- The MPAA film rating system, especially the NC-17 rating, can significantly affect the commercial success of a film’s theatrical release, often favoring studio production over international or independent films.
- The MPAA rating system is outdated and reflects puritanical views: films with sexual content are punished, but images of violence are not allowed.
- The MPAA’s conflicting views are evident in the way they rate films, allowing studio-backed, R-rated adult-themed films to succeed, while feature films and films depicting queer sexuality are judged harshly with an NC-17 rating. Perhaps it’s time to rethink the MPAA’s decision-making process to better engage with today’s film audiences and their evolving sensibilities.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) film rating system was introduced in the United States almost 60 years ago and has changed very little since its inception. An MPAA rating of G to NC-17 can seriously impact the commercial viability of any film’s theatrical release in a country, usually favoring studio productions and rejecting international or independent ones, using conflicting rulings to determine a film’s rating fate. While the NC-17 rating is rarely used, two 2023 films have been severely affected by this rating, which allows only “adults” to watch them. In the first months of the year Brandon Cronenbergpsychedelic social commentary infinity pool originally rated NC-17 and later edited to be rated R (it was later made available in an uncut version by supporting Neon distributors). Most recently director Ira Saks spoke very loudly about his latest work, Transitions, earning an “adults only” rating and antiquated MPAA views bordering on cultural censorship. In a world that has changed drastically since the MPAA introduced its rating system and the evolution of streaming services that put almost every movie at our fingertips, is it time to finally get rid of the often-judgmental NC-17 rating?
How did the MPAA rating system come about?
The MPAA movie rating system we know today was born out of the abandonment of the Hays Code in late 1968 and was designed to create a grading system that would help parents determine if a movie is right for their children. A branch of the MPAA called the Classification and Rating Authority (CARA) determines the rating given to a film, with the notable requirement that CARA committee members be parents with young children. Although filmmakers do not have a legal obligation to rate their work, the lack of ratings can often lead to marketing and distribution difficulties, which ultimately affects the film’s US box office performance.
Since its inception, the rating system has undergone minor changes in the names of the ratings and classifications. Once known as “M” and then “GP”, the PG rating appeared in the mid-1970s, and PG-13 was not created until 1984, with the first film to receive it being Harry Marshall flamingo baby. The NC-17 rating was renamed in 1990 - it had been known as the X rating since 1968 - but it was clearly too associated with the branding of pornography decades earlier. Although the MPAA rating system has seen some changes to the names of its classifications, the evolution of the system has largely halted there, meaning that films are still rated and rated based on unfairly outdated notions and standards.
Controversial MPAA views on the NC-17 rating
Although only a few films are rated NC-17 each year by the MPAA, in many cases it can be difficult to understand the methodology behind their decisions. Contrary to popular belief, CARA does not use uniform standards, so there are contradictions in the process, and films are judged individually. For example, in some films, profanity or offensive language can be avoided, while others are punished. Many films get away with flashing nudity or sexual content, while others are criticized for doing so, depending largely on the context of the film’s themes and messages. The MPAA places a huge emphasis on sexual content and tends to leave out images of violence (Poltergeist, split, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy)Therefore, most often films in which sex is an important part of the narrative receive an NC-17 rating. Such punishment of sexual content often reflects the puritanical views of the MPAA rating system.
Spanish icon Pedro Almodovar was a principal writer for many decades, his style of filmmaking was revered by audiences all over the world. However, many of his works are rated NC-17 when they make their theatrical debuts in the United States. Almodóvar has always been praised for the passion and sensuality in his work, which has never been seen as an exploitative or gratuitous perspective. However, it can be assumed that the MPAA judges his films harshly due to the gay and homosexual elements that permeate much of the director’s filmography. Law of Desire And Bad upbringing are two NC-17-rated films by Almodóvar that have been questioned over time. Other examples of films that were rated NC-17 for portraying bizarre sexuality were Bent (1997) and mysterious skin (2004). In a country where it can be difficult to find a commercial audience for subtitled films, an NC-17 rating often seriously harms a film’s box office performance.
Unlike Almodóvar’s feature films, many films with adult themes and content produced by the studio can simply pass by with an R rating. For example, Universal Studio American Pie (1999) and Sony Very bad (2007) have earned over a staggering $200 million each thanks to their MPAA-approved R-ratings. While many respect these films as teen classics, that doesn’t detract from their emphasis on crude humor, sexual content, and profanity, all of which revolve around high school characters, many of whom won’t be able to watch these films in theaters. if they were real figures because they were minors. The MPAA’s conflicting views are pretty clear on both of these films, which seem to have chosen their ratings as the films focus on teen characters, regardless of the overly sexual themes they focus on. So, according to the MPAA, minors can handle content revolving around actors portraying their age, but should not be influenced by the more adult themes of films like an NC-17-rated film. Transitions. Give it meaning.
Does the MPAA in today’s America even have the power to decide what people under 17 watch? In a world that offers so many options for what to watch via streaming, does the MPAA rating system have an impact beyond the document checks done by box office staff? Perhaps it’s time to rethink the MPAA’s decision-making process to stay more connected to today’s film audiences and their evolving sensibilities. At the end of the day, cinema is just an artistic expression meant to challenge our views and help us grow, especially when it comes to often demanding work that tends to be sidelined by NC-17 ratings. If the MPAA rethinks its views, it could lead to higher success for films and larger audiences, strengthening the power of cinema at a time when it needs it most.
Source: Collider
I have worked as a journalist for over 7 years and have written for many different publications. I currently work as an author at Daily News Hack, where I mostly cover entertainment news. I have a great deal of experience in the industry and am always looking to learn more. I am a highly motivated individual who is always looking to improve my skills. I am also a very friendly and personable person, which makes me easy to work with.
