Disney+ has become one of the most popular streaming platforms worldwide — offering everything from classic animated movies to Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and mature Hulu content.
But as the catalog expands, parents often ask:
“How does Disney+ rate its content?”
and
“How can I make sure my kids only see age-appropriate shows?”
This guide explains the Disney+ age rating system, how it works globally, and how parents can set controls to keep viewing safe and family-friendly.
Why Age Ratings Matter on Disney+
Disney+ began as a family platform, but since 2022 it has added more mature content (including Deadpool, Logan, and The Bear) under the Star brand (outside the U.S.) or integrated with Hulu content (in the U.S.).
That’s why Disney+ now uses a detailed age-based maturity rating system — to give every subscriber clear information about what’s appropriate for children, teens, and adults.
The goal is simple:
To help families make informed, confident viewing choices across Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Star/Hulu content.
How the Disney+ Age Rating System Works
Disney+ uses a numeric and descriptive rating system that aligns with each region’s official film and TV classification boards.
That means ratings can look a little different depending on where you live, but the principle remains the same: the higher the number, the more mature the content.
The system determines which titles appear in each profile based on its selected content rating level.
Key Idea:
Each profile on Disney+ has its own content rating limit — from TV-Y or G (suitable for all ages) up to TV-MA / 18+ (for mature audiences).
When you open a Disney+ account, you can:
- Set a profile’s age rating limit, and
- Lock adult profiles with a PIN to prevent kids from switching.
Disney+ Age Ratings by Region
Disney+ adapts its system based on where you are. Let’s break it down.
🇺🇸 United States
In the U.S., Disney+ uses the standard U.S. TV Parental Guidelines and MPA (Motion Picture Association) film ratings.
| Rating | Type | Age Group | What It Means | Example Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV-Y | TV | All Children | Content designed for very young viewers | Mickey Mouse Funhouse |
| TV-Y7 | TV | 7+ | May contain mild fantasy action or humor | DuckTales |
| G | Film | All Audiences | General audiences; no objectionable content | Finding Nemo |
| TV-G | TV | All Ages | Suitable for general audiences | Bluey, Encore! |
| PG | Film | Parental Guidance | Some content may not be suitable for children | Moana, The Incredibles |
| TV-PG | TV | Parental Guidance | Mild language or thematic material | High School Musical: The Series |
| PG-13 | Film | Teens 13+ | Intense action, mild violence, or suggestive themes | Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther |
| TV-14 | TV | Teens 14+ | May contain more mature themes, violence, or language | Loki, The Mandalorian |
| R | Film | 17+ | Restricted, may include strong violence, language, or adult content | Deadpool, Logan |
| TV-MA | TV | Adults only | Explicit content not suitable for under-17 | The Bear (on Hulu content integration) |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom & Europe (Star Integration)
In Europe and many international markets, Disney+ integrates adult content through its Star hub.
There, ratings follow BBFC (UK) or local film boards.
Disney+ offers six numeric levels for content restriction:
| Disney+ Rating Level | Approx. Equivalent | Audience | Example Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0+ | U / TV-Y | Suitable for all | Bluey, Mickey Mouse Funhouse |
| 6+ | PG / TV-G | Suitable for young children with guidance | Frozen, Zootopia |
| 9+ | PG+ / TV-PG | Older kids | Encanto, The Lion King |
| 12+ | 12 / TV-14 | Teens | The Marvels, The Mandalorian |
| 14+ | 14 / TV-14 | Mature teens | Andor, WandaVision |
| 16+ / 18+ | 16 / 18 / TV-MA | Adults | Deadpool, Prey, The Bear |
This numerical system is visible in account settings and determines what a profile can browse or stream.
How Disney+ Assigns Ratings
Disney+ classifies content using a mix of:
- Official board ratings (MPA, BBFC, etc.)
- Internal review for global consistency
- Descriptors (explaining why a show/movie has that rating)
Criteria Considered:
- Violence & intensity
- Language (profanity, insults, tone)
- Sexual or suggestive content
- Nudity or partial nudity
- Drug or alcohol use
- Scary or distressing scenes
- Thematic maturity (death, trauma, discrimination, etc.)
Each program is evaluated by Disney’s content teams and regional compliance officers to make sure it matches local regulations.
Disney+ also sometimes uses additional warnings at the start of older titles — e.g., “This program includes outdated cultural depictions” or “Flashing lights may affect photosensitive viewers.”
