Damon Mcknight
Australia and the US have different rating systems for films, which can cause confusion. The US system is decided by a board of parents, while the Australian system is decided by a government organisation. The US system uses ratings such as PG13, R, and NC-17, while the Australian system uses ratings like PG, M, MA15+, and R18+. The M rating in Australia is considered the closest equivalent to America's PG13 rating, while Australia's MA15+ is similar to America's R rating.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australia's rating system | Government organisation |
| US rating system | Board of parents |
| US "R" rating | Under 17 needs to be accompanied by an adult |
| Australia "R" rating | Equivalent to NC-17 in the US |
| Australia "MA15+" rating | Equivalent to a slightly lower standard of "R" in the US |
| Australia "M" rating | Equivalent to America's PG-13 rating |
| Australia "PG" rating | Suitable for all children but parental guidance is suggested |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's US film rating equivalent
Australia's film rating system is quite different from the US system, and what is deemed acceptable for particular age groups varies between the two countries.
In the US, the MPAA (Motion Picture Association) is in charge of film ratings, whereas in Australia, this is the responsibility of a government organisation, the ACB (Australian Classification Board). The ACB operates under the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995 and is made up of a director, a deputy director, and three other board members, all appointed by the government.
The US system has the ratings G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. Australia's ratings include G, PG, M, MA15+, R18+, and X18+. The Australian M rating is the closest equivalent to America's PG-13 rating. However, MA15+ in Australia is closer to the US R rating, though it is considered a slightly lower standard. The Australian R18+ is equivalent to the US NC-17 rating.
The specific criteria used to assign a classification can vary between countries, and cultural norms around nudity, sexuality, language, and violence differ internationally, which is why a film's rating can vary between the US and Australia.
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US and Australia's film rating differences
Australia and the US have different film rating systems, which can result in the same film receiving different ratings in each country. The US system is defined by the MPAA, while Australia's system is defined by the ACB, which operates under the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995. The ACB is made up of a director, a deputy director, and three other board members appointed by the government for three- or four-year terms.
The US film rating system includes ratings such as PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. "R" in the US means that viewers under 17 must be accompanied by an adult, while NC-17 means that no one under 17 is permitted.
The Australian film rating system includes ratings such as PG, M, MA15+, R 18+, and X 18+. The "M" rating in Australia is considered the nearest equivalent to America's PG-13 rating. MA15+ is a slightly lower standard than "R" in the US, and "R" in Australia is equivalent to NC-17 in the US.
The specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary between countries, so the same film may be rated differently in the US and Australia due to differences in the way they assess factors such as language, nudity, sexuality, and violence. For example, the film "Deadpool" received an MA15+ rating in Australia but an "R" rating in the US. Additionally, Australia's rating system is defined by a government organisation, while the US system is defined by a "board of parents," which may contribute to differences in ratings.
Furthermore, films may be re-edited to target a particular rating or to meet the standards of a specific country. For instance, the animated feature "Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend" was censored in Australia to meet the OFLC's standards, resulting in the most censored version in the Western world.
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US film rating system
The US film rating system, determined by the MPAA, includes the ratings: G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. The MPAA also uses the rating TV-MA for television. A G rating means the film is suitable for general audiences. A PG rating means parental guidance is suggested. Children under 13 are recommended to watch PG-13 films with a parent or guardian. R-rated films require that viewers are over 17, with anyone under 17 needing to be accompanied by an adult. NC-17 films are only suitable for adults aged 17 and over.
The Australian film rating system, determined by the ACB, includes the ratings: PG, M, MA15+, R18+, and X18+. The ACB also uses the rating Refused Classification (RC) for films that are banned from sale or hire in the country and cannot be imported. PG is recommended for guidance from parents or guardians. M-rated films may contain content that exceeds what is suitable for children, such as drug use or abuse. MA15+ films require viewers to be over 15, with R18+ and X18+ films requiring viewers to be over 18.
While the US and Australia have similar ideas about nudity and sexual behaviour, there are differences in their rating systems. For example, the US does not have an M/MA equivalent, so the jump from PG-13 is to R. The M rating in Australia is considered the nearest equivalent to America's PG-13 rating. The R rating in Australia is equivalent to NC-17 in the US, with MA15+ being a slightly lower standard of R.
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Australia's film rating system
The ACB operates under the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995 and is made up of a director, a deputy director, and three other board members, appointed by the government for three or four-year terms, and temporary board members. The ACB does not censor content directly, but it can effectively censor media by refusing classification, thereby making it illegal for hire, exhibition, or importation into Australia. The ACB also does not plan to use age-related titles for classification categories, instead opting for titles like YP for "young person" or T for "teenager".
There are six classifiable elements for films: themes (e.g. rape, suicide, racism), violence, sex, language, drug use, and nudity. The ratings are as follows: G, PG, M, MA15+, R18+, and X18+. The MA15+ rating is the closest equivalent to the US's PG-13 rating, with the MA15+ being a slightly lower standard than the US's R rating. The R18+ and X18+ categories are legally restricted and prohibited for those under 18, with X18+ containing sexually explicit content.
The Australian rating system has been criticised for inconsistency, with some films having their ratings changed over time, and for being overly strict, with some films being refused classification altogether. Additionally, the introduction of a separate classification system for video games in 1994 caused confusion, leading to the adoption of the same classification ratings and restrictions as films in 2005.
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US and Australia's video game rating differences
Australia and the US have different rating systems for video games, with the Australian system considered stricter and more complex. The US system uses the MPAA (Motion Picture Association) ratings, while Australia has the ACB (Australian Classification Board).
The US has the following ratings:
- G: General Audiences.
- PG: Parental Guidance Suggested.
- PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned.
- R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
- NC-17: Adults Only.
Australia's ratings are:
- G: General.
- PG: Parental Guidance Recommended.
- M: Mature audiences.
- MA15+: Mature Accompanied.
- R18+: Restricted.
- X18+: Restricted. Sexually explicit content.
The Australian system has been criticised for being inconsistent and complex. The ACB has proposed a new classification category that does not reference any age, such as 'YP' for 'young person'.
The US system has been criticised for being too lenient, with the gap between PG-13 and R considered too large. The US system also does not have an equivalent to the MA15+ rating, with the jump from PG-13 going straight to R.
Some games and films have been edited to meet the standards of the Australian ratings system. For example, the game *Stick of Truth* was refused classification in Australia until it was edited, and the animated feature *Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend* was banned outright until a censored version was submitted.
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Frequently asked questions
The US 'R' rating is equivalent to Australia's 'MA 15+'. In the US, 'R' means under 17s need to be accompanied by an adult, whereas in Australia, MA 15+ is for those aged 15 and over.
The US 'PG-13' rating is equivalent to Australia's M rating. The 'M' rating in Australia is the nearest rating to America's PG-13.
The US 'NC-17' rating is equivalent to Australia's R 18+. Both ratings restrict content to those aged 18 and over.
