MPAA

MPAA

noun | Business & Finance

The Motion Picture Association of America (since 2019 rebranded simply as the Motion Picture Association, or MPA) 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 MPAA assigns ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17) to films submitted for classification, and these ratings determine how a film can be marketed, where it can be exhibited, and what audience it can be sold to. The MPAA also represents its member studios' interests in copyright protection, trade policy, and anti-piracy enforcement.

Quick Reference

The Explanation: How & Why

The MPAA serves two distinct functions that are worth understanding separately: 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:

The MPAA's film 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 and parents to make informed decisions for their children.

The current ratings:

• 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 that parents may want to discuss.
• PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned): Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Moderate violence, suggestive content, brief strong language.
• 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.

Commercial implications of ratings:

The rating a film receives has significant commercial consequences:

An R rating restricts the audience to 17 and over (unless accompanied), limits marketing to adult audiences, and may cause some cinema chains to refuse to screen the film (particularly in family-oriented venues). 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.

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; and major television networks will not advertise NC-17 films. In practice, an NC-17 rating means a film cannot have a mainstream commercial release. Studios typically prefer to edit a film to achieve an R rating rather than accept NC-17.

The rating process:

Films are submitted voluntarily to CARA (Classification and Rating Administration) 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 to achieve a lower rating. The CARA board's membership and deliberations are confidential.

The MPAA as trade body:

Beyond ratings, the MPAA lobbies governments on copyright policy, anti-piracy legislation, and trade agreements affecting the film industry. It represents the major studios' collective interests in legislative and regulatory proceedings domestically and internationally.

Historical Context & Origin

The MPAA was founded in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) under Will Hays, as a response to public and political pressure for censorship following a series of Hollywood scandals. 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 MPAA president Jack Valenti, who introduced the rating system in November 1968. Valenti served as MPAA president for 38 years (1966-2004) and shaped both the rating system and the organisation's lobbying apparatus. The organisation dropped "of America" from its name in 2019 to reflect its international membership and scope.

How It's Used in Practice

Scenario 1 -- Rating Appeal (Studio / Producer): A studio submits a film to CARA and receives an R rating based on a specific scene. The studio calculates that an R rating will cost $30 million in box office revenue by limiting the under-17 audience. The studio appeals the rating; the appeal is unsuccessful. The studio recuts the scene to reduce its severity and resubmits. The revised film receives a PG-13.

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. Some cuts are made; the film receives an R.

Scenario 3 -- International Distribution (Producer): A film's MPAA 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. These bodies have different standards and may assign different ratings or require different cuts for their markets.

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 MPAA 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

MPAA vs. Government Censorship: The MPAA 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 MPAA 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.

MPAA Rating vs. International Ratings: The MPAA 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 a PG-13 in the US may receive a 15 certificate in the UK or require cuts for specific markets.

Related Terms

• Hays Code -- The predecessor regulatory system that the MPAA's rating system replaced in 1968
• General Release -- The mainstream theatrical distribution model; requires an appropriate MPAA rating to access major cinema chains
• Limited Release -- Specialty theatrical distribution; also requires MPAA rating compliance for mainstream venues
• Pre-Code -- The period before the Hays Code's enforcement; historically relevant to understanding what the MPAA's predecessor organisation was responding to

See Also / Tools

The Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator is relevant to MPAA 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.