Viewing Ratings on Disney+
Disney+ makes it simple to find a title’s rating:
Where You’ll See It:
- On each title’s details page (before playback)
- In the video player, briefly when you start streaming
- On Kids profiles, only ratings up to that profile’s set level appear
The rating usually looks like:
TV-PG – Mild violence, some thematic material
Some regions include additional descriptors such as:
- “Strong language”
- “Sexual references”
- “Frightening scenes”
- “Violence and gore”
This makes it easier to decide if a particular show fits your family’s values.
Setting Age Restrictions on Disney+
Disney+ allows you to create individual profiles — each with its own maturity rating and viewing restrictions.
Here’s how to set it up.
Steps to Adjust a Profile’s Age Rating
- Open Disney+ and select your account icon.
- Go to “Edit Profiles.”
- Choose the profile you want to change.
- Scroll to “Content Rating.”
- Enter your Disney+ password if prompted.
- Choose the desired rating level (for example, 9+, 12+, or 16+).
- Save your changes.
The profile will now only show titles that match or are below that rating.
Create a Kids Profile
You can mark any profile as a Kids Profile.
This automatically:
- Limits access to G / TV-Y / PG content
- Removes search and browsing for mature titles
- Displays a child-friendly interface
This is ideal for children under 10.
Set a Profile PIN
To stop kids from switching into adult profiles:
- Go to Edit Profiles
- Choose the adult profile
- Scroll to Profile PIN
- Set a 4-digit code
The PIN is now required every time someone tries to enter that profile.
Watch History and Recommendations
Each Disney+ profile has its own history and recommendation algorithm.
This means if a child profile is restricted to 9+ content, recommendations will stay within that limit.
Example of Age Ratings in Action
Let’s see how Disney+ applies ratings to popular titles:
| Title | Rating | Region | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen II | PG | Global | Some thematic elements and action |
| Loki | TV-14 | Global | Violence, intense scenes |
| The Mandalorian | TV-14 | Global | Sci-fi violence and peril |
| Bluey | TV-G | Global | Mild themes, educational |
| Turning Red | PG | Global | Thematic material, suggestive humor |
| The Bear (via Hulu/Star) | TV-MA | US / International | Strong language, mature themes |
| Deadpool | R / 18+ | Global | Graphic violence, sexual content, language |
| National Geographic: Earth Moods | G / TV-G | Global | Educational content |
This variety shows why Disney+ expanded its age-rating controls — the same platform now hosts both Bluey and Deadpool.
Parental Control Features (Beyond Ratings)
Disney+ also provides extra parental management tools to enhance safety and control.
Profile Restrictions
Each profile has an independent maturity rating and viewing limit.
Title Blocking
While you can’t block individual titles manually (like Netflix allows), setting a lower content rating automatically hides mature titles.
Kids Mode Interface
Visually simplified — no access to search, Star hub, or adult content thumbnails.
Viewing Warnings
Disney includes pop-up warnings before certain titles (e.g., flashing lights, sensitive topics).
PIN Protection
Each adult profile can be locked; this prevents accidental access.
Disney+ vs. Other Streaming Platforms
Here’s how Disney+ compares to other major platforms when it comes to maturity ratings and controls:
| Platform | Rating System | Profile Control | Title Blocking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | TV/MPA + regional (TV-MA, PG-13, etc.) | Yes | Yes | Custom blocking for specific titles |
| Disney+ | Numeric (0+ to 18+) + TV/MPA | Yes | No | Per-profile limits, PIN protection |
| Amazon Prime Video | TV/MPA + regional | Yes | Yes | Parental PIN and purchase restrictions |
| Hulu | TV/MPA | Yes | No | Tied to profile maturity settings |
| Apple TV+ | TV/MPA | Yes | No | Simple system, all ages focus |
Disney+ strikes a balance — it’s intuitive, streamlined, and automatically filters content by profile, but lacks per-title blocking.
Criticism and Limitations
Even though Disney+ is strong on family-friendliness, there are a few common criticisms.
Limited Flexibility
Parents can’t block specific titles without lowering the whole rating threshold.
Regional Confusion
Different countries display different rating labels — “TV-14” in one region, “12+” in another — which can confuse families using VPNs or traveling.
Blurred Boundaries in Star/Hulu Merge
As Disney+ integrates Hulu content, the platform must maintain strong labeling to separate mature series (The Bear) from general content (The Mandalorian).
