In the world of streaming, content is vast and varied. Netflix wants to give viewers clues about what they might see — so people (especially parents) can decide what is appropriate. That’s where Netflix’s maturity rating / age rating system comes in.
What Is the Netflix Maturity / Age Rating System?
Netflix uses a maturity rating system (or age rating labels) to indicate how suitable a movie, TV show, or game is for different age groups. These ratings are designed to help viewers — especially parents — decide what content is appropriate for themselves or their children.
These ratings may vary slightly by country or region, because Netflix adapts to local norms, regulations, and rating boards. In addition to the rating (like “TV-MA” or “PG”), Netflix often displays content advisories (e.g. “Violence,” “Language,” “Sexual content”) to explain why that rating was given.
When a viewer opens a show’s detail page (or plays an episode), the rating appears briefly on screen, and the content advisories may also appear.
Because Netflix shows many titles, the ratings may reflect the highest maturity level in that show (for example, some seasons may be more mature than others).
Netflix Rating Categories & What They Mean
Here is a breakdown of the main maturity rating categories used by Netflix, and what each generally means:
| Rating | Type | Recommended for | What it signals / caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV-Y | Very young children | All audiences | Program designed for young children; minimal content |
| TV-Y7 | Older young children | Ages 7+ | Some mild fantasy violence, or mild themes |
| G / TV-G | General | All audiences | Suitable for general audiences with no strong content |
| PG / TV-PG | Parental guidance | All audiences (with caution for younger) | Some content may be unsuitable for young children |
| PG-13 | Teens | Age 13+ (as a guide) | More mature content (violence, language, sexual elements) |
| TV-14 | Teen / older teens | Age 14+ | Content may not be suitable for younger teens |
| R | Restricted | Age 17+ (US standard) | Stronger adult content — language, violence, sexual content |
| TV-MA | Mature audiences | Adults | Intended for mature audiences; may contain strong or explicit content |
| NC-17 | Adults only | 18+ | Very mature / explicit content; no one 17 and under admitted |
Some notes:
- Not all categories are used everywhere—some countries may omit NC-17 or may have different labels under local regulations. (Netflix Help Center)
- Netflix also adds advisory tags (violence, nudity, strong language, etc.) along with the rating to inform viewers what specifically warranted the rating. (Netflix Help Center)
- For games available under Netflix accounts, the maturity ratings of games correspond to the setting in the profile’s maturity level. (Netflix Help Center)
Let’s look more closely at what you might see in each:
TV-Y / Very Young
- Intended for all children, including very young ones.
- No strong violence, sexual content, or mature themes.
- Safe for preschoolers.
TV-Y7
- Geared to children 7 and older.
- May include mild fantasy violence or themes that are slightly more intense than TV-Y.
- Should be manageable with parental guidance for younger children.
G / TV-G
- Very mild, clean content suitable for general audiences.
- No strong elements that would disturb children or adults.
- Sometimes used especially in movies.
PG / TV-PG
- Some material may not be suitable for younger children.
- Could include mild violence, suggestive themes, or mild language.
- Parental guidance is suggested.
PG-13
- Parents strongly cautioned.
- May contain stronger violence, sexual content, stronger language, or themes.
- Aimed at teens and above.
TV-14
- Some content unsuitable for children under 14.
- May include explicit language, more intense violence or sexual themes.
- Use discretion.
R / TV-MA
- Intended for mature audiences only.
- Contains stronger or explicit violence, nudity, strong language, sexual content, or drug use.
- Not suitable for children.
NC-17
- Very mature or explicit content (rarely used).
- Content beyond what would be allowed under R or TV-MA.
- May involve very graphic scenes.
How Netflix Assigns Ratings (Their Criteria)
Netflix doesn’t randomly assign ratings. They base them on the frequency, intensity, and impact of mature content such as violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, substance use, frightening scenes, and more.
Here are some key considerations:
- Intensity & frequency: Is there repeated violence? How graphic is it?
- Context: Is the content essential to the story or gratuitous?
- Sexual content or nudity: Are these mature or explicit?
- Language: Use of profanity or harsh language.
- Drug/alcohol use: Depiction of substance use may raise the rating.
- Themes: Topics such as suicide, self-harm, sexual violence, child abuse may lead to stronger advisories. Netflix sometimes includes these as content descriptors.
- Combination of elements: Even moderate use of several elements together can push the rating higher.
Netflix also shows content descriptors next to a title’s rating, to help users understand what mature content to expect (e.g. “Violence,” “Sexual content,” “Strong language”).
Because some shows evolve in tone over seasons, Netflix may list the rating for a particular season or episode you’re playing, not always the overall series rating.
Moreover, Netflix allows regional differences in ratings. A movie on Netflix US may carry a different rating in India or the UK, based on local standards.
Viewing the Ratings & Content Advisories
Where Do You See the Rating?
- On the details page of a movie or TV show.
- When you begin to play a title, the rating often flashes briefly in a corner.
- In some interfaces (like Smart TVs or mobile apps), advisory tags may also appear.
- For multi-season shows, the rating of the season you’re about to watch may differ from others.
What About Descriptors?
- In addition to the letter/number rating, Netflix will provide descriptors or mature content tags (such as “Violence,” “Language,” “Nudity,” “Sexual Content,” “Drug Use,” “Self-harm”) to clarify why a title has its rating.
