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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wish cinema's had a parent/guardian only viewing for children films

62 replies

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 15/08/2015 00:36

i will admit I have always steamed a pg film and recently 12a film online since I have 2 children.

I don't want to do this, but also don't want to take my children to a film that I don't know if it's suitable, my children are 9 and 6. So need to make sure I can to my best of abilities explain.

Would it be a better idea for movies that are PG to actually have a viewing so parental guidance can be met.

OP posts:

Welshmaenad · 15/08/2015 00:38

I don't understand why you can't just go and see it alone first to decide if it's suitable.

WorraLiberty · 15/08/2015 00:40

I'm not entirely sure I understand what you're saying?

But if you mean can you go and view a PG movie on your own to check if it's ok for your kids, well you can surely?

PerspicaciaTick · 15/08/2015 00:40

I don't think you would find many parents ready and willing to pay for a babysitter and a cinema ticket to sit through a kids film on their own...only to see it again with the DCs if it passed.

TBH most people I know go by the ratings, plus reviews and may comments from people who've already seen the film (try starting a thread on MN for useful info).

EatShitDerek · 15/08/2015 00:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TwoLeftSocks · 15/08/2015 00:41

If it's any help, the IMDB usually has a Parents Guide for each film, e.g.

www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/parentalguide?ref_=tt_ql_7

It's a link from the main page for each film. I've found it useful in the past for deciding whether to let ours watch something or not.

FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP · 15/08/2015 00:42

You don't need a special screening to watch the film on your own. But the BBFC guide is good if you want a more detailed appraisal.

ncterrornc · 15/08/2015 00:42

Eh? I seriously could not be arsed going to watch a film to check whether ds would like it... oh to have the time!

Original poster

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 15/08/2015 00:45

I know I could but both DC need a lot of reward points before going to the cinema. For some reason they know the date it's going to be realised and work hard to see it.

OP posts:

TwoLeftSocks · 15/08/2015 00:45

I'd not seen the BBFC site before, thanks Frances.

LongHardStare · 15/08/2015 00:46

Common sense media is fantastic for getting a really detailed review of films from a parent's perspective - www.commonsensemedia.org/

Much more specific about ages and types of issue than the classification board rating (e.g. role models, language drugs, sex, violence, educational value,...)

I can't recommend it highly enough

SpringBreaker · 15/08/2015 00:49

What are you scared they might see in children's film???

NormanLamont · 15/08/2015 00:49

But you don't have to go on the release date just because the DC know when that is, do you?

TwoLeftSocks · 15/08/2015 00:50

Ooh, that's really useful too, thanks LongHardStare.

missingmumxox · 15/08/2015 00:51

Common sense media, I second, that's what we use.

enderwoman · 15/08/2015 00:51

Lots of people ask about film suitability on here - for example there were lots of questions about Jurassic World recently.

BackforGood · 15/08/2015 00:58

That really is a bit of a loopy idea.
if you feel concerned, then don't take 9 and 6 yr olds to a film where the guidance is they'd be better being 12 (even if are allowed in with an adult) - it's already given you that guidance.
if its something they are particularly keen to see, and you have a) the time, b) the money, and c) someone to look after them whilst you go and watch the film on your own, then you can go and see it first. There's no ruling to say you are only allowed in to a 12a if you have a child with you - you already can go without them if you so wish.

FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP · 15/08/2015 01:03

To be fair to the OP, it's not an unprecedentedly loopy idea. Mark Kermode gets questions about age suitability on the radio frequently and often advises going to see it on your own first on the grounds that they're your DC, and you know best what will be suitable for their particular personalities. However I think even he recognises that this is a counsel of perfection and not exactly realistic.

chrome100 · 15/08/2015 06:37

it's a PG - of course it will be suitable. Surely that's the whole point of having film certs?

WishIWasWonderwoman · 15/08/2015 06:45

It's not crazy to go see a film before your children to check it's suitable, many parents I know will read a book before giving it to their kids, it's the same idea.

But I don't think enough parents would do this to make it economically viable for cinemas to to run parents only sessions before the release date (although a local cinema near me does have 8pm sessions of children's films which are almost exclusively attended by teenagers and adults).

I would recommend using one of the websites talked about above (common sense media is a good one) or asking around before you go. Or you can go to the film yourself and just take the DC a few days later if you deem the movie suitable?

5YearsTime · 15/08/2015 06:55

A "viewing"??

Yes they have these frequently, they are called "showings" and will happen very regularly at most local cinemas!

FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP · 15/08/2015 07:30

PG films should be suitable for almost all 8 year olds but below that age it's up to the discretion of the parent to think about the individual child and the specific film Chrome. Hence Parental Guidance, rather than Universal. The OP has a 6 year old, so is using the ratings exactly as intended (apart from the whole piracy business, which I don't think the BBFC would sanction).

Also she's thinking about whether her children can watch specific 12A films, where again if you want to take an 8-12 year old you should use specific parental judgement.

Mehitabel6 · 15/08/2015 07:32

All you have to is go in your own first- I can't see many parents wanting to do that. Surely you can just read the reviews and you know your child?
If it is PG it is deemed suitable- if you think your child will have a problem with it don't take them. i.e 'If in doubt don't'.

Or simpler- just wait until a friend has taken their children and ask.

Superexcited · 15/08/2015 07:34

Are you saying that you want a free screening beforehand so you can decide on suitability? If that isn't what you are saying then I don't understand what you want as you could go and watch a screening at any time before taking your children at a later date.

Mehitabel6 · 15/08/2015 07:43

I am struggling to understand and think I may have got it wrong.
You do as Superexcited says- or are we missing something?

NurNochKurzDieWeltRetten · 15/08/2015 07:48

We use common sense media too - people saying of course all kids are fine with a PG are forgetting that PG means Parental Guidance and U means universal, and that some parents take 4 year olds to see 12a rated films...

When DD was about 4 or 5 I took her to see Kiss of The Frog (Disney Princess film) as a 1:1 special thing, and she was terrified by the voodoo scenes and we had to leave half way through - I should have checked that one on common senses media before hand (but I didn't know about it then and just assumed it would be fine...) I do think the "dark" in some films goes over a lot of young kids heads, but terrifies the ones who "get" what they are watching...

Similarly I have taken all 3 kids to films since that I have had to take the youngest out of just because they don't hold his interest and he gets restless - again a suitable rating but should have done more research first (but it is hard to find films that will hold the interest of 3 kids with 5 years from oldest to youngest sometimes).

I don't know what the OP wants either though - a free showing before the film even opens I assume? She seems to take her children to the cinema on the day a new film opens and consider this important... But a free pre showing is never going to happen, and even if it did it would open up demands for several free showings, as after all one date isn't going to work for everyone...

OP just use the ratings and review sites or don't take your kids til you've had a chance to watch the film first (but seriously just use common sense media - most films open in the USA before the UK anyway...)

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