What do the film ratings mean by "thematic elements"?

what do they mean by thematic elements when they give the movie rating?

Most of the MPAA ratings used in the U.S., which are of course G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17, don't have any such specifics to them. Established in 1968, the MPAA didn't initially detail whether it was violence, nudity, language or whatever that garnered each rating.

But from the early '90s onward, they have added a line or two of exlpanation for most movies. I don't believe it is required in the advertising, but that information can be found on the MPAA webiste.

It's kind of fun to look up the MPAA's reasoning. Braveheart's R-rating is for "brutal medieval warefare", The Matrix's R is for "sci-fi violence and brief language" (though probably not the obligatory brief "Whoa!" from Keanu), The Flintstones' PG apparently has "some mild innuendos", Jurassic Park's PG-13 is for "intense sci-fi terror and violence", and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut's R is for "pervasive vulgar language and crude sexual humor, and for some violent images".


"Thematic elements" can mean any variety of things, especially depending on which rating it's attached to. But in general it means just what it implies, that the overall subject matter is going to be something a parent may not want a child to have to confront. For example, rape or incest could very well be a part of a film, but it might not necessarily be accompanied by a graphic visualization of the acts. Just the same, it is in the plot, and therefore may take explaining to children.

For a specific example, in Casper (1995), the PG rating warns for "mild language and thematic elements". The thematic elements there would be "death". Even though it's basically a live-action cartoon for kids, the Christina Ricci character's mother has died and the audience sees her upset about it, and we get to learn of Casper's death too.



Which movie or movies specifically did you see this attached to that you found it confusing?

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I saw this on The Ring that it was rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images,drug use and thematic elements but I understand now what it means.

Hey thanks a lot!

Right, in The Ring those "thematic elements" will be death in general, and probably more specifically I suspect the MPAA was addressing the way in which the key death ocurrs (and who did it). Though some of the deaths aren't especially graphic in nature, it is what the movie deals with. When all is said and done this is a supernatural story and a fantasy, but the point is, to a younger child, death is death, and the context becomes irrelevant - at least in MPAA warning terms it does.


And hey, no problem!

thematic elements means stuff in a movie that may be hard to believe or may be supernatural. like if a movie has a genie in it or an angel or in some scary movies where there are ghosts.

Thematic elements in a movie is coverage so it's harder to sue the makers if you're disturbed by anything you see.

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