- Only some ratings (especially the more mature ones) carry these descriptors.
These descriptors help parents and viewers decide whether a particular content element is acceptable, even if the rating is borderline.
How to Set Up Parental Controls / Maturity Settings on Netflix
One of Netflix’s most useful features is letting you limit what a given profile can see, based on maturity ratings, and even block specific titles. Here’s how you do it.
Steps to Set Viewing Restrictions
- Log into Netflix and go to Account.
- Under “Profile & Parental Controls,” select the profile you want to manage.
- Click “Viewing Restrictions / Maturity Settings / Change” (varies by region).
- Enter your Netflix password to confirm.
- Choose a maximum maturity rating for that profile (e.g. “PG-13,” “TV-14,” “R,” etc.)
- Optionally, block specific titles (even if they fall under that rating). Under “Title Restrictions,” type in a show or movie name and block it.
- Save your changes.
After making changes, some devices might need a refresh (sign out/in or switch profiles) to apply settings.
Profile Lock (PIN)
To prevent children or others from changing settings or accessing higher-rated profiles:
- Under a profile’s settings, go to Profile Lock (or PIN lock).
- Enable “Require a PIN to access this profile” and set a 4-digit PIN.
- You can also require a PIN to add new profiles.
This helps ensure your restricted profiles can’t be bypassed.
Kids Profile Option
If you check the “Kid?” box when creating or editing a profile, Netflix treats it as a Kids profile. That restricts content automatically (for example, limiting to PG or lower) and simplifies the interface.
Setting Game Maturity Ratings
If your Netflix account includes games (Netflix is expanding into gaming), those games follow the same maturity rating logic: a game will only appear in a profile if the game’s maturity level is at or below that profile’s rating.
Tips & Best Practices for Parents & Guardians
- Use dedicated Netflix profiles for different age groups (kids, teens, adult).
- Always set PIN / profile lock to prevent changes.
- Block specific titles that concern you, even if within a rating.
- Use the content descriptors to evaluate whether a show’s themes are acceptable.
- Watch episodes with children at first, so you know whether to allow more.
- Turn off autoplay (if available), so your child doesn’t binge into something inappropriate. (Netflix allows turning off autoplay in settings.)
- Discuss with your kids the meaning of ratings — it helps them understand why certain content is restricted.
- Revisit settings as children grow — what was OK earlier might not be later.
Challenges & Criticisms of the Netflix Rating System
While Netflix’s maturity rating system is useful, it has drawn some criticisms. Here are typical issues:
Ratings Seem Overcautious or Inconsistent
Some users feel Netflix’s ratings or descriptors are inconsistent or overly cautious. For instance, a minor nudity scene might trigger a “Nudity” tag in a show that overall is quite tame.
One user on Reddit commented:
“I’ve been noticing that TONS of Netflix’s maturity ratings claim things like nudity … even when there is none.”
These inconsistencies can make parents wary of trusting them fully.
Regional Differences & Cultural Norms
What’s acceptable in one country might be too mature in another. Netflix adjusts ratings regionally, but sometimes that leads to confusion when comparing titles across markets.
Titles “Exceed Maximum Maturity Rating” Issues
Some users report being blocked from content even if they believe it should be allowed under their settings, receiving an error like “this title cannot be played because it exceeds the maximum maturity rating.”
Settings Might Reset or Be Altered
There are occasional user reports of maturity settings changing on their own (or being reset). For example:
“My son’s profile changed from PG to all maturity … even though he cannot access my account.”
This suggests Netflix may have bugs, syncing issues, or unintended resets.
Evolving Content vs. Static Ratings
Sometimes a show changes tone or includes mature content in later seasons, but the original rating doesn’t reflect that. The rating may update per season or episode, but it can be confusing.
How Netflix’s Rating System Compares to Others
Netflix’s system draws largely from the U.S. TV Parental Guidelines and the MPA film rating system.
- The TV Parental Guidelines (US) use ratings like TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, and TV-MA, with descriptors (D, L, S, V).
- The MPA (Motion Picture Association) uses G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17 for films.
- Netflix blends film and TV systems in its labels (so you’ll see “PG-13” or “TV-14,” depending on content).
Compared to traditional TV or theatrical classification boards, Netflix has flexibility — it can tailor advisories, block titles, and set per-profile rules.
But one downside is that Netflix’s ratings are internal (not government certification). They aren’t legally binding — Netflix is self-regulating based on its own guidelines and region.
Because of that, they rely heavily on transparency (using descriptors) and parental control tools to help manage what users see.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I override the maturity rating for a piece of content?
A: No — a profile restricted to a certain rating cannot access content above it. However, you can block specific titles even if they are under the limit.
Q: Do these ratings apply to all Netflix catalogs globally?
A: Not exactly. Netflix adapts ratings per region to comply with local systems, norms, and regulations.
Q: Are ratings always accurate?
A: They are generally reliable, but many users report occasional mismatches or oversensitive advisories. Use them as a guide, not absolute truth.
Q: Will new shows automatically show up even if I restrict maturity?
A: No. If a title exceeds the profile’s maturity rating, it will be hidden or blocked.
Q: How often does Netflix update the rating for a show?
A: Netflix may update ratings per season or episode, especially if content changes.
Q: Are games treated the same as movies/shows?
A: Netflix applies the same maturity logic to games. Games are only shown when their maturity rating is equal to or below the profile’s limit.