On August 10, 1984, the action thriller Red Dawn, starring
Patrick Swayze, opened in theaters as the first movie to be
released with a PG-13 rating. The Motion Picture Association
of America (MPAA), which oversees the movie rating system,
had announced the new PG-13 category in July of that same
year.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which oversees the
voluntary rating system for movies, introduces a new rating, PG-13 on
this day in 1984.

The initial rating categories were G (appropriate for all ages), M (for
mature audiences, but all ages admitted), R (persons under 16 not
admitted without an accompanying adult) and X (no one under 17
admitted). The M category was eventually changed to PG (parental
guidance suggested), the R age limit was also raised to 17 and on
July 1, 1984, the PG-13 category was added to indicate film content
with a “higher level of intensity.” According to the MPAA, the content
of a PG-13 film “may be inappropriate for a children under 13 years
old” and “may contain very strong language, nudity (non-explicit),
strong, mildly bloody violence or mild drug content.”