Here is a theory. It's not a good one but here it goes. The director saw the movie and agreed with everyone that it sucked. Therefore, in order to shield us from the horror of this awful movie they pushed it back 8 months to July and gave it a PG rating so we'd be so pissed off that we wouldn't want to see it. Like I said, not a good theory but a theory none the less. Anyway one should observe that the first three films ratings were in the range of "PG for some scary moments and mild language". The fourth and fifth were rated "PG-13 for Fantasy Violence and Frightening images". This new one is "Rated PG for scary images, some violence, language, and mild sensuality". Let's review. Scary images (Sectusempra, harry's broken nose, awesome guy's death), violence (what was just mentioned), language (darn, Arse, Hell, SH%T hopefully), and sensuality (SEX! HOT STEAMY SEX). This is the darkest, most adult of the films despite what the MPAA says. Also have you heard that 20th Century Fox is trying to delay the release of Warner Bros. "Watchmen"? That means there will be a space free for a certain wizard epic HOPEFULLY. Optimism my peeps. OPTIMISM!

I read in my local newspaper that some movies that are supposed to be rated "R" end up "PG". It's possible that the rating was mislabled and nothing major was taken out.

I read in my local newspaper that some movies that are supposed to be rated "R" end up "PG". It's possible that the rating was mislabled and nothing major was taken out.

PG, huh? That's pretty cool, considering how violent it is. Compared to GOP (goblet o' poop) and OOTP, it's pretty tame, actually. I bet DH will be rated R for sure.

Let me explain something and I hope everyone that has their doubts will read it. The MPAA has no set form or rules for how they rate movies. They have a panel of people that watch the movies and write comments down. After that, these people discuss what the final rating should be. It all comes down to the personal beliefs of the people. Since HP1 came out, the panel of raters has changed dramatically. It always does every few months. The new panel of people could have a higher tolerance for action, scary moments, or violence and therefore feel like it is only a PG film. Also, the threshold of films are changing. Disturbia with Shia LeBeouf was only a PG-13 film. The new film where an unborn twin is trying to kill his sister is only PG-13 and both of those movies are more intense than Goblet of Fire or the Order of the Phoenix. So people do not absolutely freak out, this movie could push the boundries farther than the Order of the Phoenix but because of the people on the ratings board, they might feel it is only PG-13. Society has changed a lot since the Order of the Phoenix and what's acceptable and what's not has changed too. I hope this calms some peoples feelings. Donald P.

Just a heads up to everyone (including any Mugglenet staff) you don't need to wait for a confirmation from WB. If you go to the MPAA's website, it shows this rating to be correct. Here's a link to the page: http://mpaa.org/Fl mRat_SrchReslts.asp

yes this is upsetting. yes, i was expecting harrys overly sexual dreams about ginny to be in the movie. yes, i do want all the good and scary parts in this movie. however, i wouldnt give much store to the ratings. first of all, i have gone to movies and there have been previews that said 'suitible for all audiences' with r-rated clips. (when seeing movie with parents, talk about awkward, eek). number two. how much scarier is gof/ootp than the first three? i mean, like jkr said, the books don't get scarier as they go along, and neither do the movies. i mean, the guy had a head on the back of his head, controlling him. isn't that a bit creepy? however, i am hoping for a non-confirmation of this news.

Wow, very surprising!! :O How strange. :S

c'mon people! let's not get our wands in a knot!!! ...... you know they'll change it 6 more times before July. Anyway....nice to see the countdown under 200. wish it was only 90 days. accio movie!

it's nothing really to get angry about people...i just find it odd that they'd give it that rating. but, it doesn't mean that the movie's changing or anything, so i don't really view it as a big deal...

If there's "scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality."...wouldn't it be PG-13? I mean, Goblet of Fire was PG-13 for much less: sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.

You guys are going crazy over nothing...calm down.

Off-topic: I SAW EQUUS IT WAS AMAZING DAN IS SO FREAKING GORGEOUS

Wow that's kind of surprising! But it's so weird because today at school someone was talking about how Prince Caspian was rated PG and it was really intense what with all the scary moments and killing people and stuff. It probably should've been PG-13... so I guess the same thing is happening with HBP.

wow, that's crazy. I thought this movie was supposed to be a lot "darker than the previous ones"??? I hope this is just temporary.

what? is this a fudge joke??

