MPA considering creating a new movie rating, between R and NC-17

[claws]

For more than 50 years, the Motion Picture Association has operated a film ratings system to help parents decide whether a movie such as "Infinity Pool" is appropriate for their children. The ratings — G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17 — have remained the same since 1990.

But there is talk of adding a sixth -

Ethan Noble, a consultant who helps filmmakers achieve the rating they want, said the M.P.A. had been considering a rating between R and NC-17. An NC-17 label makes commercial success difficult, so some filmmakers would like a category that allows for more mature content without the stigma.

The M.P.A. declined to comment on whether it was considering a new rating. Noble, who lost his appeal of an NC-17 for the new horror film "Infinity Pool" (it was re-rated R after edits), said he thought a potential new rating would be fitting for the movie, which has plenty of sex and gore but sought a wide theatrical release.

Before NC-17, there was X. The M.P.A. changed the name because X movies had become synonymous with pornography. In 1990, the first movie to be labeled NC-17 was "Henry & June," about a threesome involving the author Henry Miller, his wife and the writer Anaïs Nin.

Because a limited number of U.S. theaters will screen NC-17 movies, and advertising them is a challenge, filmmakers often work to avoid the label. Quentin Tarantino once said that to ensure "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" received an R rating, he at times used black-and-white film to reduce the visual effect of blood.

Filmmakers can appeal the decision by the M.P.A.'s board of raters; while successful appeals are rare, they do happen. In 2010, the appeal board overturned an NC-17 for the drama "Blue Valentine," after criticism that the raters had been overly harsh toward a scene in which a woman receives oral sex.

Since NC-17 replaced X in 1990, only 92 movies have ended up with the rating out of thousands, according to the M.P.A.'s online database. The only NC-17 movie from last year was "Blonde," Netflix's film on Marilyn Monroe.

On a sidenote, Blonde is also the first Netflix movie in Germany to receive an "18" rating.

[WingedSerpent]

Feels like we don't have enough movie studios making R rated movies alone to need a new rating between R and NC-17. 

[chainsaw midget]

I have a hard time seeing this working.  I think they'd be better off just rebranding the NC-17 rating again to ditch it's bad rep. 

Call it R-17 or something.  ...Maybe R-16?

[ER]

The MPA is teetering on anachronism status, as are movie theaters.

[Alex]

The last I checked, in the UK they have U - Universal, PG - Parental Guidance, 12, 15 & 18 age ratings. I think I only once snuck in underage to see a movie and that turned out to be a mistake (Jaws 4).

[Cult_Moody_Movies]

It's not like parents pay attention anyway. When I worked at Target I had to explain the video game ratings several times despite there being a fully written promo on the wall.