Ontario OKs film rating
18A designation allows viewers ages 14-17 to attend pics with an adult
The Ontario Film Review Board's new 18A rating will allow viewers ages 14-17 to attend pics with an adult. It slots between AA, no one under 14 without an adult, and R (restricted), for auds of 18 and over.
Films rated 18A rather than R are expected to do better at the box office, Bob Warren, chair of the review board, said.
Although the R designation is not the kiss of death of the comparable NC-17 rating in the U.S., an R classification in Ontario has been shown to reduce gate revenues by 25%-35%.
The provinces are working toward a common classification system nationwide -- one in line with that of homevideo, which already has an 18A classification.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta already have an 18A designation that is different from Ontario's -- there is no age 14 cutoff. Ontario decided to introduce an age 14 restriction to its 18A classification after complaints from moviegoers who were uncomfortable with adults bringing young children into the theater.
