The PG-13 rating was invented in 1984 after parents complained that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Gremlins were too intense for PG but not quite R-rated. Steven Spielberg himself suggested the middle ground, and the Motion Picture Association agreed.

The official definition: "Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13."

The actual definition: "We're putting literally everything that isn't G, PG, or R into this bucket and good luck figuring it out."

According to the MPA guidelines, PG-13 movies can have:

Violence: More intense than PG, but not "realistic and extreme or persistent." So you can have superhero battles where buildings collapse (The Avengers), but not prolonged torture scenes.

Language: You get one F-word if it's used non-sexually. More than one, or used in a sexual context, pushes it to R. Other profanity is allowed but shouldn't be "persistent."

Nudity: Brief, non-sexual nudity is okay. Think artistic shots or quick glimpses, not prolonged or sexualized.

Drug Use: Can be depicted but not endorsed or glamorized.

Scary/Intense Scenes: This is where it gets subjective. Jump scares, peril, emotional intensity — all fair game.

Here's the catch: these are guidelines, not rules. The MPA rating board is made up of parents who watch movies and vote. It's not a scientific process. It's literally a group of people in a room deciding what feels appropriate.

The rating itself tells you almost nothing. The descriptors tell you everything.

When you see "Rated PG-13 for..." pay attention to what follows:

"Action violence" = Superhero fights, car chases, explosions. Usually bloodless and consequence-free. Think Spider-Man: Homecoming.

"Intense sequences of violence" = Sustained, serious violence that might be disturbing. Jurassic World gets this for dinosaurs eating people.

"Violence and terror" = Combines physical violence with psychological fear. A Quiet Place earned this.

"Bloody images" = You're going to see blood. Not gore, but visible injury. This is a big jump from "action violence."

"Some language" = Scattered profanity, probably a "shit" or two, maybe a "damn."

"Strong language" = More frequent profanity, possibly that one allowed F-bomb.

"Brief strong language" = That F-bomb is probably in there, used once.

"Some suggestive material" = Innuendo, flirting, mild romantic situations.

"Sexual content" = More explicit references to sex, possibly brief sexual situations.

"Partial nudity" = You'll see some skin, but it's not prolonged or sexualized.

"Thematic elements" = This is code for "heavy topics." Death, divorce, discrimination, mental illness. The Fault in Our Stars has this for terminal illness.

"Some disturbing images" = Visuals that might upset kids even without violence. Body horror, aftermath of violence, distressing scenarios.

"Drug material" = Drug use or references. Could be anything from pot jokes to serious addiction storylines.

Here's what makes this confusing: PG-13 has gotten more permissive over time, especially for violence.

Jaws (1975) was rated PG. Today it would absolutely be PG-13, possibly R. Meanwhile, The Dark Knight (2008) is PG-13 despite being genuinely dark and disturbing — because the MPA has become more lenient with superhero violence.

The rating system also treats violence and sexuality completely differently. You can show someone getting impaled by a sword (PG-13), but a brief flash of nudity in a non-sexual context might push it to R. This is a uniquely American quirk — European rating systems are often the opposite.

The "13" in PG-13 is a suggestion, not a rule. Some 10-year-olds can handle intense content better than some 15-year-olds. But here are general guidelines:

Most PG-13 is too much for this age. Exceptions exist — Paddington 2 is technically PG (not even PG-13), but some lighter PG-13 movies like The Greatest Showman work for mature kids in this range.

Green lights: PG-13 rated primarily for "mild action" or "thematic elements" Yellow lights: Anything with "intense" in the descriptor Red lights: "Violence and terror," "frightening images," anything horror-adjacent

This is when most kids start handling PG-13 content, especially Marvel movies and adventure films. But you still need to preview or research.

Good bets:

Watch out for:

Just because your kid is 13 doesn't mean every PG-13 movie is fair game. A 13-year-old who gets nightmares easily shouldn't watch A Quiet Place. A 13-year-old who's anxious might struggle with the intensity of Uncut Gems (which is actually R, but makes the point).

Consider:

The best way to handle PG-13? Do your homework.

Common Sense Media gives you age recommendations from both experts and parents, plus details on every concerning element. Check their reviews before committing.

IMDb Parents Guide is crowdsourced and detailed. Users break down every instance of violence, profanity, and sexual content. Sometimes too detailed, but useful.

Plugged In (Focus on the Family) if you want a conservative Christian perspective. They're thorough and transparent about their values.

Trailers give you the vibe, but remember: they're designed to get butts in seats. A trailer might hide intense content or oversell the fun parts. Still worth watching with your kid to gauge their reaction.

Seriously, read them. "Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some suggestive material" tells you WAY more than just "PG-13."

For movies you're unsure about, watch it first. Yes, this is time-consuming. Yes, it's worth it for the questionable ones. You can also ask the Screenwise chatbot for a quick take on specific titles.

Some PG-13 movies feel like they should be PG:

Some PG-13 movies push the boundaries hard:

Here's a fun wrinkle: streaming platforms have their own rating systems that don't always match theatrical ratings.

Netflix uses TV ratings (TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA) for shows and sometimes applies them to movies. Disney+ adds content warnings. HBO Max/Max just... does whatever.

When you're browsing Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu, don't assume the rating matches what you'd see in theaters. Always check the details.

When you're deciding whether to let your kid watch a PG-13 movie, make it a conversation, not a decree.

Good approach: "I saw this movie is rated PG-13 for intense action violence. That means there's going to be some pretty serious fight scenes. Do you think you're ready for that? Want to watch the trailer together?"

Less good approach: "You're not 13 yet, so no."

Also less good: "Sure, whatever, it's just a movie."

If you watch together, be available for questions. Pause if something intense happens. Ask how they're feeling. Make it clear they can tap out if it's too much.

PG-13 is less a rating and more a giant category of "maybe?"

The number 13 is arbitrary. The descriptors matter more than the rating. Your kid's sensitivity, maturity, and previous media exposure matter most of all.

Three rules for PG-13:

The MPA rating system is a starting point, not a rulebook. Use it as one data point among many, and remember: you're the expert on your own kid.

And when in doubt? Ask us. That's literally what we're here for.