Movie age ratings explained
Every movie page on this site shows the film's official age certification and the country whose rating board issued it. This page explains what those certificates actually mean — so "PG-13", "U/A" or "MA 15+" is a real answer, not a mystery code. We only ever show official ratings; when a film has none, we say so plainly instead of guessing. You can read more about our honesty policy inhow we rank movies.
United States — MPA ratings
The Motion Picture Association rates most films released in the US. These are the ratings you see most often on this site.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| G | General audiences — suitable for all ages. |
| PG | Parental guidance suggested — some material may not be suitable for young children. |
| PG-13 | Parents strongly cautioned — some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. |
| R | Restricted — viewers under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian. |
| NC-17 | Adults only — no one 17 and under admitted. |
United Kingdom — BBFC
The British Board of Film Classification uses age-stepped certificates; 12A applies in cinemas, 12 on home video.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| U | Universal — suitable for all ages. |
| PG | General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children without parental guidance. |
| 12A | Suitable for 12 and over; in cinemas, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. |
| 15 | Suitable only for viewers aged 15 and over. |
| 18 | Suitable only for adults, 18 and over. |
India — CBFC
The Central Board of Film Certification certifies films for Indian release — you will see these on our Bollywood and regional picks.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| U | Unrestricted — approved for all audiences. |
| UA | Unrestricted with caution — children under 12 should watch with parental guidance. |
| A | Adults only — restricted to viewers 18 and over. |
Australia — ACB
The Australian Classification Board mixes advisory categories (G, PG, M) with legally restricted ones (MA 15+, R 18+).
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| G | General — suitable for everyone. |
| PG | Parental guidance recommended for viewers under 15. |
| M | Recommended for mature audiences 15+ (advisory, not legally restricted). |
| MA 15+ | Restricted — viewers under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. |
| R 18+ | Restricted to viewers 18 and over. |
Germany — FSK
FSK ratings are straightforward age floors.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0 | Approved for all ages (FSK 0). |
| 6 | Approved for ages 6 and up (FSK 6). |
| 12 | Approved for ages 12 and up; children 6+ may watch in cinemas with a parent (FSK 12). |
| 16 | Approved for ages 16 and up (FSK 16). |
| 18 | Adults only — approved for ages 18 and up (FSK 18). |
South Korea — KMRB
The Korea Media Rating Board rates the Korean films our K-cinema lists are known for.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| ALL | Suitable for all ages. |
| 12 | Suitable for ages 12 and up; younger viewers may watch with a parent or guardian. |
| 15 | Suitable for ages 15 and up; younger viewers may watch with a parent or guardian. |
| 19 | No one under 19 admitted. |
Japan — Eirin
Eirin classifies films released in Japan, including the animated features on our Japan lists.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| G | General — suitable for all ages. |
| PG12 | Parental guidance advised for children under 12. |
| R15+ | Restricted to viewers 15 and over. |
| R18+ | Restricted to viewers 18 and over. |
Brazil — ClassInd
Brazil uses advisory age bands from "Livre" (all ages) upward.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| L | Livre — suitable for all ages. |
| 10 | Not recommended for viewers under 10. |
| 12 | Not recommended for viewers under 12. |
| 14 | Not recommended for viewers under 14. |
| 16 | Not recommended for viewers under 16. |
| 18 | Not recommended for viewers under 18. |
Examples from our lists
- G / all ages: Toy Story · My Neighbor Totoro
- PG: Spirited Away · Your Name.
- PG-13: The Dark Knight · Inception
- R: The Shawshank Redemption · Parasite
Looking for something for the family? Start with our family movies and animated movies lists. For adult-audience picks, see the best mature / R-rated films.
Frequently asked questions
What does PG-13 mean?
PG-13 is a US MPA rating meaning "parents strongly cautioned — some material may be inappropriate for children under 13". It is advisory: children can watch without an adult, but the film may include stronger language, violence or themes than PG.
What is the difference between PG-13 and R?
PG-13 is advisory; R is restricted. An R-rated film requires viewers under 17 to be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian in US theaters, and typically contains stronger violence, language, or adult content.
What does U/A mean in Indian movies?
U/A (also written UA) is a CBFC certificate meaning unrestricted public exhibition with a caution: children under 12 should watch with parental guidance. U means suitable for all; A restricts a film to adults 18 and over.
Why do different countries give the same movie different ratings?
Each national board weighs content differently — violence, language, sexuality and themes are treated more or less strictly depending on the country. That's why we always show which country's rating system a certificate comes from.
What if a movie has no age rating?
Some films — especially older or less widely released ones — have no certification in our data. In that case we say "Not rated / data unavailable" rather than guessing. We never invent an age rating.