Each and every movie out there has its own special rating, which tells you what age it’s for. Ratings are also an indicator of the kind of themes that will pop up throughout the movie. By knowing the different ratings, you can make more informed choices on what you and your family watch.
In this handy guide, we break down each kind of Aussie film rating. We tell you what common themes they entail and what age they’re suited to. You’ll also find extra bits about movie ratings, like who decided the ratings, why it matters, and tips for parents.
Jump in to get all the essential info about movie ratings in Australia.
What Each Movie Rating Means in Australia
In Australia, we’ve got our own set of movie ratings, also known as classifiable elements, for movies. They tell us what age they are suitable for and what themes they entail. Let’s check them out:
General (G)
G-rated movies stand for General, meaning they are generally safe for everyone to watch. There’s nothing offensive, scary, or upsetting in these movies. All that is to be expected are some mild themes, usually positive messages and educational value. This means youngsters don’t need a parent or guardian present in order to enjoy a G-rated film.
Parental Guidance (PG)
PG films might have some bits that are upsetting, too mature, mildly violent, or even scary scenes. This means any youngsters under 15 will need an adult present in order to watch PG-rated movies.
Mature (M)
M-rated movies are Mature, making them a big no-no for kids under 15, but they’re not legally restricted. But teens aged 15 and over can watch M-rated films on their own. They usually contain themes like crime, violence, and emotional conflict. There’s also explicit language and adult concepts in M-rated movies.
Mature Accompanied (MA15+)
Unlike M-rated movies, MA15+ films are illegally restricted. This means under 15s must be with a responsible adult in order to watch an MA15+ movie. These films often contain violence, scenes with sexual activity, drug abuse, strong language, and distressing scenes.
Restricted (R18+)
Just like the MA15+ rating, R18+ movies are legally restricted. This means you’ve got to be 18 and over to watch them. They often have nudity, adult-only themes, graphic violence, and extremely explicit language.
Who Rates Movies and Why It Matters
The Australian Classification Board are the folks behind movie ratings. They pick an appropriate rating based on the themes and nature of a movie. It’s super important that all films have ratings so that we can make informed choices when choosing a movie. It’s especially helpful for parents with youngsters and anyone with sensitivities to certain subjects, like violence.
Choosing Child-Friendly Films: Top Tips for Parents
It can be tricky to find a film for your youngsters that isn’t too spooky or too grown-up. Even some PG movies out there have themes that some kids won’t understand or will find upsetting. But fear not — we’ve rounded up these top tips for finding child-friendly films:
- Always Check the Official Australian Classification: Review the rating before showing a film to your kid.
- Check the Consumer Advice: Beneath the rating, you’ll see extra details about the themes, like mild violence’ or ‘strong language’.
- Watch It First: If you’re unsure, watch the movie yourself first to make sure it’s right for your children.
- Use Age as a Guide: Pick what’s best for your kid based on their maturity and sensitivities, not just their age.
Find The Best TV Shows, Movies (with Ratings), and Streaming Platforms at Compare TV
Here at Compare TV, we’ve got a bunch of movies that you can search. With the click of a button you’ll instantly find out a movie rating and where to stream movies. If you’re after a binge-worthy series, search a bunch of TV shows too and find out their ratings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about film ratings in Australia below:
M-rated movies are Mature, and aren’t made for any eyes younger than. If your 12-year-old fancies a film, they can watch G-rated films all by themselves or PG-rated movies with parental guidance.
You can find the ratings of thousands of films right here at Compare TV. And that’s not all — you can also find other handy stuff. Discover where to stream a movie, get similar suggestions, find out about the cast/crew, discover the synopsis, and more. Compare TV is your all-in-one hub for all things streaming related.
Quite a few. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube Kids all have fantastic parental controls.
They let parents create special kid-friendly profiles, set a limit on screen time, and set age restrictions. This is brilliant if your kids want independence to stream freely, without parents watching over them constantly. It also gives parents peace of mind, knowing their youngsters won’t stumble across something that’s too mature for them.
It usually is. PG is generally all okay for 7-year-old children, as long as they are accompanied by a grown-up. In fact, kids under 15 are supposed to have a parent/guardian by their side when watching PG movies. That’s because some themes can pop up that younger kids can find confusing or even upsetting. But anyone 15 or younger can watch G-rated movies.
