An F-bomb in a PG movie

Oh I know I just thought it would be worth mentioning. That just doesn't happen in a PG movie.

It certainly doesn't happen today but at the time during the mid-late 80s PG-13 was still a relatively new rating system, created largely because of movie violence. So during that adjustment period, PG movies still pushed the boundaries of what would even be allowed in a PG-13 movie these days. Beetlejuice was definitely one of those movies. You pretty much never see the equivalent to the "Nice f*ckin mode" crotch grabbing scene in PG-13 movies today even but PG? No chance.

The distinct new formula for PG and PG-13 movies didn't really find its footing until the 1990s The last PG-13 movie I recall to really push boundaries in terms of crude adult humor would be the 1996 film Kingpin that was later re rated R

PG-13 did in fact exist when Beetlejuice came out. I believe Red Dawn, released in August of 1984, was the first film released with that rating.

Honestly though, even with the dynamic between how they decided if something was going to be PG or PG-13 taking several years to find it’s footing, I think Beetlejuice was quite a borderline case based on its content, and I can only assume that the MPAA just simply liked the movie and went lenient on it for that reason.

Dispute having some morbid stuff in it (AND the single F-bomb, which WAS allowed in PG movies back then in the same fashion that they are allowed in PG-13 movies now) Beetlejuice is quite a charming movie that can appeal to children, while actually addressing the subject of death and afterlife in a way that, I’d actually seriously say, is in a healthy and palatable manner. I don’t know if that’s what they were going for with the movie, but I truly think it is a good introduction to such mature topics for younger kids.

That’s why I’m thinking the MPAA genuinely liked the movie, and probably looked at it more favorably than certain other teen movies of the mid-80’s like say, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which got a PG-13 in 1986. The MPAA has been known for DECADES to play favorites with how they certify films, and go extra hard on films they look down their noses at.

yea, anyone that takes these ratings seriously is an idiot!
This is all political.
If you see the aviator there is a scene showing how scamming it is.

PG-13 is such a redundant and stupid rating. When a rating says "Parental Guidance Suggested, some material may be inappropriate for children" I really don't see what's so hard about this? This means there may be an F-bomb, or a heart being ripped out of a guys chest, or a couple of shots of a woman's breasts. Parents just need to be more informed about what their children are watching and not just use the TV as a babysitter. I mean what's next? Do we also need a PG-10, PG-12 and PG-15 ratings also?

all the sexual references, and pedofilla was allowed along with death as long as it appears cartoony.

who am I kidding? they probably bought it off.

I don't have a problem with it. It's surprising for a PG movie.

That's because your parents didn't wash your mouth with soap often enough to teach you not to cuss.

Not anymore. Kids these days they go around dropping F bombs as casually as they breathe before they graduate first grade. I call it progress.