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VERDICT

Should I use Filmratings?

MPA / CARA official US movie ratings database - filmratings.com

Depends. There is nothing to buy here: it is the Motion Picture Association's free official database of US movie ratings, the right reference for parents, theaters, and press. Only film distributors submitting a movie for a CARA rating face fees and a studio-oriented process.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 20+ public sources; the site's purpose is clear, but pricing, support, and security details are thin.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo evidence on support responsiveness
  • Security postureNo security findings in reviewed sources

Pricing

Free

Ratings lookup

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Film submissionFee-based, not publicly listed

Best for

  • Parents checking movie content
  • Theaters and exhibitors posting rating info
  • Distributors seeking official US ratings

Not for

  • Software buyers — there is nothing here to purchase or deploy
  • Indie creators expecting cheap fast ratings — process targets distributors
  • Non-US releases — other countries run their own rating boards
  • Anyone wanting critical reviews — it rates films, it does not review them

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Submission costs disclosed only during the process — budget before committing

low

Descriptors can be vague; film communities often dispute outcomes

low

US-market ratings only; international releases need separate certification

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Authoritative, official source for US movie ratings
  • Free ratings guide and content descriptors
  • Cited as the reference in theater chains' rating policies
  • FAQ and contact channels explain the rating process

Cons

  • Not software — nothing to buy, deploy, or integrate
  • Film rating submission fees are not publicly listed
  • Rating decisions frequently criticized as inconsistent
  • Covers MPA ratings only, not other countries' systems

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/29/2026 - 11 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x7review x2security x1news x1

Key stats

  • Value for money: 4/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 11

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 4/5. Free lookups; fees only for film submission
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Simple lookup pages theaters cite regularly
  • Feature depth: 2/5. Ratings database, guides, submission — nothing beyond
  • Support quality. No evidence on support responsiveness
  • Security posture. No security findings in reviewed sources
  • $0 Price to browse Free public ratings database
  • G to NC-17 Rating categories Five MPA rating tiers
  • MPA / CARA Operator Motion Picture Association rating body
  • Fee-based Film submission For distributors seeking official ratings

Pricing

Ratings lookup

Free

  • Search movie ratings
  • Ratings guide
  • Parent resources

Film submission

Fee-based, not publicly listed

  • Official MPA rating
  • Submit-a-film process

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Film communities treat filmratings.com as the official reference while frequently disputing the ratings themselves.

Alternatives

Compare Filmratings with each alternative.

Companies that use it

  • Marcus Theatres⁶
  • UltraStar Cinemas⁷
  • Fridley Theatres
  • Bay City Cinemas
  • Patriot Cinemas
Full analysis

Based on 20+ public sources; the site's purpose is clear, but pricing, support, and security details are thin.

Free official US movie-ratings database, nothing to buy. Use for lookups; fees only for distributors submitting films.

Methodology

Based on 20+ public sources; the site's purpose is clear, but pricing, support, and security details are thin.

Sources

  1. Homepage - MPA Film Ratingsfilmratings.com
    official
  2. Ratings Guidefilmratings.com
    official
  3. Submit a Filmfilmratings.com
    official
  4. Resources & FAQfilmratings.com
    official
  5. Film Ratings - Motion Picture Associationmotionpictures.org
    official
  6. Marcus Theatres Rating Policymarcustheatres.com
    official
  7. UltraStar Cinemas Ratings & Policiesultrastarmovies.com
    official
  8. Reddit r/movies - What movie's MPAA rating was completely wrongreddit.com
    review
  9. Reddit r/TrueFilm - MPAA is due for changereddit.com
    review
  10. BlackVeil Security Report - filmratings.comblackveilsecurity.com
    security
  11. FTC - Marketing Violent Entertainment to Childrenftc.gov
    news

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