MPAA Gives Harry Potter First PG Rating Since Third Installment

Photo by Jaap Buitendijk

In a surprise decision, the MPAA has given Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince a PG rating. The last two films have been rated PG-13 for "sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images," and in a series that gets progressively darker, these traits certainly won't be missing from the film adaptation of the penultimate novel. But perhaps they won't be quite as severe as they have in the past, as the MPAA simply warns viewers against "scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality." The last Potter film to receive a PG rating was Prisoner of Azkaban, which is the lowest-grossing movie in the series, bringing in a mere $249 million.

Warner Bros. expected another PG-13 label for the latest release, and now some people are questioning how the lower rating will affect ticket sales. According to Variety, the PG label is usually a profitable one, as it marks a film as perfect family fare. Sometimes, however, a PG-13 rating can be a blessing, as it indicates to teenaged audiences that the movie isn't too childish for them. But in a franchise as beloved as the Potter series, it seems nearly impossible that the two-digit difference could hinder profits.

Related links:
News: Did The Hangover Dupe the MPAA?
News: Harry Potter 6 Gets Delayed IMAX Release
List of the Day: The 29 Most Anticipated Movies of 2009

Got a news tip for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.