Top 20 Movies That Had The Wrong Rating

It’s not surprising that a movie based on a Stephen King story is rated R. But in terms of content, “Stand By Me” isn’t exactly “The Shining.” This film, about a group of young friends going on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, It also has some behaviors you wouldn’t want kids emulating, such as smoking, drinking, and swearing. But it’s also a powerful story of friendship and growing up. We wouldn’t suggest it for viewers under the age of 13, but a PG-13 rating seems more appropriate for this coming-of-age drama.

The first two “Expendables” movies received well-deserved R ratings for their extreme levels of violence. The third, however, got a PG-13 rating. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s one for the kids. “The Expendables 3” might’ve seemed like a surefire R, but star Sylvester Stallone wanted to appeal to a wider audience. So, the necessary cuts were made to earn it a PG-13 rating. But it leans so close to R-rated territory, particularly with the amount of gun violence. The rating adjustment didn’t seem to help, as “The Expendables 3” perform worse than its predecessors. Stallone wisely expressed regret about the rating, calling it “a horrible miscalculation.”

“Taken” redefined Liam Neeson’s career by showing that he could make a convincing action star. But the bigger surprise might have been the fact that it got a PG-13 for very R-rated material. The fact that his daughter and her best friend are abducted by human traffickers is arguably reason enough. But if you’ve seen the movie, you know that it’s quite violent and harrowing. It might have narrowly squeaked by with a PG-13 due to its lack of gore. But if it were up to us, we would have “taken” a second look at this rating.

In many ways, “Boyhood” is the ultimate coming-of-age movie. Richard Linklater’s drama was filmed over the course of a 12-year period, showing Mason Evans and his actor, Ellar Coltrane, go from adolescent to adult. It’s a moving and deeply relatable story of growing up, which also happens to be rated R. The reason being is mainly due to language, which can get rather explicit, as well as depicting underage drug and alcohol use. There are also some emotionally intense moments. However, the R rating feels a bit too strong, considering how many movies with graphic violence have gotten away with a PG-13.

“The Hunger Games” book series quickly became a YA sensation. So, it was highly unlikely that any big screen adaptation would receive an R rating. That being said, wow, is the first movie violent. The rating reason: “intense violent thematic material and disturbing images—all involving teens" makes total sense. But it might make even more sense if it was rated R, as there are some truly brutal images on display. “The Hunger Games” - and its sequels - became a major box office smash. And the studio execs were likely thrilled they managed to pull off a PG-13.

James Wan is no stranger to success with R-rated horror, having directed “Saw” and the first two “Conjuring” movies. However, supernatural thriller “Insidious,” managed to get a PG-13 rating. What makes it so unsettling is how well it taps into fears. But there are still plenty of moments and images designed to scare the blank out you, especially the appearance of the nightmarish Lipstick-Face Demon. Subsequent films in the series have also received the same rating. We’re not sure what exactly “possessed” the MPA to give PG-13s to these nerve-wracking horror movies.

The unapologetically bawdy humor helped make this Will Ferrell comedy a modern classic. And we’ll totally own up to still finding it utterly hilarious. But it’s pretty shocking to consider that they pulled off a PG-13 rating given how tasteless it gets.There might not be any nudity, but there’s more than enough suggestive dialogue to earn an R. Plus, there’s that epic battle of news teams, which while played for laughs, is still pretty gruesome. And the violence doesn’t stop there. Maybe it was that Ron Burgundy charm that made the difference in the end?

The PG-13 rating was still a fairly new invention when this Tim Burton horror comedy was released. That’s the only reason we can think of for why it received a PG. The premise, about a troublemaking ghost hired to scare a family out of their residence, is delightfully macabre. And Burton and his team find all sort of creative ways to make us laugh and gasp. But it doesn’t compute that this is a PG, and not a PG-13, especially considering the sexual references and strong profanity. “Beetlejuice 2” is set for release next year, and we suspect it’ll receive a more-appropriate rating.

James Cameron’s epic romance broke box office records thanks to its incredible spectacle and timeless love story. But would it have been quite as big if it had an R rating, like it probably deserved? Maybe not. Even if you somehow haven’t seen it, you likely know of its depictions of sex and nudity, particularly the infamous sketching scene. Then, once disaster strikes, things get really upsetting. It’s a show of incredible filmmaking that Cameron is able to make us feel so immersed in this tragedy. But it’s also rather incredible that this cut got a PG-13.

Any list of the best high school movies needs to include this Brat Pack classic about a day at detention. But most high schoolers would be refused admission. Relatively high levels of profanity earned it an R rating. But a PG-13 makes way more sense, considering how many invaluable lessons this film can teach young viewers about not judging a book by its cover. Sure, you wouldn’t want them emulating John Bender. But there’s more to him than his crude demeanor. In his review, film critic Roger Ebert objected to the rating, which we have to concur.

