Spring Break
The Daily OrangeR-rating resurgence: R-rated films discover once-unknown box-office success
By Dave Arey
Posted: 3/30/07, 12:00 AM EST Section: Splice
The year was 1997. James Cameron's epic "Titanic" was set for release. It was the most expensive movie of all time, with an estimated budget of $200 million. However, a problem ensued - a sex scene between stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet that included nudity from Winslet. Normally any nudity would have caused the movie to receive an R rating, but to producers at 20th Century Fox, this was unacceptable. At that point, the highest-grossing R-rated film ever had been "Beverly Hills Cop," which made $229 million in 1984. In other words, if "Titanic" got an R rating, it would have barely made back its budget in the best-case scenario. So the producers edited the scene, the movie squeezed by with a PG-13 rating and $600 million later, it was the highest-grossing film of all time.
Back then, an R rating was the kiss of death for any mainstream movie, and studios did everything they could to avoid it. Ten years later, much has changed. An R rating is not only accepted, studios even aim for it.
1998 - "There's Something About Mary"
"There's Something About Mary" made stars out of Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz and ushered in the era of the highly profitable gross-out comedy. In the coming decade, many comedies would try to be more disgusting instead of avoiding the R rating. It made more than $176 million domestically.
1999 - "American Pie" and "The Matrix"
The two films could not have been more different, but each represented an important step forward for R-rated movies. "American Pie" showed that '80s-style sex comedies could still be highly profitable, earning more than $101 million. "The Matrix," with its $171 million gross, proved action movies could still draw audiences, even with an R rating.
2000 - "Gladiator"
Three years after "Titanic," "Gladiator" used Cameron's blueprint to win an Oscar for Best Picture and still make loads of money. However, it did so while being exceedingly violent. It ended up grossing more than $187 million, even with a well-deserved R rating.
Back then, an R rating was the kiss of death for any mainstream movie, and studios did everything they could to avoid it. Ten years later, much has changed. An R rating is not only accepted, studios even aim for it.
1998 - "There's Something About Mary"
"There's Something About Mary" made stars out of Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz and ushered in the era of the highly profitable gross-out comedy. In the coming decade, many comedies would try to be more disgusting instead of avoiding the R rating. It made more than $176 million domestically.
1999 - "American Pie" and "The Matrix"
The two films could not have been more different, but each represented an important step forward for R-rated movies. "American Pie" showed that '80s-style sex comedies could still be highly profitable, earning more than $101 million. "The Matrix," with its $171 million gross, proved action movies could still draw audiences, even with an R rating.
2000 - "Gladiator"
Three years after "Titanic," "Gladiator" used Cameron's blueprint to win an Oscar for Best Picture and still make loads of money. However, it did so while being exceedingly violent. It ended up grossing more than $187 million, even with a well-deserved R rating.
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