You cannot make me belive that Half Blood Prince only got a PG rating. The G.O.F and O.T.P both got PG-13's and this ones like 16 times darker than the 5th one and 49 times darker than the 4th one ( both still ruled ) I really don't understand how this one, which is supposed to have blood, terror, and DEATH in only has a bloody PG rating !!!! I suppose it doesn't really matter for me though, my family knows that I'm a total H.P freak and not even a Restricted rating will keep me from seeing this one and the last 2 for the 7th one! If they push it back again I will scream until my face turns blue and the ozone shatters into a billion peices !! (End Rant)

rawr.... i so wish it was PG13, it deserves it.

And wasn't it EMERSON who warned Parents NOT to take their little children to see this movie?? Either that was a LIE, or WB did some editing and watering down of the movie, because PG means "10 and up"!

..... how much of a kids movie is this going to be? (about the Sectumsempra scene, Eric from MuggleCast said that they turned that into a duel, so maybe they don't use the Sectumsempra spell in it).

but....but....but....PG is so TAME! This is scaring me.....and hopefully that mild sensuality will be leaning more towards Harry/Ginny than Ron/Lavender..... but omg what about INFERI?!?! this is insane! Better be a rumor...or some miscommunication...

(Restarting Rant) I just read through most of the reviews and some people made some good points. The book, when compared to the last one is in my opinion a lot darker. Its still got its funny moments that's obvious (reading about Harry around Ginny made me laugh quite a few times) but the book, and therefore the movie, deals with zombies, more death, extra awkward lovey scenes, more death, show-off Ron, more death, and nasty, icky, kissy scenes between Ron and that s****h* Lavender. ( I know that sounds harsh but Ron was dimmer than a dead lightbulb in this one. Hermione was dropping SO many hints) Back on topic though, if they did cut most of the cool scenes from this movie W.B will of forever lost my faith in them. I will burn my H.P movie collection in the grill and roast marshmellows over them. ( Can't burn the books. No matter what J.K's still a FANTASTIC writer and burning books outgh to be outlawed unless your burning the Twilight series. That series isn't even worthy of marshmellow fluff melting on them) ( End Rant Again)

WAIT A MIN. THIS MUST BE A JOKE. I REMEMBER THAT THE DIRECTOR SAID IT IS GOING TO BE RATED R . I THINK THEY MESSED UP. I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A GOOD MOVIE. THE TRAILER WAS GOOD THO.

Wow. I am embarrassed for all of us. Harry Potter is not for babies! (That seriousy might sound immature, I don't care.) But I guess this will draw kids and parents in. It's coming out in the summer, families will want to get out of the house & do something fun, they'll watch a PG-rated family movie a.k.a. Half-Blood Prince. But really, WTFFFF? PG? Are you serious? The Twilight fans are now going to have a field day. They'll be like "Hah! Look at you guys! HBP is for babies!!"

I'm having a hard time believing that this film could be rated PG with Ron and Lavender snogging in every other scene. Something doesn't seem right. I think we need to wait to hear from WB... But if it is rated PG, I think that is just going to be a mistake on their part. This is making me think of the movie, Marley and Me...that movie was rated PG and it definitely needed to be rated PG-13 because there was crude language/humor, sentuality, and downright depressing scenes. It was hard for me to believe they claimed the movie was made for everyone between the ages of 8 and 80....yeah right. GOF and OOTP could have been rated PG in my opinion. I don't really know why they were PG-13. But HPB...if they are following the story correctly, PG can't be correct.

WB pulled a Prince Caspian-Eragon on us. And I don't mind. As long as DH is rated R, I'll be fine. ^_^

if they didn't make it scary and graphic enough to recieve a pg-13 rating, then, in my opinion, they probably didn't do the best job on a lot of potentially really cool/creepy parts. a bit disappointing. but hopefully it'll still be good

okay...HUH?!?! now im a lil worried about what will be in the movie if its PG!