Neil Gaiman fans flocked to the theaters in 2009 when “Coraline,” the animated feature based on his famous children’s novel, was released. With a loyal following consisting both of kids and adults, “Coraline” seemed like a fun family movie outing. However, the film’s creepy atmosphere didn’t resound too well with audiences who expected something a little more lighthearted. Although the PG rating highlighted the film’s more intense scenes, there was still a considerable amount of parental backlash about “Coraline” not receiving a PG-13 rating. Whether it traumatized younger viewers or not, the horror comedy kept the PG rating and has since become a quirky horror classic.

Profanity and family outings make for strange bedfellows. Such was the case with Tom Hooper’s Oscar-winning 2010 drama, “The King’s Speech.” While pretty much a flawless piece of entertainment that was appropriate for all ages, the MPA stuck an R-rating on the film, much to the moviegoing public’s dismay. This high classification was due to the profanity-laced speech therapy sessions that the titular king must attend to get over his nerves. These scenes, meant to be honest and slightly comedic, were later censored by the Weinstein Company in order for the film to obtain a PG-13 rating. However, the overall effect of the scenes was muted as a result.

John Milius’ fantastical war-scenario film, “Red Dawn,” has the dubious honor of being the first ever PG-13 rated film in history, and for obvious reasons. As there was no middle ground between the PG and R ratings, “Red Dawn” seemed to fit the bill. However, some viewers balked at the ultra violent introductory scenes of the movie, as well as the depiction of war crimes, foul language, and general disturbing violence seen throughout the film. It seems that the film should just have received the R rating regardless.

For Disney’s seventh renaissance-era title, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” the studio took a much darker approach to its storytelling in adapting Victor Hugo’s very non-child friendly–novel to the big screen. This G rated animated flick gained pretty good reviews upon release, being praised for its more mature storyline, but “Hunchback” also suffered from parental criticism, deeming the film to be too scary and violent for younger children more familiar with Disney’s lighter works. Needless to say, the gothic imagery, hellscapes, and thematic elements are more suitable for a PG rated film.

Although an average success theatrically, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Alice Sebold’s novel, “The Lovely Bones,” was one of those movies that would have benefited from an R rating. With a depressing storyline involving child abuse and murder, the bold decision by DreamWorks Studios to market the film to a younger demographic was its own undoing, hurting the overall impact the film was supposed to have. Citing poor story development but great acting, “The Lovely Bones” fizzled out after a moderate take at the box office, leaving us wondering if Jackson’s film would have gained higher clout had it been given an edgier rating.

Already known for hard R-rated action gorefests such as “Dawn of the Dead” and “300,” this steampunk thriller was a glorified piece of eye candy for many young viewers. The scantily clad vixens populating “Sucker Punch” gained strong criticism from feminist groups claiming the film objectified women, and shouldn’t be broadcast to tween viewers. Although it had the look of a “Sin City”-esque comic book film, “Sucker Punch” barely made back its budget at the box office, with many citing a flawed and watered-down story as the reason. An R-rated director’s cut was later released, and it is largely considered an improvement.

Sexual content can be a death sentence for modest films looking to obtain a lower rating. This was the case with Sofia Coppola’s quirky – and mostly harmless – “Lost in Translation.” Featuring hardly any language and no violence whatsoever, it was confusing to see why this film received an R rating. The offending scene – in which the characters attend a Japanese strip club - hardly has the same effect as other nude scenes in PG-13 movies, such as “Titanic.” Despite the unnecessarily high rating, the film gained widespread acclaim and even a screenwriting Oscar for Coppola.

Although the MPA’s current rating system was not yet in effect by the time of Sergio Leone’s epic “Once Upon a Time in the West”’s release, its stylized yet shocking violence garnered it a pretty tame rating when it came out. Originally receiving an M rating, which is equivalent to today’s PG, it seems a bit too tame given the film’s high body count and shocking violence, which includes assault, child killing, and mild gore. When the MPA started re-rating films, they slapped a PG-13 rating on this iconic Spaghetti Western.

Remember gathering around the TV as a family to watch “Poltergeist?” Didn’t think so… Although virtually bloodless, Tobe Hooper’s supernatural thriller is one of those movies that could be impressionable on young kids, mainly because its PG rating made it obtainable for children at video stores upon home release. While the film’s practical effects may be dated, they are still horrific, with faces peeling off and skeletons emerging from swimming pools. Underlying themes of murder and hauntings aren’t exactly kid friendly either. Although it was originally given the R rating, it later appealed to the PG rating it currently holds.

Hollywood and the public never saw this one coming. Steven Spielberg’s landmark action-horror film, “Jaws,” surpassed audience expectations and became one of the first ever blockbusters to earn big at the box office. Some of the film’s success may be chalked up to its tame PG rating. Even by 1975 standards, the film’s gory shark attacks, detailed close-ups of severed limbs, and terrifying atmosphere would have garnered an R rating if it were a picture backed by a smaller studio. Yet this little piece of cinematic mastery escaped heavy censorship and managed to set the bar for thrillers in the decades that followed.