Top 20 Movies That Had The Wrong Age Rating

Movie ratings have changed a lot over the years to help parents and viewers decide what to watch. Some older films have ratings now that don’t make much sense, because what people considered acceptable has changed, or the rating system wasn’t as detailed back then. You might find movies with surprisingly strong content labeled as suitable for families, or films with strict ratings for things that wouldn’t bother most viewers today. These kinds of differences have created some of the most debated and confusing movie ratings ever.

‘Poltergeist’ (1982)

Tobe Hooper’s horror film deeply frightened many children with its shocking scenes. It features incredibly disturbing moments, like a man ripping off his own face and a terrifying attack by a clown doll on a boy. Because the PG-13 rating didn’t exist yet, it was rated PG, which many viewers now feel was far too lenient. Even today, it’s considered one of the most frightening horror movies ever made for a family audience.

‘Jaws’ (1975)

I still remember the first time I saw Jaws – it completely freaked me out! Spielberg really knew how to build suspense, and that shark was terrifying. It wasn’t just scary, though – there were some seriously shocking moments, like when… well, let’s just say there was a head, and it was really memorable. Even with all the blood and the attacks – the ocean literally turned red! – it somehow got a PG rating back then, which is pretty unbelievable when you think about it now. It’s a classic for a reason, and it still gets to me even after all these years.

‘Gremlins’ (1984)

This funny horror movie centers around cute little creatures that turn into dangerous monsters if you give them food after midnight. It contains surprisingly violent scenes, like one gremlin exploding in a microwave and another being put in a blender. The graphic content shocked many parents, especially since the movie was rated PG. It played a major role in the creation of the PG-13 rating by the MPAA.

‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ (1984)

Steven Spielberg made a darker, earlier film in the series where the adventurous archaeologist encounters a cult involved in black magic. It contains a famously shocking scene of a man having his heart ripped out while conscious. The film also shows child slavery and several very dangerous situations, stretching the limits of what was considered appropriate for a PG rating. Along with ‘Gremlins,’ this movie helped lead to changes in how films were rated.

‘Watership Down’ (1978)

This animated film from Britain follows a group of rabbits as they escape the destruction of their home. While the animation appears cute and harmless, the movie is surprisingly violent and deals with themes of death. It features graphic scenes of rabbits fighting and being trapped, leading many parents to be misled by its PG rating and believe it was a simple children’s cartoon.

‘Airplane!’ (1980)

This comedy, directed by the Zucker brothers, is full of silly visual jokes and humor geared towards adults. It includes some brief nudity and frequent references to drugs. While younger viewers might not notice, the movie relies heavily on adult jokes and suggestive language. Surprisingly, it received a PG rating despite its mature themes.

‘Ghostbusters’ (1984)

This sci-fi comedy follows three paranormal investigators who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. It includes a suggestive dream sequence and features characters who smoke and occasionally swear while investigating supernatural occurrences. Some of the ghostly imagery, like a frightening library ghost and demonic dogs, proved surprisingly intense for a PG-rated movie.

‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)

Tim Burton’s spooky fantasy film follows a ghost couple attempting to frighten away the new people moving into their home. It features some surprisingly adult content, including crude gestures and strong language during a key scene. The movie also includes disturbing visuals, like characters removing their own faces and unsettling imagery in the afterlife. Despite these macabre elements, the rating board considered it appropriate for a PG audience.

‘Spaceballs’ (1987)

As a huge movie fan, I always get a kick out of Mel Brooks’ take on sci-fi with this one. It’s classic Brooks – totally silly and definitely geared towards adults. There’s this one incredibly obvious F-bomb during a radar scene that always makes me laugh, and the whole script is filled with jokes about… well, let’s just say the lightsabers. It really embodies those 80s comedies that walked right up to the line of what a PG rating would allow.

‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ (1988)

I recently watched this movie, and it’s unlike anything else Disney has ever done! It blends live action with animation in a really cool way, and the story is a dark, intriguing mystery set in old Hollywood. I always found Jessica Rabbit fascinating – she’s definitely a glamorous character, and her famous line is iconic. But it’s not all glamour; the villain, Judge Doom, is genuinely terrifying, especially with his… unique methods. Honestly, it surprised me how mature the themes were, and there’s some drinking and adult content that make it feel a lot more complex than your typical PG film. It’s a really unique and memorable movie!

