Ben Stiller Reveals Legal Hurdles Behind 'Meet the Fockers' PG-13 Rating

The filmmakers had to prove the Focker surname was real to avoid an R rating from the MPA.

Ben Stiller confirmed on 'Hot Ones' that the Motion Picture Association required evidence of the Focker surname's existence to maintain a PG-13 rating for 'Meet the Fockers.'
The MPA deemed the name 'Focker' too similar to an expletive, prompting the filmmakers to demonstrate its legitimacy through legal processes.
'Meet the Fockers,' the 2004 sequel to 'Meet the Parents,' grossed over $520 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing live-action comedies of all time.
Stiller also recounted a similar ratings issue with his 2001 film 'Zoolander,' where he had to defend certain scenes to avoid an R rating.
The actor reflected on the challenges of preserving comedic elements in films while adhering to rating board standards.