The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) was founded in 1922; it was the industry's first move towards self-regulation. The MPAA judged movies based on adherence to the Hays Code, a list of rules named after their first president, Will Hays. Before being distributed, each film's depiction of life was deemed either "moral" or "immoral," and the film was then either "approved" or "disapproved."
The modern movie-rating system was established on November 1, 1968, and has turned into an independent ratings body: the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA). CARA members share the commonality of being parents. The goal is to communicate to parents the level of content in each movie, so they can make more informed choices on what movies are appropriate for their children.
In 2010, the system has evolved to contain five different ratings, which are based on adult-themed content. "G" movies are suitable for all audiences. "PG"-rated movies have material that parents may find unsuitable for their children, and a "PG-13" movie may have some material inappropriate for pre-teens. An "R" rating restricts children under 17 from viewing the movie without an accompanying parent or guardian. "NC-17" movies are off-limits for children.