‘The King’s Speech’ (2010)

As a film buff, I always found the rating for ‘The King’s Speech’ a little strange. Colin Firth gives an incredible performance as King George VI, a man battling a really debilitating stammer. The whole movie is a beautifully restrained historical drama, but it actually got an R rating because of one scene where the King lets out some frustrated swears during a therapy session. Honestly, it felt really unnecessary – the context was so clearly about him working through his issues, and the rest of the film was perfectly fine for almost anyone to watch. It just seemed like a harsh call.

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

This classic action movie follows Indiana Jones as he competes with the Nazis to locate the Ark of the Covenant. The film features intense action and culminates in a dramatic showdown where supernatural forces punish the villains in a shockingly graphic way. Throughout the adventure, there are scenes of violence, including shootings, impalings, and a gruesome accident involving an airplane propeller. While it received a PG rating at the time, many of the violent scenes would likely be considered too intense for that rating by today’s standards.

‘Return to Oz’ (1985)

As a lifelong movie lover, I have to say Disney’s follow-up to The Wizard of Oz really surprised me. It’s drastically different in tone – much darker than the original. When Dorothy goes back to Oz, it’s a broken, unsettling place. Seriously, imagine heads kept in display cases and characters rolling around on wheels! The Wheelers and the Nome King were genuinely creepy, and it’s still one of the most frightening PG-rated movies Disney has ever made. It definitely wasn’t the cheerful musical adventure kids were expecting!

‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ (1996)

Disney’s animated musical explores serious issues like religious hypocrisy and strong desires. The villain, Frollo, expresses his intense longing for Esmeralda in a song that includes disturbing imagery and the word ‘damnation,’ creating a much darker atmosphere than most films rated G. Many viewers feel the movie’s mature themes would have been more appropriate for a PG rating.

‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ (1987)

This funny road trip movie stars Steve Martin and John Candy as they rush home for Thanksgiving. It received an R rating mainly due to a single scene with strong language from Steve Martin. Otherwise, it’s a feel-good story about the importance of friends and family. You’ll often see a cleaner, more family-friendly version on TV.

‘Billy Elliot’ (2000)

A movie tells the story of a boy in a mining town who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer, even though his father doesn’t approve. It received an R rating because of strong language used by the characters, who are working-class people. While some felt the language was realistic and didn’t need to be censored, the rating kept many teens from seeing a film with important messages about following your dreams and being yourself.

‘Sixteen Candles’ (1984)

This coming-of-age comedy, directed by John Hughes, centers on a girl whose family accidentally overlooks her birthday. However, the film includes a scene with explicit nudity and contains elements of casual racism and questionable consent, which feel particularly problematic by today’s standards. Its current PG rating doesn’t accurately reflect the mature themes and content within the story.

‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)

Gene Wilder plays a quirky candy factory owner in this musical movie. One memorable scene involves a boat ride through a tunnel filled with strange, colorful images, including surprisingly dark visuals of chickens. The scene is intensely suspenseful, with a character even joking he won’t survive it, and is accompanied by frightening screams. Despite the movie being rated G for general audiences, this particular tunnel scene is quite disturbing and clashes with the expected ‘wholesome’ content.

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight presented a realistic and gritty superhero story, famously featuring Heath Ledger’s chilling portrayal of the Joker. One particularly shocking scene involved the Joker brutally killing a man with a pencil. The film maintained a dark and heavy atmosphere, with a persistent sense of danger and the looming threat of terrorism. Many viewers and critics believed its intensity pushed the boundaries of what’s acceptable for a PG-13 rating, and it often felt like it should have been rated R.

‘Midnight Cowboy’ (1969)

This award-winning film, set in New York City, tells the story of an inexperienced grifter and a seasoned con artist. When it was first released, it received an X rating because of its honest portrayal of sex and drug use. However, the rating was later changed to R, even though the film itself remained unchanged. It’s now remembered as a key example of how movie rating systems have evolved over the years.

Tell us which movie rating shocked you the most in the comments.

2025-11-22 03:16