How a Bunch of Moms Changed Movies Forever—And Why It Still Matters Today
(A nostalgic look back with a modern lens)

On this day in 1984, the film world changed forever—and not because of a blockbuster premiere or a breakthrough in special effects. Nope. It was the moms. Worried moms.

Let’s rewind even further. Picture it: 1968. Tie-dye, free love, and a whole lot of cinematic freedom. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) was getting grilled by concerned parents over what their kids were seeing on the big screen. The solution? Introduce a rating system to calm the chaos and preserve America’s innocence—or at least, try to.

The early system included:

  • G – General audiences

  • M – Mature (later morphed into PG)

  • R – Restricted (originally 16+, because apparently if you could drive a car, you could handle gore)

  • X – The mysterious rating that later became NC-17

Fast forward to July 1, 1984, when the PG-13 rating was born—adding nuance but not necessarily clarity. Its debut didn’t stop 12-year-olds from sneaking into Red Dawn (yes, 1984, not 1983—we triple-checked), but it gave helicopter parents something new to debate.

Why This Still Matters in 2025

In today’s world of streaming everything, content rating systems have evolved beyond just parental control—they’re part of brand identity. Platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok are developing their own filters and flags to guide viewers (and advertisers), with some creators even self-censoring to stay algorithm-friendly.

As media pros, we see the ripple effects in what gets produced, promoted, and pushed to the front page. Whether you’re shooting a product demo or producing a livestreamed keynote at a major Las Vegas trade show, knowing your audience—and what will or won’t trigger a content warning—is more important than ever.

At FiveSix, we keep our productions clean, creative, and tailored to your message—no matter the rating.

So, here’s to 1984: the year PG-13 made its debut, moms everywhere got a new reason to stress, and the film industry took one more step into the labyrinth of content regulation.

Now you’ve got a fun fact for your next pitch meeting or dinner party—and if not, well, it’ll come out in the wash.