Should R rated movies be ILLEGAL?

Question

I recently saw the movie American Gangster yesterday, and I was appaled to see a large majority of the kids in the theatre being 12-15 years old. I was thinking of saying to their parents what the hell are you thinking of bringing a teen that age into a movie like this?

I even saw a few kids that looked about 14 walking out of SAW Iv with their parents, and I was just shocked. I was about to complain to the managment for movies like this, that should be completely illegal for anyone under 18 to see an R rated movie in theatres.

What do you think about this?

Answer 1

If they are under 18, they are not supposed to be going in to the movie alone.........but if they are with their parents, then obviously the parents think they are mature enough for it.

Answer 2

Some children are more mature and can handle R-rated movies without any repercussions, while others will become too scared and probably choose not to watch them for awhile on their own. The legal age for getting into an R-rated movie alone is 17, anyway. Kids who are 15 or 16 are close enough to 17 to decide what they would or would not like to watch.

I don't like how you referred to the Saw IV patrons as "kids that looked about 14," because NOT EVERYONE IS AS YOUNG AS THEY LOOK. I am turning 21 in a month and can still get the kids discount, typically with no questions asked. Others are seriously 14 and look 25. It is not your place to base assumptions on how old a person LOOKS when you don't KNOW the person.

Still.. parents should use some form of judgment if kids are younger. I doubt most parents would take a 5-yr-old to an R movie. Some would, which is up to them. If you're under 17 (or look it), you need adult supervision and that's enough. Watching a movie doesn't typically make a person violent, if that's what you're worried about. Being harrassed at school, boredom, violence in the home, etc. typically cause much more violence than a movie.

Answer 3

No, I don't. Personally, I saw American Gangster and I didn't think it was that bad. I could completely see a mature 15 or 16 year old seeing that movie. The nudity is a little much, but you can't shelter them from that forever. It's just the human body. That movies was actually really good and I would definetely allow my 15/16 year olds to see it. Granted they understand "it's JUST a movie"

I think rated R movies are completely subjective. Some parents might not want their children watching a movie about the drug industry or involving gory scenes.

Personally, I came from a family where it was OK to watch rated R movies at 15. My parents didn't care about drugs or swearing, as long as we never repeated what we saw in a movie.

We were taught it was a movie, for entertainment purposes and that it was nothing to glorify outside of that.

The only think my parents were concerned about was excessive sexually content, but mainly b/c that was just in bad taste. But, sexual jokes and stuff were just meant to be funny and not repeated.

As for gory stuff like Saw, that movie is just a horror movie. The only reason I believe something like that is R rated, is b/c not everyone can handle scary movies. I'm an adult and I get scared from that stuff. But, if a 15 year old and see it and not get scared....that's fine.

Like I said, rated R movies are subjective. Violence, drugs, swearing and sexual humor are fine, if a 15/16 is mature and understands not to repeat what's in a movie. But, I can see something with excessive sexual content or near porn like content, would be a little much.

Neither movie you said above had excessive sexual content.

Answer 4

So what you are saying is that at the magical age of 18, poof, you suddenly become an adult. I was watching Friday the 13th and Halloween at a very young age and I turned out just fine. My nine year old son shares the same love of horror flicks, and is also a huge fan of the SAW movies, (although we haven't seen part IV yet). I could wait until he turns 18 and then what? All of a sudden because he is 18 he can handle things he's never been exposed to? Wouldn't that be a shock?

Answer 5

No rated R movies should not be illegal. They put a restriction on them so they should never be illegal. It is the parents ideas. It is not ur place to decide for other people. I am only 15 but still R is rated that way to stop kids from watching as long as the parents do not want them to see it. So not ur place to decide for other parents. Accompanied by an adult...duh

Answer 6

No, it shouldn't be illegal. The parents who bring their kids into these movies will have to explain certain things to them. I don't think a young child should see these movies, however, they probably see worse things on the internet or at school.

I don't have a problem when parents accompany their kids to a movie...let's not be naive, the kids will find a way to get into the movie.

R rated movies should not be illegal...when you make things illegal it makes them more desirable. The theatre could discourage youngsters from seeing certain R movies by playing them late at night, but aside from that, there's nothing else.

The theatre is a business and their goal is to maximize profit. You can't expect a theatre to take on a parental role and discipline kids for seeing movies they aren't ready for.

I see your perspective, but this is the parent's responsibility. Parents should actively become involved with their children and know what they are doing.

Answer 7

Dear Miss
It was not like it was 30 years where our parents called the shots and said yes are no to any thing that we done they knew who our friends was we was told what to do what not to do we said please and thank you spanking was the law of the land with no questions asked we had a old fashion pop up VCR a TV all in one with a 8 track record player am FM radio a old set of rabbit ears the first r-rated movie i saw was animal house then blues brothers my brothers sneak me in to see them my mother was mad my daddy said baby he has to grow up some time so no it should be illegal how to stop it is my question though it is not like the old fashion days as of 30 years go though the times are changing really fast and we can not stop in I do believe the olden days was the best of all and i do agree with you 100% Dear parents need to say yes are no on the movies of today OK

Answer 8

No, I think its fine. I think they should be smart and read online review though, FIRST. I wanted to see the movie Good Luck Chuck. After I read reviews, I decided I wasnt going to.

Also, you cannot watched a rated R movie (if you are a kid) without an adult.

Some kids can handle those movies. I wouldnt be able to stomach them. For example, my 15 year old sister thinks they are stupid, not scary. She said they make her laugh.

Answer 9

You're waging a losing battle. Such films are simply too lucrative, and as the saying goes; Money talks, everything else walks. Yes, it is probably not good to expose young children and adolescents to an endless diet of mayhem and violence for its own sake. But humankind has always done this and probably always will. All you can do is try to instill a sense of morals and compassion in your own immediate family and your own children, if you have any. Just don't overprotect them and leave them vulnerable to those who'd manipulate and abuse them.

Answer 10

min your own business . why do you care? As long as there quiet during the move. Relay are you that shallow. May be you should stay home. Wen i was 14 i saw lots of r rated movies and How do you know how old they are some people look younger then what they are. your a party Popper aren't you.

Answer 11

its the other parents choice whether or not they feel their child can handle the movie or whether or not they want them to be subjected to the things seen in them kind of movies, you have to be at least 17 to buy the ticket yourself, and have a parent of gaurdian to by the ticket for you if your under that age... leave it up to the parents to decide what they want their under age children seeing, and if you don't want your children to see them kinds of movies, then don't allow them to and don't buy them the tickets... just worry about you and your kids because its pretty much all you can do in a situation like this one... and even movies like saw have meaning to them, yea they might be gory, but the saw movies aren't about gore, they're about the seven deadly sins... theres going to be seven saw movies, and i'm sure once the last one comes out it will make a lot more sense to people and some parents may want their children to learn about things like that