run of the mill violence, no gore. But it did have an awful lot of violence.

I would rather my kids be exposed to sexuality than violence (and I don't mean rape or other sexual violence) because sex is normal and violence is almost always wrong. I think allowing gratuitous violence in movies with PG13 movies but no sex is backwards and detrimental.

I remember watching the first Starship Troopers with my dad and he let me see all the gore, no problem, but then he fast forwarded through the boobies.

In Spain Skyfall is "Recommended for 12 and older." But I am yet to know anybody who would go to the cinema by himself at less than 12.

If you live within walking distance of a cinema, I don't see why it's a big deal for kids to go alone.

 

[Leoreth]

It's funny that you mention Starship Troopers because I was almost going to mention that I don't think violence is a problem once it is displayed in an almost ridiculous, over the top way, and I would have cited Verhoeven as an example

I don't think violence is that much of a problem as long as it can be rationalized as necessary within the context of the movie. Sure, killing people is always bad, but in a James Bond movie its part of the idea that bad guys shoot at 007 and he shoots back at them. No biggie.

On the other hand, movies like Seven don't show a lot of actual violence on screen, but imply many horrible and disturbing things, which I imagine would be way worse for children to come across.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I don't see violence as a universal problem in all movies.

I just don't think the way it is rated or censored is correct, especially with respect to how sexuality is rated and censored.

I always heard that Europe had much more sex on TV, is that correct?

It used to be virtually non-existent on basic TV here, though it is creeping in more and more.

 

[warpus]

It is definitely a "don't have kids in this messed up culture" thing for me. I mean, as someone who doesn't even have a girlfriend that might sound like a bit much, but I seriously think that bringing up a kid or two would be an incredibly tough task. I mean, given how much exposure to the media these kids would have and the blatant BS they would be spoonfed from left and right, 24/7, there's no way that I could be an efficient parent in that I could interject and say "no no kids, don't listen to that bs, sex isn't an evil thing and violence isn't good" every time they were exposed to something ridiculous. It'd just be impossible.

I don't want my kids growing up in a culture that thinks that violence and gore are okay and sex is something evil that needs to be censored. That is just completely backwards.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

It is definitely a "don't have kids in this messed up culture" thing for me. I mean, as someone who doesn't even have a girlfriend that might sound like a bit much, but I seriously think that bringing up a kid or two would be an incredibly tough task. I mean, given how much exposure to the media these kids would have and the blatant BS they would to be spoonfed from left and right, 24/7, there's no way that I could be an efficient parent in that I could interject and say "no no kids, don't listen to that bs, sex isn't an evil thing and violence isn't good" every time they were exposed to something ridiculous. It'd just be impossible.

I don't want my kids growing up in a culture that thinks that violence and gore are okay and sex is something evil that needs to be censored. That is just completely backwards.

So I assume Canadian ratings and censorship follows roughly the same track as American ratings and cencorship?

 

[warpus]

So I assume Canadian ratings and censorship follows roughly the same track as American ratings and cencorship?

Oh, I don't really know how similar the systems are, as I don't really watch TV and I don't really go out to movie theatres either.

We are a bit more relaxed in terms of the dreaded nipple thankfully, so I don't think our system is quite as prudish, but there is still way too much bipolar bs regarding sexuality in our media: On one hand we're told that sex is awesome but then.. it's bad at the same time.

Huh?

 

[The_J]

I always heard that Europe had much more sex on TV, is that correct?

Can't compare it, but I guess this is the general assumption.
Just yesterday I saw a film on the TV, with a sex scene, around 9 PM. No idea how it was rated (missed the beginning), but around that time it can only by 16+, I think, but that should've been 18+.
Some boulevard magazins also show nude photos, or erotic photo shootings before 8 PM (but that's rather unusual).
Everything with sex has in general to be shown after 10 or 11 PM (not sure, but either it is).


The rating system in Germany is a bit complicated.
There's the European PEGI system, but it's not really relevant.
For TV, there's a self classification system, the FSK, but not sure how it works. Sex films are 18+, but for the rest.... Language does not count, AFAIK.
For games, there's a government rating system, the USK, which is legally binding (in contrast to the FSK).
The relevant stages there are 12+, for abstract scenarios, where the violence is not that visual or dominant (also counting Civ, but also RPGs, e.g. Oblivion), 16+ for real violence, but with some background (e.g. military shooters, some strategy games), and 18+ for more excessive violence (e.g. The Witcher, where body parts are flying around). Last stage is no classification, which sets the games on the same stage like porn, so you can't advertise them. No classification get the games, which advertise self justice, contain overbearing violence, or where unnecessary violence is necessary (e.g. shooting civilians; e.g. Postal falls in that category). Funnily sex is nowhere mentioned, besides porn, which would get you no classification. The Gothic series, which contain both parts 1 hidden naked scene (but no sex), are rated 12+.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Can't compare it, but I guess this is the general assumption.
Just yesterday I saw a film on the TV, with a sex scene, around 9 PM. No idea how it was rated (missed the beginning), but around that time it can only by 16+, I think, but that should've been 18+.
Some boulevard magazins also show nude photos, or erotic photo shootings before 8 PM.

Interesting. They recently started allowing TV stations in the US to show uncensored movies after midnight on the theory that all kids are in bed at that point. Only Comedy Central, AFAIK, has actually shown uncensored stuff.

Of course pay-per-view channels are allowed to show whatever they want whenever they want. Not sure why they get special treatment though.