ARE YOU CRAZY PotterGurl08 ?!? Now you're right about GOF being PG, but OOTP... are you serious?!??? That movie had PG-13 written ALL OVER IT! It's MUCH MORE horrific and scarily intense than HBP, and everyone knows that. HBP is a lil milder, but it has something the others don't.. SENSUALITY! But still, the dark undertones in Half-Blood Prince still make up for a PG-13 film

ARE YOU CRAZY PotterGurl08 ?!? Now you're right about GOF being PG, but OOTP... are you serious?!??? That movie had PG-13 written ALL OVER IT! It's MUCH MORE horrific and scarily intense than HBP, and everyone knows that. HBP is a lil milder, but it has something the others don't.. SENSUALITY! But still, the dark undertones in Half-Blood Prince still make up for a PG-13 film

I think this is ridiculous. I saw this and I was like WTF?!?!?! Yeah.

i'll see it if its rated R, so i really don't care what they do.

wow I really hope this is a rumor or something, or that it's going to change. after 2 PG13 ratings its weird that HBP isn't getting one. I hope this doesn't mean that all the PG13 quality things were cut out of the movie :(

Hmm..a bit surprising but I'm guessing the humor balances it out??

uh okay :o so much for a dark and scary movie... what is it supposed to be all happy and kidfriendly?? of course ill like it anyways, but still... it ruins the mood. and yeah, that is a hot picture of draco :]

Oh my god. THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS. Why don't they just go ahead and give Deathly Hallows a G rating!!!!! And people why wonder Harry Potter is considered by some a "children's movie". I hope, nay..PRAY this is false.

PG? Hmmm....I'm sure it will still be awesome...blood doesn't make anything better...I think ratings arent as strict these days especially considering the stuff they show on TV. The last HP film came out in 2007 and it's now 2009...things have changed alot even in that amount of time. I still CAN'T WAIT to SEE IT!!!!

Wait, question... can they change a rating once it has already been confirmed and set?

this worries me.... i just hope they didnt screw up somewhere with the movie and just hope that the FDA people are on drugs.... =S

Bleah, Mugglenet, I'm very upset now. I gave you a DIRECT link hours and hours ago to the MPAA site with the HBP rating in the comments above, the first time in nearly nine years of visiting this site I actually figure out something before you guys and credit goes to Steven. :( So sad, all my dreams have been reduced to nothing lol

what?!? WHAT?!?!?!?!? This doesn't make any effing sense! especially from what the screen tests have said! i mean c'mon the inferi, dumbledores death, sectumsepra, the bridge, nose breaking, hagrids house burning down, lavender jumping on ron all the time, the "stolen hours in the secluded areas of the hogwarts grounds" burrow attack,poisoning, tom is the devil child, and not to mention hagrid and slughorn being wasted at the aragon burial scene lol. but seriously WTF! i was surprised OotP got a pg-13, because it wasnt THAT violent (GoF was scarier in my opinion) but if anything HBP should be PG-13!!

Well, I do suppose it's my own fault for not submitting it as a news story...I feel so down now I HAD it! :**(**

I know I have already posted, and I am seriously trying to stay calm and not freak out. I have read what everyone has said, and I realize that the people deciding the rating has changed over the years, but that still doesn't change my opinion. Like Prince Caspian, if you change the rating this drastically your going to have issues. It's going to make unknowing parents take their young children into a movie that they are not emotionally mature enough to deal with. When I saw Prince Caspian there were tons of parents who had to take their children out of the theater after only 15 minutes. What's going to happen with Half Blood Prince!? It's a lot emotionally and visually darker, and I think giving it a PG rating is giving people a false impression.

omg who cares? it's not like i'm gonna be... no, it's pg, no i'm not gonna see it... it's just a rating. i'm obviously gonna see it no matter what, it's not a big deal...

Epic FAIL. I'm sorry but this is the Worst. First the movie is pushed back, and now This! So what... sectumsempra isn't in the duel??? I thought the fleur bill thing was bad enough. T_T ... and no dumbledore funeral... I Actually had high hopes for this movie, but now I know to go into it with no hope so that I'll have some chance of enjoying it. I can only imagine what they'll do to the DH...

I didn't see Prince Caspian until it came out on DVD and my cousin's boyfriend said there was enough violence in it to make it a PG-13 movie. I got it for my birthday from a friend and I have to say he was right. Now lets see when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie comes out if they are saying the truth, or if it should be a PG-13! & I agree with Fawkes_Forever too. There's just no way they can have it as a PG movie w/all that stuff in the movie! Can't wait for it though

stupid

how does twilight get pg13 but hbp doesn't?????????????????? that sectumsempra scene must be lame because there was supposed to be so much blood!!!!!!!!!!!! and what about katie bell? that is just supposed to be freaky and woudn't that make it pg13??? not to mention SNAPE!!!!!

LOL? no way man, no way! It's got to be at least PG-13 or M

I'm guessing the 'm' comment was a joke... and i think that's only for video games. how does a rating even MATTER? it doesn't change the movie