Howard Fridkin’s Guide to MPAA Ratings
The Motion Picture Association of America’s film ratings — G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17 — are used to determine which movies are or aren’t appropriate for younger moviegoers. But what makes, for example, a woman kissing a man OK for G-viewers, while a man kissing another man is PG or PG-13 worthy?
Howard Fridkin rated movies on the MPAA’s rating board for over a decade. Now, he runs a business advising filmmakers on how to get the MPAA rating they want. He talks Kurt through the complexities of the MPAA’s rating process, and why they dictate box office success.
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.