70s | 80s | Pop Culture | Movies
10 So-Called PG Movies That Are The Reason You Need Therapy
Before the introduction of the PG-13 rating into the film industry in the late 1990s, the gap between what got a movie a PG rating versus an R rating was pretty massive. Of course, this meant that some movies didn't quite meet the requirements of an R rating, but were also probably way too intense for us to be watching as kids; especially in the case of these 10 movies.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Between a kid getting blown up into a giant blue balloon and the freaking tunnel scene, it's a miracle we haven't sworn off candy forever.
Gremlins
The ultimate mix of horror and Christmas is actually pretty freaking gory by today's standards, and we were allowed to watch it as kids!
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Nazis get their faces melted off in very, VERY graphic detail. It's awesome, but still, how'd they get away from that?
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Oh you thought Raiders was intense? How about a dude getting his freaking still-beating heart ripped out of his chest in an evil ritual?!
The movies just get more messed up from here...
Beetlejuice
The snake scene. That's all I'm gonna say.
Twilight Zone: The Movie
A few segments of this (especially the one with the gremlin) are straight up gross and we kinda love it.
Return to Oz
Okay, who turned a sequel to a beloved family classic into some straight-up nightmare fuel? And why was I allowed to watch this as a kid?!
Jaws
Super tame by today's standards, but for the time it came out, it was pretty terrifying and gory.
Watership Down
I know at least a few people had their parents rent them this thinking "Oh it's a cartoon, my kids will love it" only for us to be absolutely terrified the entire time.
Poltergeist
This is by far the most intense example of a PG movie that really shouldn't have been shown to us as kids, 'cause holy crap this movie is still scary even by today's standards.