To many movie-goers, the Motion Picture Association rating system is a vital tool for selecting what movies are right for themselves and their families. It’s a voluntary label that’s not enforced by any laws, and not having one doesn’t actually prohibit films from being shown, but cinemas have been known to skip non-rated releases. Mostly, the rating system allows parents to safeguard children’s viewing habits and limit their exposure to mature material, but it can also be utilized to protect an individual’s own mental well-being and help avoid content that can be triggering (or even assist in ensuring the raunchy comedy they’re considering is spicy enough for date night). The results of the system seem to be quite subjective, and honestly kind of mysterious, with some films landing harsher ratings than expected. Read on to discover eight prime examples of this.
8
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
Directed by The Wachowskis
From the brilliantly creative mind of The Wachowskis, The Matrix is a movie that defined a generation, cemented itself as a cultural phenomenon, and continues to be hotly debated in the current political climate. The hyper-stylized action sci-fi flick follows a hacker (Keanu Reeves) discovering that his world might not be the reality he thinks it is, ultimately leading him down an eye-opening and undeniably trippy rabbit hole. While the heart-pumping movie is full of action in the form of guns, captivating hand-to-hand combat, and incredible choreography, the violence in the movie is actually quite tame, the dialogue lacks crudeness, and there’s very little blood.
The Matrix
- Release Date
-
March 31, 1999
- Runtime
-
136 minutes
7
‘Conspiracy Theory’ (1997)
Directed by Richard Donner
From Lethal Weapon director Richard Donner, Conspiracy Theory is a political thriller starring Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, and Patrick Stewart. Conspiracy Theory follows an eccentric taxi driver and conspiracy theorist (Gibson), who is not only obsessed with his theories, but also a Justice Department attorney (Roberts), whom he stalks and convinces to help him when one of his theories turns out to be true. While the action flick does have some minor violence, the dialogue is rather clean, and even the physical relationship between the stars is limited to barely touching. Thus, the rating placed on this movie feels like… a conspiracy.
Conspiracy Theory
- Release Date
-
August 8, 1997
- Runtime
-
135 minutes
- Director
-
Richard Donner
- Writers
-
Brian Helgeland
6
‘Stand By Me’ (1986)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Based on Stephen King‘s novella The Body, Stand By Me is directed by Rob Reiner. The beloved movie stars Wil Wheaton (The Big Bang Theory), Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell (Star Trek: Lower Decks), and the late River Phoenix as four boys who set out on a journey to find the dead body of a missing boy in the fictional town of Castle Rock. Taking place in 1959, Stand By Me is more a coming-of-age story than anything else, even with a creepy death-related central mystery, which is why the R rating is so unexpected. The film garnered commercial success, earned award recognition, and is generally appreciated for the ability to not only age well but also get better with time.
Stand By Me
- Release Date
-
November 26, 1986
- Runtime
-
89 minutes
5
‘The King’s Speech’ (2010)
Directed by Tom Hooper
Directed by Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech is a historical drama written by David Seidler. Inspired by true events, The King’s Speech stars Colin Firth, who plays the future King George VI as he enlists Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian, non-medically trained speech and language therapist, to help with his stammer leading up to his first wartime radio broadcast in 1939 regarding Britain’s declaration of war on Germany. With powerhouses like Firth and Rush working together, the movie eagerly took liberties with historical events, but many claim the relationship between the two figures is accurate to their unique camaraderie. For a film taking place around wartime, this one does not include violence, nor does it have sexual situations. Yes, there are quite a few F-words, but The King’s Speech is about working through a stutter, so can you really blame them?
4
‘Chef’ (2014)
Directed by Jon Favreau
Another R-rated film based on language use, Chef is a dramatic comedy written, produced, and directed by star Jon Favreau (Spider-Man: No Way Home). The story follows a celebrity chef who opens a food truck with his friends and son after a pubic blowup with a food critic at his popular restaurant in Los Angeles. Favreau’s decision to make a lower-budget, less action-filled movie doesn’t mean he cut out the star power, casting big-name friends like Sofía Vergara (Modern Family), John Leguizamo, and Scarlett Johansson to co-star with him. Other cast members include Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Amy Sedaris, and Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman.
Chef
- Release Date
-
May 30, 2014
- Runtime
-
114 minutes
3
‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985)
Directed by John Hughes
From the ’80s king of high school angst, John Hughes, The Breakfast Club is a cultural touchstone featuring an ensemble cast of Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, and Paul Gleason. The movie is set at a high school on a Saturday, where five students spend detention sharing their internal issues with each other and form unexpected bonds despite being from different social groups. The movie explores themes of identity, with an emphasis on expectations and perceptions versus reality, while also diving into relatable emotional and psychological struggles of youth. The movie earned an R rating for its language use, some light sexual references, and a hint of drug use.
2
‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ (1987)
Directed by John Hughes
One of the most baffling titles on this list is the ridiculous comedy Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, which landed the R rating due to a single scene where Steve Martin loses his cool with a hilarious rant. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is ultimately a holiday road-trip comedy written, directed, and produced by the legendary John Hughes. The film stars comedic icons Martin and the late John Candy as an uptight suit and an earnest yet annoying salesman as they become reluctant travel companions through a hilarious adventure to Chicago. Praised as one of the greatest performances from Candy, a delightfully executed departure from teen angst for Hughes, and a buddy comedy perfectly balancing heart and humor, the legacy of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles lives on.
1
‘When Harry Met Sally’ (1989)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star in this classic romantic comedy written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. Attempting to answer the outdated question of whether straight men and straight women can be just friends, When Harry Met Sally leans heavily into the humor of platonic and romantic relationships. The narrative follows the couple’s story as it develops, seeing brief moments that occur over the course of 10 years. Ultimately, the rom-com is another baffling title to earn an R rating due to a single scene – an iconic one that has been parodied, referenced, and memorialized in a specific seat at a classic New York restaurant.
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