Despite having been established back in 1968, the Motion Picture Association rating system doesn’t always get it right when it comes to films. Whether it’s because of graphic language, sexual innuendos and imagery, or extreme violence, sometimes movies don’t receive the rating they deserve, and it can cause an outcry by concerned parents.
Back in 1984, the PG-13 rating was added due to classic flicks like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomand Gremlins receiving a shocking PG rating, when their mature content should have warranted a more stern assessment. Whether it’s a chilling supernatural horror film or a raunchy comedy, there have been many films that didn’t earn the proper MPA rating. Here are some PG and PG-13 movies parents wished were rated R.
8 Poltergeist
Back in the 1980s, the film rating system was still working out its kinks and many movies that had no business receiving a PG rating were given one. It wasn’t until 1984 that the PG-13 rating was enforced, but many downright terrifying flicks still managed to fly under the radar and earn a PG rating despite their graphic and mature content. In the 1982 supernatural horror hit Poltergeist, the Freeling family is terrorized by malevolent spirits that target their youngest daughter and cause them to fight for their lives.
The Freelings face an unfathomable evil that lurks within their very home, and moviegoers watched in terror as little Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) warns her loved ones that “they’re here” and is sucked into a portal in the closet. From chilling killer clowns to a swimming pool full of decrepit skeletons, and a paranormal investigator literally ripping his own face off, Poltergeist is full of frightening moments that are a bit too intense for younger viewers.
7 Gremlins
Mischievous little monsters that mutate from cute and cuddly critters into demented creatures when wet or fed after midnight might not sound too bad when compared to the movies of today, but the 1984 black comedy horror film Gremlins caused quite the uproar upon its initial theatrical debut. Jam-packed full of hyper-violent imagery, heaps of blood and gore, and some seriously gnarly deaths, the legendary ’80s flick caused some viewers to walk out of the theater due to the intense brutality and outrage over its mild rating.
In fact, the mature subject matter in both Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom helped lead to the PG-13 rating being proposed and ultimately implemented later that year in 1984. While they might look furry and friendly when the three magic rules are adhered to, they become ruthless and go on a violent rampage after they accidentally get wet. Many parents were seriously disturbed by its intense depictions of violence and subsequently voiced their outrage.
6 Jaws
Undeniably one of the greatest movies of all time, Steven Spielberg’s 1975 iconic horror thriller Jaws is a masterclass on how to build suspense, chronicling the efforts of a concerned police chief (Roy Scheider), shark hunter (Robert Shaw), and marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) as they fight to protect the residents of a coastal town from a blood-thirsty great white shark. The iconic horror classic was a massive blockbuster hit and caused people to flock to theaters to witness the groundbreaking triumph, with many not realizing quite what they were in store for.
Moviegoers were on the edge of their seats as they chillingly witnessed a floating head in the water and watched in fear as the shark mercilessly stalk its prey to the instantly recognizable John Williams tune. Audiences were under extreme stress during the film and garnered an intense reaction to the gruesome gore depicted on the screen. Jaws is certainly not for the faint of heart, and it is retrospectively quite amusing that the classic was awarded a simple PG rating.
5 The NeverEnding Story
One of the most emotionally-draining and heartbreaking children’s movies is without a doubt 1984’s The NeverEnding Story, which tells the spellbinding tale of a bullied boy who finds solace in the pages of an enchanted book, with the novel recounting the quest of the young warrior Atreyu in the land of Fantasia as he tries to save the kingdom from destruction. Though it is a beloved, go-to film for kids, that’s not to say it doesn’t have its fair share of disturbing content that might not have been best for impressionable minds.
The tragic and agonizing death of Atreyu’s faithful companion and horse Artax in the Swamp of Sadness left generations of children absolutely scarred and completely wrecked. The horrific scene broke the hearts of young viewers across the world and their parents had to deal with the fallout of the devastating moment, with many believing it to be too intense for young adolescents.
4 Frozen
A more light-hearted and joking entry on this list, Disney’s 2013 record-breaking musical fantasy Frozen
famously follows the plucky Princess Anna (Kristen Bell) as she and her band of misfit friends set out to find her magic-wielding sister Elsa (Idina Menzel) after the ice queen inadvertently causes their kingdom of Arendelle to be trapped under a wintery spell. While kids couldn’t get enough of the quirky characters and earworm tunes that quickly had them captivated and under the animated flick’s spell, parents were faced with the dreadful Frozen-mania that ensued upon its release.
Many were begging their children to “Let It Go” and move on from the countless rewatches of the Disney juggernaut and the mind-numbing effects of the soundtrack being on constant replay. Parents across the world probably imagined a world without the pop culture phenomenon, or at least fantasized about their kids having to wait to see it and put an end to the Frozen madness. Though there is absolutely nothing wrong with the movie, it likely wore out its welcome in households and had adults wishing their children couldn’t have watched it.
3 Airplane!
Leslie Nielson completely redefined the trajectory of his career when he shed his well-established dramatic persona and embraced his zany side in the 1980 comedy Airplane!. Lauded for its slapstick and surreal humor and uproarious gags, the hallowed farce spoofs disaster movies that were popular in the ’70s and takes place on a commercial plane and a crew that is plagued by food poisoning. Though it is rightfully considered to be one of the genre’s most exceptional films ever created, there’s nothing about the raunchy flick that would justify a PG rating.
Brimming with cheeky sexual innuendos, foul language, and some brief nudity, it’s laughable that Airplane! wasn’t given a more mature rating. While some jokes may have flown (pun intended) over the heads of young viewers, their parents most certainly were aware of the many dirty puns and risque content and not pleased with their kids watching the more adult antics.
2 Coraline
Not all children’s movies are fun and breezy, as evidenced by Henry Selick’s edgy 2009 stop-motion dark fantasy film Coraline, centering on the titular young girl as she struggles to adapt to her new life and home after moving with her workaholic parents. After discovering a mysterious parallel universe behind a hidden door in her house, Coraline discovers button-eyed doppelgängers of her mom and dad who offer to let the girl stay if she sews buttons over her own eyes.
The entire premise of the film is downright nightmare worthy, and the ominous and spine-tingling atmosphere seems odd for children to watch. Produced by the notoriously creepy stop-motion animation studio Laika (responsible for fellow spooky movies like ParaNorman), Coraline definitely knows how to deliver ghoulish and unsettling imagery that will leave audiences looking over their shoulders and kids unnerved.
1 Insidious
In absolutely no world should the 2010 box office horror hit Insidious be rated PG-13 because even the bravest adolescents will be sleeping with the nightlight on after watching the terrifying supernatural flick. Patrick Wilson and Rose Bryne star as couple Josh and Renai Lambert, who make the startling realization that their new home is plagued by an evil entity that has possessed their young son.
Stocked with spine-tingling jump scares, a constant sense of unease, and absolutely nightmarish imagery of the demonic entity, the picture is not for the faint of heart. All throughout the horror film, the tension continues to build and build and moviegoers are subjected to ghastly visions and hair-raising possession scenes that no child should be able to watch without an adult around (if they too dare).
