It’s a common occurrence among teenagers to hear the news of a new movie coming out and to get excited about going to the theaters to see it. However, finding out it’s rated R is a disappointment many teenagers have felt before. Now they are only able to see the movie they’ve been waiting for with a parent’s attendance to show ID.

Background on the Policy

In 1999, President Clinton began urging theaters to start requiring photo identification in order for people to view rated R movies. So that anyone under the age of seventeen must be accompanied by an adult twenty one or older. 

The reason for this policy was to try to minimize the public’s outrage on the idea of violent movies being a major reason behind the increase in school shootings as well as bad behavior among teenagers. Parents believed that allowing their kids to be exposed to such scenes at a young age was impacting how they chose to act.

With this new policy at hand, parents could feel more at ease knowing that their children wouldn’t be able to see rated R movies after dropping them off at the theater. This further encouraged theater owners to be more vigilant and uphold their responsibilities.

But with this new policy restricting teenagers from seeing R rated movies new issues and concerns amongst the public arose.

The Policy is Unfair

Movie ratings are often implemented as guidelines, not as laws. This leaves people arguing over if the decision of viewing a movie with a specific rating should be based on a parent/guardian’s opinion or the company’s rules. 

Just as often as parents don’t want to be dragged off to a movie they have no interest in seeing just so that their child can see it, kids don’t want their parents’ presence to crash their plans either. This can be frustrating for teens who are just trying to make plans with their friends. As said by sophomore Kirra Scally, it’s quite the hassle to make a plan that involves a parent’s accompaniment and requires their supervision. “I think it’s stupid and a waste of time for my parents who have to watch it with me”.

For horror movie fans, seeing a rated R movie is almost impossible if you don’t have parents willing to watch it with you due to gore and violence. Teenagers are at the point where they are old enough to be able to make a decision for themselves on whether or not they think they can handle a movie. Oftentimes, the kids going to see horror movies are the ones who know that they like them and can enjoy the film.

At the age of sixteen, teenagers are able to get their permit and start driving. Being able to drive before being able to see a rated R movie goes to show how unnecessary this rule is.

Along with this, some animated movies such as Demon Slayer: The Infinity Castle Arc and Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc, both of which came out this year, usually end up needing to be rated R as well due to the fact that they include gore and violence. Despite being animated and not at all realistic, these movies still have an R rating which poses yet another challenge for teenagers who just want to enjoy seeing their favorite action filled films in a theater setting.

With teenagers not being able to see rated R movies without a parent or guardian, that leaves little to no options of movies for them to see, as most everything not rated R is aimed for younger audiences and doesn’t peak the interest of older teenagers. “I think that all movies are meant to be consumed and appreciated by all ages and therefore movie theaters should not ID”, says sophomore Aubrielle Martel.

Strict Rules Make Sneaky Kids

Even with strict rules against age restrictions in theaters, teenagers are likely to find a way to cheat the system and still get to watch what they want.

Teenagers have easily been able to find alternative ways to view a rated R film before it’s been released on streaming sites, like sneaking into the theater. With R rated movies, a person who isn’t of age could easily manipulate their way into the theater that’s showing the movie of their desire without getting caught.

Despite not being able to see an R rated movie when it’s first released due to not meeting the age requirement, there are other risky ways to view the movie before it reaches official platforms. One of these ways being illegal streaming sites.

Teenagers are driven to find the movie of their choice on illegal and hazardous websites since they can’t see it in theaters and don’t want to wait months for it to be brought to official sites. By requiring ID for certain movies, teenagers are almost encouraged to browse the internet in search of ways to watch a movie, no matter the dangers.

Movie theaters requiring ID to view rated R films is a waste of time and effort. Teenagers will always be able to find a way around limitations against them and the ban of underage persons being able to view rated R films is no exception. Teenagers already having access to more important responsibilities at this age further adds to the claim that requiring ID just to see a movie isn’t much of a necessary action to take.