The premise of "why is Patriots Day rated R" fundamentally misunderstands the application of film classification systems. Patriots' Day, functioning as a proper noun in the context of your query, refers to a specific public holiday observed in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord. As a civic observance, a holiday does not receive a rating from entities like the Motion Picture Association (MPA), which assigns ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17) exclusively to motion pictures based on their content.
The confusion almost certainly stems from the 2016 film titled Patriots Day, which dramatizes the events of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent manhunt. This particular cinematic production was indeed rated R by the MPA. The "R" rating (Restricted) was assigned due to the film's depiction of "violence, realistic gore, language throughout and some drug content." The movies classification reflects its graphic portrayal of a real-world terrorist attack, including severe injuries, intense emotional distress, and the violent confrontations that occurred during the pursuit of the perpetrators. These elements are consistent with content typically warranting an R rating, indicating that viewers under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Therefore, to be precise, the holiday known as Patriots' Day carries no content rating. The "R" rating applies solely to the distinct motion picture Patriots Day, a separate entity that recounts historical events associated with a different, albeit similarly named, significant public event in Boston, distinct from the original historical commemoration of the American Revolutionary War battles. The differentiation between a cultural observance and a commercial film production is crucial for understanding the nature of these classifications.
