# Is the " G " (US) rated movie an endangered or extinct species? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576 "2017-01-19T21:48:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/1 "2017-01-19T21:48:51Z")
When was the last time you even saw a G rated movie come to box office? I’m not saying you had to pay to see it, I’m just wondering when was the last time one even existed. What is the cause? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/2 "2017-01-19T21:50:53Z")
My guess is that there are enough jokes for the parents that are meant to fly right over the heads of the kids to make a G impossible. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/3 "2017-01-19T21:57:59Z")
The conventional wisdom in the movie industry seems to be that a G-rated film will be limited in its appeal, to families with small children. Most “kids’ movies” that make it to theaters are developed to make sure that they’ll appeal to older kids, and adults, as well, which usually means content that drives a PG. Even Disney, the home of family entertainment, has been going for PG ratings for its tentpole movies for several years. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/4 "2017-01-19T22:16:37Z")
ISTM that if a character is depicted smoking a cigarette, it gets a PG rating now. At least, that’s the impression I get from the TV ratings, where old, general-release movies are given a ‘more mature’ rating that they had 40 or 50 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/5 "2017-01-19T22:18:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The conventional wisdom in the movie industry seems to be that a G-rated film will be limited in its appeal, to families with small children. Most “kids’ movies” that make it to theaters are developed to make sure that they’ll appeal to older kids, and adults, as well, which usually means content that drives a PG. > > Even Disney, the home of family entertainment, has been going for PG ratings for its tentpole movies for several years. Realistically, probably the issue is that making a feature 3D animated film is a pretty big and technologically advanced affair. You’re not going to get those guys to make a Strawberry Shortcakes movie. They’re going to talk themselves into something with a reasonable plot and some adult jokes, regardless of what market forces might demand. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/6 "2017-01-19T22:22:59Z")
Looks like the most recent one of any note was THE PEANUTS MOVIE – made on a budget of $99 million, grossed $246 million (most of that domestic). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/7 "2017-01-19T22:38:24Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The conventional wisdom in the movie industry seems to be that a G-rated film will be limited in its appeal, to families with small children. Most “kids’ movies” that make it to theaters are developed to make sure that they’ll appeal to older kids, and adults, as well, which usually means content that drives a PG. > > Even Disney, the home of family entertainment, has been going for PG ratings for its tentpole movies for several years. It seems to be kind of random, and probably depends more on who they’re marketing for vs. the actual content. I mean, why is “Planes” PG, and “Cars” G? Or even weirder, why is “Finding Nemo” G, and “Finding Dory” PG? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/8 "2017-01-19T22:45:23Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Or even weirder, why is “Finding Nemo” G, and “Finding Dory” PG? “Finding Nemo” came out in 2003, when the studios were more willing to have a G rating on a family film. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/9 "2017-01-19T23:03:26Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > My guess is that there are enough jokes for the parents that are meant to fly right over the heads of the kids to make a G impossible. Which is contrary to the ostensible purpose. G is a General Audiences rating, which means it should be for everyone (potentially), including kids and adults, such that the adults feel comfortable that the kids aren’t going to be asking them any interesting questions later on. By that standard, a few jokes that pass the kids by entirely but briefly entertain the parents should be fine, especially if you assume the kids will be watching the film alone. That fell victim to what I’ll call the Censor’s Dilemma: If you know enough to censor something, you know enough to pick out all of the hidden moments you think ought to be censored. This leads to you turning interesting shades of purple at things the people you’re supposed to be protecting have no idea are interesting in the slightest, leading to _them_ doing research, and then the world ends in fire and flame. Point being, G films got so controlled that only the lightest and fuzziest of kids shows qualify, which is the kiss of death to any movie which wants a large audience. PG-13 is pretty much the minimum rating for profitability, and kids films try hard to pull at least a PG so they’re not ghettoized completely. Goodness knows, nothing like that would have went in the Code Era, when adults weren’t ready for adult themes and had to be protected from them at all costs. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/10 "2017-01-19T23:13:19Z")
I haven’t bothered to check, but are any of those recent Christian-themed films like _God’s Not Dead_ or _Miracles from Heaven_ rated G? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/11 "2017-01-20T00:32:10Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I haven’t bothered to check, but are any of those recent Christian-themed films like _God’s Not Dead_ or _Miracles from Heaven_ rated G? Nope. Both PG, _God Snot Dead_ for “thematic material, brief violence and an accident scene”, _Miracles from Heaving_ for “thematic material, including accident and medical images”. Gotta draw in the marks with some tasty gore, I imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/12 "2017-01-20T00:43:09Z")
_God’s Not Dead 2: Dead and Deader_ was PG as well, for “thematic elements”, which really makes me wonder: Was the pay-off large enough to _ensure_ a PG rating, or was it too small to _avoid_ one? Oh well, I’m sure _God’s not Dead 3: Dead Harder_ will get the beloved G rating. _Heaven is for Real_ was also PG. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/13 "2017-01-20T00:56:43Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Nope. Both PG, \*\*_God Snot Dead_ \*\*for “thematic material, brief violence and an accident scene”, _Miracles from Heaving_ for “thematic material, including accident and medical images”. Gotta draw in the marks with some tasty gore, I imagine. Your typo made me laugh! 😃 I got this image of God with a runny nose! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/14 "2017-01-20T01:01:14Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > Your typo made me laugh! 😃 > I got this image of God with a runny nose! See what I said about jokes that slip right past some people? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/15 "2017-01-20T02:52:38Z")
Not well known , but to rate movies you have to be a parent. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/16 "2017-01-20T03:05:27Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I haven’t bothered to check, but are any of those recent Christian-themed films like _God’s Not Dead_ or _Miracles from Heaven_ rated G? Gavin Stone appears to be PG if my 5 seconds of google fu is correct. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/17 "2017-01-20T14:16:37Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Looks like the most recent one of any note was THE PEANUTS MOVIE – made on a budget of $99 million, grossed $246 million (most of that domestic). **The Eagle Huntress** , released four days before **the Peanuts Movie** , is also rated G. I didn’t hear about it, either. so was **The Secret Life of Pets** , released in July ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/18 "2017-01-20T14:17:03Z")
“The Straight Story” was rated G, but that was several years ago. (Two phrases I never thought I would see on the same title card: “Walt Disney Pictures Presents” and “A film by David Lynch”) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/19 "2017-01-20T14:38:38Z")
Here’s Box Office Mojo’s [list](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/mpaa.htm?page=G&p=.htm) of top grossing G-rated movies. Click on the header to see the ranking’s for other ratings. I choose the 10th film in each category for comparison. (Unadjusted\* domestic gross and number of films since 2010 in the top 10.): G Aladdin $217,350,219 2 PG Inside Out $356,461,711 6 PG-13 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire $424,668,047 6 R Saving Private Ryan $216,540,909 3 Glancing over the lists in general shows that the G category is maybe slightly healthier than the R category for recent films but well behind PG and _way_ behind PG-13. _Deadpool_ and _American Sniper_ may help revive the R category. I don’t see anything changing the prospects of the G category. Not dead, not dying dying. And immensely better than NC-17. - Unadjusted for inflation is good here. It puts more recent films at the top of the list. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576/20 "2017-01-20T15:44:25Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **The Eagle Huntress** , released four days before **the Peanuts Movie** , is also rated G. > > I didn’t hear about it, either. > so was **The Secret Life of Pets** , released in July Box Office Mojo and IMDB both list **Secret Life of Pets** as PG. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-g-us-rated-movie-an-endangered-or-extinct-species/777576.md?page=2)