SYSK’s Summer Movie Playlist: How the MPAA Works

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating system, a cornerstone of the film industry, has evolved from a rigid moral code to a contemporary classification scheme to help audiences navigate the content of movies.

The MPAA's Founding and the Hayes Code

MPAA Established in 1920s to Replace Local Obscenity Laws

The MPAA formed in the early 1920s in response to the patchwork of local obscenity laws that governed film morality on a regional basis. These local municipalities could enact their own restrictions, impacting film distribution if movies were banned or censored. The variability could be detrimental to the business, as filmmakers faced the possibility that their work would not be shown across different territories.

Hayes Code Strictly Defined Movie Morality, Controlling and Sanitizing Production

The first president of the MPAA, Will Hayes, implemented the Hayes Code to instill a set of guidelines for movie morality, resulting in films either passing or failing based on these stipulations. The code fostered an environment where government institutions were portrayed in a positive light, sexuality was significantly downplayed, and heroes triumphed over villains in clear-cut moral victories. This code acted as a film sanitation filter, ensuring that movie content was in line with the stringent moral expectations of the time.

The Shift to the Modern MPAA Rating System

Post-WWII: Looser Social Attitudes, Artistic Freedom in Films, Hayes Code Decline

Post-World War II saw shifting social norms and looser attitudes towards content presented in entertainment. This transition led to movies addressing more mature themes, such as Frank Sinatra's Oscar-nominated performance as a heroin addict in "The Man with the Golden Arm," which signaled a departure from the Hayes Code's restrictive grasp on the film industry.

By the late 1950s, films such as "Some Like It Hot," which pushed the boundaries of sexual and comedic expression, broke away from the Hayes Code without consequence—effectively rendering it obsolete. These movies, rife with progressive themes, climate the decline of the Hayes Code and paved the way for modern film classification.

MPAA Rating System: G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17 Post-1960s Supreme Court Ruling

Following a critical Supreme Court case involving a store owner selling explicit magazines to minors, a meaningful distinction was established between adult and minor access to content. This ruling permitted localities to determine appropriate exposure levels for minors, and, ...

The MPAA's rating process has come under fire for its subjectivity, secrecy, and perceived biases, with critics calling for greater transparency and consistency.

Subjective and Opaque Rating Process

The Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA) of the MPAA consists of 8 to 13 anonymous raters whose identities and specific criteria for ratings remain undisclosed. This lack of transparency has led to accusations of inconsistency and lack of accountability. Furthermore, there are doubts that the raters actually meet the MPAA's stated requirements, such as having children aged 5 to 17. The appeals process exacerbates these issues by not allowing filmmakers to refer to other films, preventing the establishment of clear, consistent standards. Chuck Bryant notes that the practice of releasing only some rater names per film does little to improve accountability. The closed nature of the system means filmmakers cannot predictably tailor their movies to achieve desired ratings, often leading them to include disposable content as a diversion.

Filmmakers Claim MPAA Ratings Favor Studios Over Objective Standards

Critics argue that the interests of major studios, which contribute to 95% of industry revenue, are represented more heavily in ratings. Independent filmmakers often have a more difficult time navigating the MPAA's system, suggesting potential bias toward large studios, despite the lack of specific allegations in the input provided.

Perceived Biases in the MPAA's Ratings

MPAA Criticized For Allowing More Violence Than Sexual Content or Profanity

A central criticism of the MPAA is its higher tolerance for violence compared to sexual content or profanity. PG-13 movies often contain levels of violence on par with, or even exceeding, those in R-rated films. The MPAA's relatively relaxed stance on violence contrasts with its stricter appr ...

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) holds a significant position within the film industry, influencing which movies reach audiences while also engaging in lobbying activities that have a profound impact on movie distribution and intellectual property laws.

Mpaa's Role as a Gatekeeper For Distribution

Voluntary Mpaa Ratings Hold Power as Theaters Require Them

While MPAA ratings are technically voluntary, they carry significant weight in the industry as theaters generally refuse to exhibit films without them. This practice effectively transforms the MPAA's ratings into a requirement for accessing major theater chains and securing distribution.

Filmmakers Rejecting Mpaa Ratings Struggle to Find Distribution, Limiting Reach

Filmmakers who decide not to have their films rated by the MPAA often encounter obstacles in showcasing their work in theaters. Those faced with an MPAA rating can choose to edit their film according to the Classification and Rating Administration's (CARA) suggestions or accept it; however, releasing a movie as unrated can significantly reduce its theatrical reach.

As a result, the MPAA has considerable gatekeeping power in the movie distribution process, as it holds the key to whether or not a film can easily reach a broad audience through traditional cinematic venues.

The Mpaa's Lobbying Activities

Mpaa Promotes Stricter Anti-Piracy Laws for Major Studios

The MPAA actively engages in lobbying efforts to advocate for more stringent anti-piracy legislation, representing the interests of the six major Hollywood studios. They focus on protecting the industry's profitability, particularly in the sphere of digital distribution, which has grown increasingly significant in recent years.

Mpaa's Lobbying Criticized As Attempts to Stifle Innovation and Undermine Movie Distribution Model

The MPAA has faced criticism for its lobbying activities, wit ...

The rise of digital distribution and streaming, along with the challenges posed by online piracy, are affecting the MPAA's traditional role and influence in the film industry.

The Rise of Digital Distribution and Streaming

The emergence of video on demand (VOD) and digital platforms is increasingly threatening the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) dominance.

Direct-To-Digital Movies Make Mpaa Ratings Less Relevant

As movies are now frequently released directly to digital platforms or the internet, the need and relevance for MPAA ratings begin to fade. Filmmakers have the liberty to bypass traditional theater screenings, which historically necessitated MPAA ratings for widespread distribution, and can now release unrated films directly online.

Filmmakers Can Release Unrated Films Directly, Reducing Mpaa's Power

This shift away from cinemas to digital channels is eroding the influence once held by the MPAA. Their rating system, which used to guide viewers and control what films could be broadly distributed, is becoming less critical in a landscape where direct-to-digital releases are common.

Challenges Posed by Online Piracy

Although the MPAA is actively pushing anti-piracy initiatives, piracy continues to weaken the traditional industry model and raise concerns about the efficacy and validity of these efforts.

Mpaa Pushes Anti-Piracy, but Piracy Undermines Industry Model

Anti-piracy laws are being aggressively enforced by the MPAA as they lobby to preserve the integrity of the industry's revenue model. However, with online distribution and piracy on the rise, Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark suggest that it could be a losing battle for the MPAA.

Mpaa's Anti-Piracy Efforts Criticized As Heavy-Handed, Risking Free Expression and Tech Pro ...