MPAA

MPAA

noun | Business & Finance

The Motion Picture Association (known as the Motion Picture Association of America until its 2019 rebrand) is the trade association representing the major Hollywood studios and the organisation that administers the voluntary film rating system used in the United States. The MPA assigns ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17) to films submitted for classification. These ratings determine how a film can be marketed, where it can be exhibited, and what audience it can reach. The MPA also represents its member studios' interests in copyright protection, trade policy, and anti-piracy enforcement globally.

Quick Reference

The Explanation: How & Why

The MPA serves two distinct functions: it is the industry trade body for major studios, and it administers the film rating system. These functions are connected historically but operate differently.

The rating system was introduced in 1968 to replace the Production Code (Hays Code), which had governed Hollywood content through prohibition rather than classification. The rating system takes a different approach: rather than prohibiting specific content, it classifies films by the type and degree of content they contain, allowing audiences to make informed choices.

The current ratings are:

• G (General Audiences): No content that would offend parents of younger children. No violence, strong language, or sexual content.
• PG (Parental Guidance Suggested): Some material may not be suitable for young children. Mild violence, brief language, or thematic elements.
• PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned): Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Moderate violence, suggestive content, brief strong language. The PG-13 rating was introduced in 1984 after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Gremlins received PG ratings that many parents found inappropriate for young children.
• R (Restricted): Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Significant violence, strong language, or sexual content.
• NC-17 (No One 17 and Under Admitted): Adults only. Content inappropriate for children or adolescents. Replaced the X rating in 1990 after the X rating was appropriated by the pornography industry and became commercially unusable for legitimate films.

Commercial implications are significant. An R rating restricts the audience to 17 and over (unless accompanied), limits marketing to adult audiences, and may cause some cinema chains to reduce screening commitments. Securing a PG-13 rating rather than an R is a commercial priority for studios targeting wide audiences. PG-13 is the maximum rating compatible with marketing to teenagers, and PG-13 films consistently outperform R films at the domestic box office. Of the top 50 highest-grossing domestic releases of all time, approximately 38 carry a PG-13 rating.

An NC-17 rating is commercially devastating. Major theatre chains (AMC, Regal, Cinemark) typically refuse to screen NC-17 films. Major retailers refuse to stock NC-17 home video releases. Major television networks will not advertise NC-17 films. Studios typically edit a film to achieve an R rating rather than accept NC-17.

The rating process works as follows. Films are submitted voluntarily to CARA for rating. A film that is not submitted receives no rating. CARA's rating board views the film and assigns a rating with a brief explanation of the content that determined it. The studio can appeal a rating or recut the film and resubmit. The CARA board's membership and deliberations are confidential.

Historical Context & Origin

The MPA was founded in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) under Will Hays, a response to public and political pressure for censorship following a series of Hollywood scandals including the Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle trial and the murder of William Desmond Taylor. Under Hays, the organisation produced the Production Code (adopted 1930, strictly enforced from 1934) that governed Hollywood content until 1968. The transition from the Hays Code to the rating system was led by MPA president Jack Valenti, who introduced the rating system in November 1968. Valenti served as MPA president for 38 years (1966-2004) and shaped both the rating system and the organisation's lobbying apparatus. The PG-13 rating was added in 1984. The NC-17 rating replaced X in 1990. The organisation dropped "of America" from its name in 2019 to reflect its international membership, which includes Netflix and Amazon Studios alongside the legacy majors. For the official history and current member list, see the MPA website.

How It's Used in Practice

Scenario 1: Rating Appeal (Studio / Producer) A studio submits a $80 million action film to CARA and receives an R rating based on intensity of violence in the third act. The studio calculates that an R rating will cost $30 million in domestic box office revenue by limiting the under-17 audience. The studio appeals the rating through the Classification and Rating Appeals Board. The appeal requires a two-thirds majority vote to overturn. The appeal is unsuccessful. The studio recuts the scene, removing 12 seconds of footage, and resubmits. The revised film receives a PG-13. The 12-second cut costs $0 in additional post-production and preserves the scene's narrative function.

Scenario 2: NC-17 Avoidance (Director / Studio) A director's film as originally cut would receive an NC-17 for a combination of sexual content and graphic violence. The studio requires edits to reach an R. The director and studio negotiate which edits preserve the film's integrity while achieving the commercially necessary rating. The director makes 3 cuts totalling 45 seconds. The film receives an R. The director releases the original cut on Blu-ray and streaming as an "unrated" version, which carries no MPA restriction and can be sold through retailers that would refuse NC-17 product.

Scenario 3: International Distribution (Producer) A film's MPA rating is a US classification only. For international distribution, the film must be submitted to each territory's national classification body: the BBFC in the UK, the FSK in Germany, the CBFC in India (now the CBFC with revised 2024 guidelines), the ACB in Australia. These bodies have different standards and may assign different ratings or require different cuts. A film that receives PG-13 in the US may receive a 15 certificate in the UK or an R18+ in Australia. The producer budgets $15,000 to $25,000 per territory for classification fees and potential recut costs.

Usage Examples in Sentences

"The film got an R. We are appealing. We need a PG-13 to hit the revenue targets."

