Reel Mountain Theater voluntarily complies with the ratings system established by the Motion Picture Association of America, and the Codes and Rating Administration.

G General Audiences
This is a film which contains nothing in theme, language, nudity and sex, violence, etc. which would, in the view of the Rating Board, be offensive to parents whose younger children view the film. The G rating is not a "certificate of approval," nor does it signify a children's film.

Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated films. The violence is at a minimum. Nudity and sex scenes are not present; nor is there any drug use content.

PG Parental Guidance Suggested
 This is a film which clearly needs to be examined or inquired into by parents before they let their children attend. The label PG plainly states that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, but the parent must make the decision.

Parents are warned against sending their children, unseen and without inquiry, to PG-rated movies.

The theme of a PG-rated film may itself call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity in these films. There may be some violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated film.

The PG rating, suggesting parental guidance, is thus an alert for examination of a film by parents before deciding on its viewing by their children.

Obviously such a line is difficult to draw. In our pluralistic society it is not easy to make judgments without incurring some disagreement. So long as parents know they must exercise parental responsibility, the rating serves as a meaningful guide and as a warning.

PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned
 PG-13 is thus a sterner warning to parents to determine for themselves the attendance in particular of their younger children as they might consider some material not suited for them. Parents, by the rating, are alerted to be very careful about the attendance of their under-teenage children.

A PG-13 film is one which, in the view of the Rating Board, leaps beyond the boundaries of the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, or other contents, but does not quite fit within the restricted R category. Any drug use content will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. In effect, the PG-13 cautions parents with more stringency than usual to give special attention to this film before they allow their 12-year olds and younger to attend.

If nudity is sexually oriented, the film will generally not be found in the PG-13 category. If violence is too rough or persistent, the film goes into the R (restricted) rating. A film's single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, shall initially require the Rating Board to issue that film at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive must lead the Rating Board to issue a film an R rating, as must even one of these words used in a sexual context. These films can be rated less severely, however, if by a special vote, the Rating Board feels that a lesser rating would more responsibly reflect the opinion of American parents.

PG-13 places larger responsibilities on parents for their children's moviegoing. The voluntary rating system is not a surrogate parent, nor should it be. It cannot, and should not, insert itself in family decisions that only parents can, and should, make. Its purpose is to give prescreening advance informational warnings, so that parents can form their own judgments. PG-13 is designed to make these parental decisions easier for films between PG and R.

R Restricted
In the opinion of the Rating Board, this film definitely contains some adult material. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about this film before they allow their children to accompany them.

An R-rated film may include hard language, or tough violence, or nudity within sensual scenes, or drug abuse or other elements, or a combination of some of the above, so that parents are counseled, in advance, to take this advisory rating very seriously. Parents must find out more about an R-rated movie before they allow their teenagers to view it.

Reel Mountain Restricted Film Policy (Updated 7/2008)

Anyone under 17 years of age will be required to have a parent or legal guardian present at admission for an R-rated movie.
Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted to an R-rated movie.

We are aware that some theaters enforce less restrictive policies, allowing all ages to attend with written permission from a parent. We have tested and disagree with that position.

Please be aware that the mainstream theater trade organization opposes less restrictive policies as inconsistent with the purpose of the rating system. You should also be aware that films with an R-rating are generally considered to have more objectionable content than would have been usual for an R-rated movie a decade ago. Audiences have grown more accepting of adult content over the years, and some content that might have merited an R-rating a decade ago may be rated PG-13 today. This means that an R-rated film clearly deserves that rating.

Our policy is not just for the protection of our children and teens, but is also a courtesy extended to our adult audience, who has an expectation that they can enjoy a film rated R without distractions from young children during the movie. For all of these reasons, we endorse the MPAA guidelines.

If you wish your 16 year old or younger child to attend an R-rated film at Reel Mountain, we require that you accompany your child to the theater for admission, and encourage you to attend with them. We always have movies that are PG or PG-13 available in our theater. Our staff is unable to make exceptions to this rule. Thank you for your understanding and support.

FAQs About Our R Rating Enforcement

Q: Can I write a note and send it with my child to get into an R movie?
A: No. Too many times the notes are forged or reused without the parent's knowledge.

Q: Can I come in and buy a ticket for my child ahead of time?
A: Yes and no. Anyone can buy a ticket ahead of time for any show. However to be admitted, the parent must be with the underage customer at the time of admission.

Q: My child is at a sleepover, can they get into the movie with the other parent?
A: No.

Q: Can an older sibling bring an underage customer in?
A: No.

Q: My child was refused admission for an R movie, can you call me to verify that it's OK with me if they see the film?
A: No. We've tried to use the phone for parent's approval before, and there were too many problems.

Q: Why are you such hard noses about the R rating?
A: Read the policy above.

Q: I am traveling with someone else's kids, can I give permission for them to see a movie?
A: Maybe. If you have legal responsibility for the minor, along the lines of healthcare and finances, you may give permission for them to see an R film.

Q: Don't you care that you're losing business because you won't let kids in to see movies?
A: We try to have something for everyone, every week. If the R movie is a must see, bring your parent! Or, talk with them about why they don't think you should see the movie.

Q: If kids under 6 aren't ever allowed, why allow kids under 17 at all?
A: We're not trying to help parent your child. We are maintaining the expectation of other customers that they can attend and enjoy a movie intended for an adult audience without distraction from children being in the theater.

Have a questions about the policy? Send it to us here.

Websites we use to evaluate a movie's suitability before taking our own children to the show:

Kids-In-Mind (our favorite)
A comprehensive review of the elements that cause the rating- you can expect this site to give away the plot of the movie, but you'll know exactly what your kids will see, if you don't attend the film with them.

Plugged In Online
A detailed review of movie elements, broken down by category.

The Dove Foundation symbol indicates that the film has been reviewed by The Dove Foundation, and has met their standards for wholesome family entertainment. We include this symbol on our website listings to allow parents to quickly scan the listings and confidently allow their children to see the film without further research on their own. Click the Dove symbol to browse their website or read reviews of other films, including DVD's.