The impact of the classifiable elements for material classified G should be very mild only.

NOTE: The G classification is for a general audience. However, it does not necessarily indicate that children will enjoy the film or computer game. Some G films and games contain themes, story-lines or game play that do not interest children.

CLASSIFIABLE ELEMENTS

THEMES: The treatment of themes should have a very low sense of threat or menace, and be justified by context.
VIOLENCE: Violence should have only a low sense of threat or menace, and be justified by context. Sexual violence is not permitted.
SEX: Sexual activity should be very mild and very discreetly implied, and be justified by context.
LANGUAGE: Coarse language should be very mild and infrequent, and be justified by context.
DRUG USE: Drug use should be implied only very discreetly, and be justified by context.
NUDITY: Nudity should be justified by context.

The impact of the classifiable elements for material classified PG/G(8+) should be no higher than mild.

NOTE: Material classified PG/G(8+) may contain material which some children find confusing or upsetting, and may require the guidance of parents or guardians.

It is not recommended for viewing by persons under 15 without guidance from parents or guardians.

CLASSIFIABLE ELEMENTS

THEMES: The treatment of themes should generally have a low sense of threat or menace and be justified by context.
VIOLENCE: Violence should be mild and infrequent, and be justified by context. Sexual violence is not permitted.
SEX: Sexual activity should be mild and discreetly implied, and be justified by context.
LANGUAGE: Coarse language should be mild and infrequent, and be justified by context.
DRUG USE: Drug use should be justified by context.
NUDITY: Nudity should be justified by context.

The impact of the classifiable elements for material classified M/M(15+) should be no higher than moderate.

NOTE: Material classified M/M(15+) is not recommended for persons under 15 years of age. There are no legal restrictions on access.

CLASSIFIABLE ELEMENTS

THEMES: The treatment of themes may have a moderate sense of threat or menace, if justified by context.
VIOLENCE: Moderate violence is permitted, if justified by context. Sexual violence should be very limited and justified by context.
SEX: Sexual activity should be discreetly implied, if justified by context.
LANGUAGE: Coarse language may be used. Aggressive or strong coarse language should be infrequent and justified by context.
DRUG USE: Drug use should be justified by context.
NUDITY: Nudity should be justified by context.

The impact of material classified MA/MA(15+) should be no higher than strong.

NOTE: Material classified MA/MA(15+) is considered unsuitable for persons under 15 years of age. It is a legally restricted category.

CLASSIFIABLE ELEMENTS

THEMES: The treatment of strong themes should be justified by context.
VIOLENCE: Violence should be justified by context. Sexual violence may be implied, if justified by context.
SEX: Sexual activity may be implied.
LANGUAGE: Strong coarse language may be used. Aggressive or very strong coarse language should be infrequent.
DRUG USE: Drug use should be justified by context.
NUDITY: Nudity should be justified by context.

The impact of material classified R should not exceed high.

NOTE: This classification category applies only to films. Material classified R is legally restricted to adults. Some material classified R may be offensive to section of the adult community.

CLASSIFIABLE ELEMENTS

THEMES: There are virtually no restrictions on the treatment of themes.
VIOLENCE: Violence is permitted. Sexual violence may be implied, if justified by context.
SEX: Sexual activity may be realistically simulated. The general rule is "simulation, yes - the real thing, no".
LANGUAGE: There are virtually no restrictions on language.
DRUG USE: Drug use is permitted.
NUDITY: Nudity is permitted.

G - GENERAL AUDIENCES
Suitable for all ages

This is a film which contains nothing in theme, language, nudity and sex, violence, etc. which would, in the view of the Rating Board, be offensive to parents whose younger children view the film. The G rating is not a "certificate of approval," nor does it signify a childrens film.

Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated films. The violence is at a minimum. Nudity and sex scenes are not present; nor is there any drug use content.

PG - PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED
Some material may not be suitable for children

This is a film which clearly needs to be examined or inquired into by parents before they let their children attend. The label PG plainly states that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, but the parent must make the decision.

Parents are warned against sending their children, unseen and without inquiry, to PG-rated movies.

