--- title: Rated PG-13: This Is Why the Teen-Friendly Movie Rating Exists description: The movie rating was introduced on July 1, 1984 canonical: https://time.com/3908333/pg-13-movies-history/ author: Lily Rothman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-01T11:00:41.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:59:01.755Z article:section: History og:title: Rated PG-13: This Is Why the Teen-Friendly Movie Rating Exists og:description: Do you remember the first movie to get the rating? og:url: https://time.com/3908333/pg-13-movies-history/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d1fd9ad97392df5/698852e735ba6f36aec0d8fc/indy.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Harrison Ford In 'Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom' og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Rated PG-13: This Is Why the Teen-Friendly Movie Rating Exists twitter:description: Do you remember the first movie to get the rating? twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d1fd9ad97392df5/698852e735ba6f36aec0d8fc/indy.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Is Why 'PG-13' Is a Thing > Sponsored content. 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Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### What is included in a TIME print and digital subscription? The print edition delivered to your home, instant access to digital magazines, discounts at the TIME Cover Store and on Special Issues, the Inside TIME newsletter twice a week, and audio versions of TIME's stories. It is from $29 for one year or $49 for two years at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### What is the difference between TIME's digital and print plans? Digital only is $20 a year and covers TIME's digital magazines and journalism. Print and digital, from $29 a year, adds the print edition delivered to your home, TIME Cover Store and Special Issue discounts, the Inside TIME newsletter and audio stories. #### Is TIME a reliable news source? TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: 100 Years of Blockbusters in 5 Minutes [Watch (HLS stream): 100 Years of Blockbusters in 5 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/tfrXo5zL.m3u8) (5:21)  _Published 2014-02-12. Time has taken the highest grossing film each year for the past century and crammed them into 5 and a half minutes. No Intermission._  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Jul 1, 2015 11:00 AM UTC  Harrison Ford in a scene from the film 'Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom', 1984 Harrison Ford in a scene from the film 'Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom', 1984 Paramount Pictures / Getty Images  by [Lily Rothman](https://time.com/author/lily-rothman/)  ## Lily Rothman Rothman is managing editor at TIME. Jul 1, 2015 11:00 AM UTC Movie-going teenagers of the United States, say “thank you” to Indiana Jones. Before 1984, the line between movies for kids and movies for grown-ups was an all-or-nothing proposition. Everyone under the age of 16 was lumped together, kept from rated-R showings unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. And then came _Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom_. The bloody blockbuster released that May was rated PG, much to the consternation of many parents. When _Gremlins_ followed in June, it became clear that a movie might be neither adults-only nor kid-friendly–and the rating system needed a solution. As TIME’s Richard Zoglin reported that June, the Hollywood establishment heard the complaints: --- > “” --- It was on this day, July 1, in 1984, that Valenti announced that PG-13 was a go. The first PG-13 movie, _Red Dawn_, arrived in theaters that August. **_Read the full story, here in the TIME Vault:_** [Gremlins in the Ratings System](http://time.com/vault/issue/1984-06-25/page/94/) ## Transcript [ Music Playing ] [ Music Playing ] >> I'm going to kiss you then I want you to turn away and go on talking. >> Or I'll take the liberty of having you seized up and flogged. >> Now take the apple dearie. >> Nowadays you go out and get yourself an >> ism and-- >> Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. >> War! Take [ unk ] >> It is a war of the people, of all the people. >> Stand up now and go and we both go. >> Would you like to swing on a star. >> The bells of St. Mary. >> I'll never marry him. >> Nor any of the [ unk ] you try to force on me. >> Late? >> For the Easter Parade. We had a date, remember? -[ unk ] He's back. >> It's the greatest show on earth. >> White Christmas. >> Now, this is Doc, girls, Mr. Roberts. >> Hi! >> Hi! >> Hi! -[ unk ] >> What don't we get? >> You know damn well. >> Your eyes are full of hate, 41. >> Keep cooly cool, boy. >> No criminals! >> I could have danced all night. >> The hills are alive with the sound of music. >> Let there be light! >> Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. >> I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. >> Rules. No rules. >> 'Til we marry, okay? >> The French connection, a [ unk ] with a record too clean to be true. -[ unk ] >> All right, everybody, FBI! Don't anybody try to leave. -[ Music Playing ] >> Enjoy your flight. >> No, I am your father. >> Then try to keep up, okay? >> The need for speed. >> There you go, Ray. >> Yeah. >> You're dancing. >> Yeah. >> This is it. -[ unk ] are we hit? >> On our left. >> I need your clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle. >> A whole new world. >> The circle of life. >> 90 blocks and 30 minutes of New York traffic. >> I'm flying. Jack-- >> I'll look in on you from time to time, okay, honey. >> You're a wizard, Harry. >> Shrek! >> Fiona! >> Fiona! >> Mom! >> Harold. >> Donkey! >> Let her go. >> Very poor choice of words. >> That's not trash. That's not trash! >> I thought I was-- >> The [ unk ] >> Oh my. >> What the heck? 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