The Tom Gulley Show Podcast!

Why is one film rated PG-13 while another earns an R — and who decides? On this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, Tom Gulley dives into the often-misunderstood world of movie ratings, exploring how a system meant to inform parents ended up shaping filmmaking, marketing, and pop culture itself. From the strict moral code of early Hollywood to the creation of the MPAA ratings system, this episode examines how films moved from “approved” or “banned” to G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. Along the way, Tom looks at the controversies, inconsistencies, and quiet power of ratings boards — including how a single rating can change a movie’s audience, box office fate, or creative direction. The discussion also covers why PG-13 became Hollywood’s commercial sweet spot, how filmmakers have edited films to avoid harsher ratings, and why some movies seem punished more severely than others for similar content. It’s a revealing look at who draws the lines, how those lines shift over time, and what movie ratings say about the cultur