The theme of a PG-rated film may itself call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity in these films. There may be some violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated film.

The PG rating, suggesting parental guidance, is thus an alert for examination of a film by parents before deciding on its viewing by their children.

Obviously such a line is difficult to draw. In our pluralistic society it is not easy to make judgments without incurring some disagreement. So long as parents know they must exercise parental responsibility, the rating serves as a meaningful guide and as a warning.

PG-13 PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED
Parents strongly cautioned.
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13

PG-13 is thus a sterner warning to parents to determine for themselves the attendance in particular of their younger children as they might consider some material not suited for them. Parents, by the rating, are alerted to be very careful about the attendance of their under-teenage children.

A PG-13 film is one which, in the view of the Rating Board, leaps beyond the boundaries of the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, or other contents, but does not quite fit within the restricted R category. Any drug use content will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. In effect, the PG-13 cautions parents with more stringency than usual to give special attention to this film before they allow their 12-year olds and younger to attend.

If nudity is sexually oriented, the film will generally not be found in the PG-13 category. If violence is too rough or persistent, the film goes into the R (restricted) rating. A films single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, shall initially require the Rating Board to issue that film at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive must lead the Rating Board to issue a film an R rating, as must even one of these words used in a sexual context. These films can be rated less severely, however, if by a special vote, the Rating Board feels that a lesser rating would more responsibly reflect the opinion of American parents.

PG-13 places larger responsibilities on parents for their children's moviegoing. The voluntary rating system is not a surrogate parent, nor should it be. It cannot, and should not, insert itself in family decisions that only parents can, and should, make. Its purpose is to give prescreening advance informational warnings, so that parents can form their own judgments. PG-13 is designed to make these parental decisions easier for films between PG and R.

R - RESTRICTED
Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian

In the opinion of the Rating Board, this film definitely contains some adult material. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about this film before they allow their children to accompany them.

An R-rated film may include hard language, or tough violence, or nudity within sensual scenes, or drug abuse or other elements, or a combination of some of the above, so that parents are counseled, in advance, to take this advisory rating very seriously. Parents must find out more about an R-rated movie before they allow their teenagers to view it.

NC-17 - NO CHILDREN UNDER 17
Not suitable for viewers under 17

This rating declares that the Rating Board believes that this is a film that most parents will consider patently too adult for their youngsters under 17. No children will be admitted. NC-17 does not necessarily mean "obscene or pornographic" in the oft-accepted or legal meaning of those words. The Board does not and cannot mark films with those words. These are legal terms and for courts to decide. The reasons for the application of an NC-17 rating can be violence or sex or aberrational behavior or drug abuse or any other elements which, when present, most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.

Due to the MPAA ratings system being voluntary, a movie without a rating or not rated does not have any additional consumer advice available. Parents are advised to find out more about this movie before allowing children to view it.

A movie with an unrated rating usually contains material which was not present in the previous MPAA-approved edition or contains material which is stronger than an R rating and may not be suitable for younger viewers. Parents are advised to find out more about this movie before allowing children to view it.

Titles rated EC - Early Childhood have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

Titles rated E - Everyone have content that may be suitable for persons ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal violence, some comic mischief and/or mild language.

Titles rated T - Teen have content that may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. May contain violent content, mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes.

Titles rated M - Mature have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain mature sexual themes, more intense violence and/or strong language.

Titles rated AO - Adults Only have content suitable only for adults. Titles in this category may include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence. Adult Only products are not intended for persons under the age of 18.

Titles listed as RP - Rating Pending have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating.

Titles rated All Ages have content that may be suitable for all ages.

Titles rated 12 And Up have content that may be suitable for persons ages 12 and older.

Titles rated 15 And Up have content that may be suitable for persons ages 15 and older.

Titles rated 18 And Up have content that may be suitable for persons ages 18 and older.

Contains potentially offensive romantic references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive sexual references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive violent references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive horror references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive gambling references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive crime references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive drinking and/or smoking references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive drug references, themes or content.

Contains potentially offensive language use, references, themes or content or has other potentially offensive themes or content not classifiable in other categories.