"NC-17 is commercially equivalent to no release. No major chains will screen it and no major retailers will stock the disc."

"The MPA rating is a US classification. Every territory has its own system. A PG-13 here might be a 15 certificate in the UK."

"The Hays Code prohibited content. The rating system classifies it. The shift from one to the other in 1968 changed what American films could show."

Common Confusions & Misuse

MPA vs. Government Censorship: The MPA rating system is entirely voluntary. There is no legal requirement for a film to submit to CARA for a rating, and no government body mandates MPA compliance. However, the commercial and exhibition infrastructure makes the ratings effectively mandatory. Without a rating, a film cannot be marketed to mainstream audiences or shown in major cinema chains. Voluntary in theory, obligatory in practice.

MPA Rating vs. International Ratings: The MPA rating applies only in the United States. Films distributed internationally must comply with each territory's separate classification system. These systems have different age thresholds, different content standards, and different enforcement mechanisms. A film that achieves PG-13 in the US may receive a 15 certificate in the UK, a 16+ in France, or require cuts for specific markets.

MPA vs. FCC: The MPA is a private industry trade association, not a government agency. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates broadcast television and radio content. The MPA regulates theatrical film classification. These are separate bodies with separate jurisdictions and no formal relationship.

Variations by Context

Key People & Films

Jack Valenti is the defining figure in MPA history. As president from 1966 to 2004, he designed and implemented the rating system that replaced the Hays Code in 1968 and introduced the PG-13 rating in 1984. Will Hays founded the organisation in 1922 and created the Production Code that preceded the rating system. Dan Glickman succeeded Valenti (2004-2010), followed by Chris Dodd (2011-2017). Charles Rivkin has served as Chairman and CEO since 2017, navigating the MPA through the streaming era and expanding membership to include Netflix and Amazon. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Gremlins (1984) directly prompted the creation of the PG-13 rating after parental outrage over their PG-rated intensity. Henry & June (1990) was the first film to receive the NC-17 rating, replacing the commercially toxic X rating.

Equipment / Tools Reference

The MPA rating process does not involve production equipment, but several tools support rating-related decisions. Movie Magic Budgeting and Entertainment Partners budgeting software include line items for CARA submission fees and potential recut costs. Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer are used for the recut edits required when a film receives an unexpected rating. FilmTrack and Vistamax rights management platforms track rating certifications across territories. Gracenote and Rovi metadata services distribute MPA rating information to streaming platforms, electronic program guides, and retail databases. Spherex provides automated content rating analysis that predicts likely MPA ratings before formal CARA submission, allowing studios to pre-screen content for rating risk.

Standards & Specifications

CARA submission fees as of 2025 are approximately $2,000 to $12,000 per film, depending on the submitting company's MPA membership status and the film's budget tier. The Classification and Rating Appeals Board requires a two-thirds majority vote to overturn a rating. The appeals process costs approximately $12,500. The MPA's Title Registration Bureau manages title registration for member studios to prevent conflicts. The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) manages digital rights metadata including MPA ratings across streaming platforms. International classification standards vary: the BBFC charges £100 to £1,500 per film depending on runtime; the FSK charges €50 to €300; the CBFC charges based on film length and certification type. The MPA's anti-piracy operations work with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and international law enforcement through the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), founded in 2017.

Common Questions / FAQ

Q: Is the MPA rating system legally required?

A: No. The system is voluntary. No law requires a film to carry an MPA rating. However, virtually all major cinema chains require an MPA rating to screen a film, and most major retailers require one to stock physical media. In practice, an unrated film faces the same commercial barriers as an NC-17 film for theatrical release.

Q: What does NC-17 mean and why do studios avoid it?

A: NC-17 means no one 17 and under is admitted, regardless of parental accompaniment. Major theatre chains (AMC, Regal, Cinemark) typically refuse to screen NC-17 films. Major retailers refuse to stock NC-17 discs. Major networks refuse to air NC-17 advertising. The rating is commercially devastating, and studios almost always edit to achieve an R instead.

Q: How is the MPA different from the FCC?

A: The MPA is a private industry trade association that classifies theatrical films voluntarily. The FCC is a US government agency that regulates broadcast television and radio content by law. They are separate organisations with separate jurisdictions. Television uses the TV Parental Guidelines system (TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA), not the MPA film rating system.

Related Terms

• [Hays Code](/glossary/hays-code): The predecessor regulatory system that the MPA's rating system replaced in 1968
• [General Release](/glossary/general-release): The mainstream theatrical distribution model; requires an appropriate MPA rating to access major cinema chains
• [Limited Release](/glossary/limited-release): Specialty theatrical distribution; also requires MPA rating compliance for mainstream venues
• [Pre-Code](/glossary/pre-code): The period before the Hays Code's enforcement; historically relevant to understanding what the MPA's predecessor organisation was responding to
• [Blockbuster](/glossary/blockbuster): The commercial film model that the PG-13 rating was designed to protect and maximize

See Also / Tools

The Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator is relevant to MPA rating decisions. The commercial cost of an R vs. PG-13 rating can be modelled against the revenue difference between restricted and unrestricted theatrical audiences. For understanding how rating-related recuts affect the post-production schedule, see the Production Schedule Calculator.