R-rated is not enough

Megan Lee | The Chronicle

“RESTRICTED: Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.”

This is how the Motion Picture Association (MPA) defines an R-rated film. No mention of explicit language or actions. No definition of what is considered “adult material”. And no explanation exists as to how a production is rated, let alone advertised to the public.

On August 9, 2024, the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best- selling novel, “It Ends with Us”, hit theaters worldwide. The original book (released in 2016) became extremely popular with young women in 2021, leading to a confirmed movie a year later. Its plot revolves around Lily Bloom, a young woman who survives her experience with domestic violence. The novel, while including heavy descriptions of the abuse, did not compare to the graphic scenes portrayed in the movie.

The impact that “It Ends with Us” had on its audience, in addition to the public’s response to the film’s ratings, made me realize that we don’t actually know what these ratings represent — or the direct effect they have on fans.

Soon after the film’s release, many viewers expressed concerns that a potentially triggering movie like “It Ends With Us”, especially one with such a wide target audience, should include a warning screen. Netflix sets a great example of this: when you click on any Netflix program, there is a small drop-down in the corner stating the rating and any mature content shown in the production. Some shows, like “Thirteen Reasons Why”, include an additional full-screen warning over episodes showing graphic suicide content.

Now, in the entertainment industry, production companies have normalized an R rating to mean that the movie or series contains explicit content and is unsuitable for children. The official MPA ratings have remained the same since 1968. That’s 56 years of change within the film scene, and within the material that parents consider to be explicit today.

Growing up in Mason City Schools, a district that encourages students work towards reducing stigma around difficult topics such as suicide, I know these topics must be taken seriously. I wish the film industry would normalize using trigger warnings, especially with teen shows or movies marketed toward high schoolers.

While we cannot change how our favorite shows, movies and entertainment are rated, I encourage teens to do their research. Taking the time to look into triggering topics and letting peers know about potentially sensitive scenes makes all the difference in ensuring we are fully informed before watching. Knowing the rating is simply not enough anymore — we must consider our own passions, insights and triggers in order to make educated decisions on which movies to watch and which media to consume.

High schoolers today have a chance to use entertainment to learn about the serious issues happening in our world today. With that being said, ratings can be deceitful. Do not fall into the trap of R-rated content.