12 Controversial MPAA Movie Ratings Decisions
In the early days of the MPAA system, the "X" rating was meant to imply simply material that was inappropriate for children. It was not until the '70s that it took on the connotation of being a strictly for por Gross: $45 Million
In the early days of the MPAA system, the "X" rating was meant to imply simply material that was inappropriate for children. It was not until the '70s that it took on the connotation of being a strictly for pornography. As such, 1969's gritty look at New York City street hustlers remains the first (and barring a wave of ratings nostalgia, only) X-rated film to win an Oscar for Best Picture. Florin Productions
Similarly, Stanley Kubrick's distopian classic was initially given an X-rating by the MPAA. In England, fueled by the fear that it would inspire wide spread youth riots, the film remained banned until 2000. Gross: $26.5 Million
Similarly, Stanley Kubrick's distopian classic was initially given an X-rating by the MPAA. In England, fueled by the fear that it would inspire wide spread youth riots, the film remained banned until 2000. Warner Bros. Pictures
Probably the most famous of the '70s Art House X's, the nihilistic tale of middle-aged sex and desperation gave Italian authorities cause to call director Bernardo Bertolucci to court on obsenity Gross: $96 Million (Worldwide)
Probably the most famous of the '70s Art House X's, the nihilistic tale of middle-aged sex and desperation gave Italian authorities cause to call director Bernardo Bertolucci to court on obsenity charges for making the film. United Artists
Due to the graphic violent content that effects-loving director Steven Speilberg was able to cram into his first sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, the ratings board was reluctant to giv Gross: $333 Million (Worldwide)
Due to the graphic violent content that effects-loving director Steven Speilberg was able to cram into his first sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, the ratings board was reluctant to give it a PG rating, but was equally reluctant to slap a crowd-pleasing film with an R. Temple of Doom was ultimately released with the PG rating, but the discussion lead to the creation of the PG-13 rating. John Milius' militia fantasy Red Dawn was the first film to actually carry the new PG-13 rating. Paramount Pictures
Religion has always been an area that Hollywood has been reluctant to tread upon, but when America's greatest living director tried his hand at an unconventional take on the life of Christ, Universal Gross: $8.5 Million (U.S.)
Religion has always been an area that Hollywood has been reluctant to tread upon, but when America's greatest living director tried his hand at an unconventional take on the life of Christ, Universal was offered $6.5 million by Christian groups to destroy the film before it was released. VHS rental behemoth Blockbuster refused to carry it when it was released on video. The resulting controversy ensured that 25 years later we are still talking about an idiosyncratic midperiod Scorsese picture. Universal Pictures
By the '80s, respectable theater chains were refusing to carry any film with an X-rating, regardless of its content. This made any film that received this rating commercially inviable. Peter Greenaway's Gross: $8 Million (U.S.)
By the '80s, respectable theater chains were refusing to carry any film with an X-rating, regardless of its content. This made any film that received this rating commercially inviable. Peter Greenaway's surreal film chose to be released unrated rather than accepting the dreaded X. Following the art house success of films such as this, the MPAA created the NC-17 rating with the intention of having a designation that could be applied to serious films with content considered too mature for young audiences. Allarts Cook
In 1990, Henry & June became the first film to be released with the new NC-17 rating. The tale of a love triangle between novelist Henry Miller, his wife June and erotica writer Anais N Gross: $11.5 Million (Worldwide)
In 1990, Henry & June became the first film to be released with the new NC-17 rating. The tale of a love triangle between novelist Henry Miller, his wife June and erotica writer Anais Nin in 1930's Paris proved, if nothing else, that you could make a serious adult film with tons of sex and still bore audiences to tears. Walrus & Associates
Paul Verhoeven's blockbuster neo-noir had to trim several frames out of the closeup in Sharon Stone's infamous interegation scene in order to fight off the NC-17, which two ye Gross: $118 Millon (U.S.), $353 Million (Worldwide)
Paul Verhoeven's blockbuster neo-noir had to trim several frames out of the closeup in Sharon Stone's infamous interegation scene in order to fight off the NC-17, which two years after its creation had already acquired the reputation as a commercial kiss of death. The film would also be the subject of intense protests from the gay community, who objected to an implied correlation between the femme fatale's bisexuality and murderous impulses. Verhoeven would have another go at the MPAA with his trash masterpiece Showgirls...it did not go well, but has become a cult classic of sorts. Carolco Pictures
Wes Craven's crafty meta-horror movie was originally given an "NC-17" due to graphic violence. When it was rescreened for the MPAA, with very minor cuts to some of the stabbi Gross: $103 Million (U.S.), $162 Million (Worldwide)
Wes Craven's crafty meta-horror movie was originally given an "NC-17" due to graphic violence. When it was rescreened for the MPAA, with very minor cuts to some of the stabbing scenes, the members were instructed "to be open to it as a comedy." The film was granted an "R," in a decision that critics would point to as an example of the free pass given to violent content when compared to some of the more arbitrary decisions that are made regarding depictions of sexuality. Dimension Films
The tragic based-on-a-true-story tale of the murder of a transgendered teen in middle america was forced to submit several cuts to the MPAA before it could receive an "R" rating. According to directo Gross: $11.5 Million (U.S.)
The tragic based-on-a-true-story tale of the murder of a transgendered teen in middle america was forced to submit several cuts to the MPAA before it could receive an "R" rating. According to director Kimberly Pierce, the offending scenes were not the two brutal rape scenes, nor the murder, but a consensual sex act between the two female leads. Fox Searchlight Pictures
Darren Aronofsky's unrelenting tale of drug addiction in deep Brooklyn was one of the first films to try to "reclaim" the "NC-17" as a serious rating following the Showgirls debacle. Whe Gross: $7.5 Million (Worldwide)
Darren Aronofsky's unrelenting tale of drug addiction in deep Brooklyn was one of the first films to try to "reclaim" the "NC-17" as a serious rating following the Showgirls debacle. When his initial cut was slapped with an "NC-17," Aronofsky opted to release the film with that rating rather than make the edits required to win an "R." His film was rewarded with critical acclaim and several Oscar nominations. Artisan Entertainment
This somber indie film, depicting the sad life cycle of an ordinary relationship, was given an "NC-17" despite containing only one sex scene. Critics of the MPAA used this as further proof that Gross: $12.5 Million (Worldwide)
This somber indie film, depicting the sad life cycle of an ordinary relationship, was given an "NC-17" despite containing only one sex scene. Critics of the MPAA used this as further proof that there exists a double standard in the depictions of male and female sexuality. The argument goes that depictions of oral sex performed on men are typically given a pass, while the same act performed on a woman will earn the film the dreaded NC-17 Incentive Filmed Entertainment
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