Raising Back to the Future age rating: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
Back to the Future age rating: the 1985 film is rated PG in the US, per the MPA, which lists no reason for ratings that old. The UK's BBFC rates it PG for mild language and violence, and Germany's FSK rated it 12 in 1985. The BBFC notes a man shot with brief bloody detail and fistfights. Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit, lists it for ages 10 and up, citing some violence, bullying and cursing.
Back to the Future at a glance
- –Official rating above age 7
MPA: PG; BBFC: PG; FSK: 12 - –Violence in rating descriptors
BBFC PG: mild violence (not counted) - –Scary content in rating descriptors
None in BBFC advice - –Bad language in rating descriptors
BBFC PG: mild language (not counted) - –Sexual content, drugs, or alcohol in rating descriptors
None in BBFC advice - ✓Rated 12 or higher in the UK or Germany
FSK: 12
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count. Rating reasons marked mild, very mild, or brief don't count.
| Type | Robert Zemeckis's sci-fi comedy (1985): a teen travels back to 1955 in a DeLorean source |
|---|---|
| US (MPA) | PG (parental guidance suggested; no age limit); the MPA lists no reason for this 1985 rating source |
| UK (BBFC) | PG (parental guidance) — mild language and violence (2002 video release; PG since 1985) source |
| Germany (FSK) | 12 (from age 12), cinema release, September 1985 source |
| Common Sense Media | 10+ — some violence, bullying, cursing; many product placements |
| Sequels | Part II (1989) and Part III (1990): MPA PG; BBFC PG; FSK 12 source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What Back to the Future is about
Back to the Future is a 1985 Universal film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. Teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean built by his scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). There, he gets in the way of his future parents falling in love and has to bring them together to get home, per Wikipedia. It opened in US theaters on July 3, 1985, and returned to theaters for its 40th anniversary in 2025.
Back to the Future age rating: what's in it
Short answer: PG in the US and the UK, 12 in Germany.
- US (MPA): PG; no reason is listed for this 1985 rating.
- UK (BBFC): PG, mild language and violence.
- Germany (FSK): 12.
Because the MPA gave no reasons in 1985, the flags here come from the BBFC's advice. The BBFC lists a man shot with brief bloody detail, fistfights, and mild bad language, including a few mild swear words. Common Sense Media notes that a classmate bullies Marty's father and that brands like Pepsi appear throughout.
Are the Back to the Future sequels PG too?
Short answer: Yes. The MPA rated Part II (1989) and Part III (1990) PG, and the BBFC rated both PG, Part II for mild language and violence. Germany's FSK rated both 12, as it did the first film.
The habit kids may copy: the bully's script
Biff pushes George around for years, and George goes along with it until he decides not to.
Try tonight: two roads
Tell a short story about a kid who gets pushed in line. Ask: "What are two things they could do next?" Let your child name both roads, then pick one. In our program, this is the lesson "Two Roads": noticing that there's a choice.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What is Back to the Future rated?
PG in the US and the UK. Germany's FSK rated it 12.
What age is Back to the Future for?
PG has no age limit; the BBFC lists mild language and violence. Common Sense Media lists it for 10+.
Why is Back to the Future PG?
The MPA gave no reason in 1985. The BBFC's advice for its PG is mild language and violence.
Is there swearing in Back to the Future?
Yes, mild. The BBFC lists mild bad language, including a few mild swear words.
More from “Is it good for kids?”
Home Alone
Christmas comedy (1990) about an 8-year-old left home alone who fights off two burglars
Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg's sci-fi film (1993) about cloned dinosaurs loose in a theme park
Harry Potter (the films)
Eight Warner Bros. fantasy films (2001–2011) based on J.K. Rowling's novels
How to Boost Kids' Confidence, Even in a Shy Child
How to boost kids' confidence at ages 4–7, even in a shy child: why shyness isn't a flaw, and how small finished steps and a little preparation build it.
Read next →Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology. One lesson is "Two Roads": noticing that there's a choice.