Older Titles With Outdated Themes
Disney includes disclaimers before older classics that depict stereotypes or outdated views, but parents should still pre-screen those films.
Despite these drawbacks, Disney+ remains one of the most transparent services for age classification.
1How to Check and Adjust Ratings Anytime
You can view or change a profile’s maturity rating anytime:
On desktop:
- Go to DisneyPlus.com
- Click your profile → “Edit Profiles”
- Select a profile → “Content Rating”
- Adjust, confirm, and save
On mobile (app):
- Tap your profile icon
- Edit the target profile
- Change the content rating and confirm
Note: You may need to re-enter your account password for verification.
Disney’s Policy on Age Ratings
Disney+ follows strict internal content review guidelines inspired by:
- MPA (Motion Picture Association)
- TV Parental Guidelines (US)
- BBFC (UK)
- Australian Classification Board
- Canadian Home Video Rating System
All content must include:
- Clear age label
- Reason for rating (violence, language, sexual content)
- Localized version for international markets
Disney also employs human moderation — not just AI — to ensure that local standards are respected.
Best Practices for Parents
Here are simple ways to ensure your family gets the most from Disney+ safely:
- Create a dedicated Kids profile for each child.
- Use age-appropriate ratings — don’t rely on defaults.
- Discuss content together — ratings can be a great learning tool.
- Recheck maturity settings after app updates or new devices.
- Preview shows — not all PG content fits every child.
- Explain content warnings (“strong language,” “violence”) in kid-friendly terms.
- Stay aware of Star / Hulu integrations — they bring mature content.
With these habits, Disney+ can stay a safe, educational, and enjoyable platform for the whole family.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does Disney+ have R-rated movies?
Yes. Since 2022, Disney+ in the United States has added a small number of R-rated movies, including Deadpool and Logan. These titles are available only on profiles set to the TV-MA or 18+ maturity rating. If a profile’s age rating is lower, these movies will be hidden from search results and recommendations.
Q: What happens if I lower a profile’s rating?
When you lower the content rating for a Disney+ profile, all shows and movies above that level are automatically hidden. For example, if a profile is changed from 14+ to 9+, Disney+ will remove access to teen or adult-rated titles. They won’t appear in browsing, search, or “Continue Watching” lists.
Q: Are Kids profiles automatically filtered?
Yes. Disney+ Kids profiles are automatically limited to G, PG, and TV-Y content. The interface is simplified and colorful, designed for children. It also removes the search bar and hides mature categories like Star (internationally) or Hulu (in the U.S.), so kids stay in a safe environment.
Q: Can I set different ratings for different kids?
Absolutely. Each profile on Disney+ is independent, meaning you can set unique age ratings for each child. For instance, one profile could be set to 9+ for a younger child, while another could be 12+ or 14+ for an older sibling. Each profile will then display only content that matches its specific rating limit.
Q: How do I prevent my child from accessing my adult profile?
You can secure adult profiles with a Profile PIN. To set this up, go to Settings → Edit Profile → Profile Lock, then create a four-digit PIN. This ensures that only someone with the PIN can open that profile, preventing children from switching into unrestricted accounts.
Q: Do ratings differ by country?
Yes. Disney+ adapts its age ratings to match each country’s classification system. For example, a show that’s rated TV-14 in the United States may appear as 12+ in the United Kingdom or Europe. These variations help align Disney+ with local content regulations and cultural standards.
Final Thoughts
Disney+ continues to grow from a family streaming service to a full entertainment platform hosting content for every age group — from toddlers to adults.
Its age rating system is a cornerstone of that approach:
- Clear and standardized maturity labels
- Profile-based content restrictions
- Optional Kids profiles and PIN protection
- Regionally adapted systems that match local standards
While it’s not flawless, Disney+ remains one of the safest, most transparent streaming services for families who value age-appropriate, educational, and entertaining viewing.
By taking a few minutes to customize your profiles, you can ensure that Disney+ remains a magical and safe space for everyone at home.
✅ References
- Disney+ Help Center – Parental Controls
- Disney+ Content Rating Levels Explained
- MPA Film Rating System
- BBFC Classification Guidelines
- Common Sense Media: Disney+ Parents Guide
Would you like me to now create the feature image (16:9) for this Disney+ article — similar style to the Netflix one (Disney+ logo, blue theme, age rating icons like G, PG, 12+, 16+, 18+)?