3-layer Rating system
Layer 1
1
AUDIENCE SUITABILITY – WHO CAN WATCH?
GEN – General Audience / Families / All Ages
TNS – Teens
AA – Adult Audience
MAA – Mature Adult Audience
Layer 2
2
MORAL ORIENTATION – WHAT DOES THE FILM ULTIMATELY DO?
Evaluates the overall direction of a film (i.e., what it ultimately affirms, questions, or undermines in the viewer’s moral imagination). It evaluates the film’s dominant moral trajectory, not every element within it. In other words, it applies to the central narrative and thematic thrust, not to isolated or secondary subplots.
✅ Affirms Moral Truth
⚠️ Morally Complex, Ambiguous, or Unresolved
❌ Undermines Moral Truth
Layer 3
3
RECOMMENDATION – SHOULD A CHRISTIAN WATCH THIS MOVIE?
This recommendation weighs audience suitability and moral orientation together to offer practical guidance.
🟢 Recommend – Worth watching for Christians who meet the audience suitability, with appropriate discernment.
🟡 Caution – The film contains real moral concerns that do not outweigh its value, but require an active, well-formed conscience.
🔴 Not Recommended – The moral concerns outweigh the value; best avoided.
Disclaimer
These ratings are offered to assist the formation of conscience, not replace it. Catholics may reasonably differ in their final judgment.
A film may contain morally problematic content while still affirming moral truth through its central story. For example, a movie might include an unresolved romantic subplot involving premarital sex, yet primarily celebrate discipline, sacrifice, or fidelity in its main narrative.