X rating

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

An X rating is a film rating that indicates that the film contains content that is considered to be suitable only for adults. Films with an X rating may have scenes of graphic violence or explicit sexual acts that may be disturbing or offensive to some viewers. The X rating is used in different ways by different countries, and it may have legal or commercial implications for the distribution and exhibition of such films. For example, some countries may ban or restrict the sale or rental of X-rated films, while others may allow them only in specific theaters or with special taxes. Some countries may also have different criteria or definitions for what constitutes an X-rated film, and some may consider the artistic merit of the film as a factor in classification. The X rating has been replaced or renamed by other ratings in some countries over time.

Australia

The Australian Classification Board (ACB, formerly known as the OFLC), a government institution, issues ratings for all movies and television shows exhibited, televised, sold, or hired in Australia. Material showing explicit, non-simulated sex that is pornographic in nature is rated X18+.[citation needed]

People under 18 may not buy, rent, exhibit, or view these films in cinemas. The exhibition or sale of these films to people under the age of 18 years is a criminal offence carrying a maximum fine of $5,500. Films classified as X18+ are forbidden from being sold or rented anywhere in the six states of Australia. They are legally available to be sold or hired in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Importing X18+ material from these territories to any of the Australian states is legal, as the constitution forbids any restrictions on trade between the states and territories.[citation needed]

France

Films may be shown in theaters in France only after classification by an administrative commission of the Ministry of Culture. In 1975, the X classification (officially: "pornographic or violence-inciting movies") was created for pornographic movies, or movies with successions of scenes of graphic violence. The commission has some leeway in classification; it may for instance take into account the artistic qualities of a movie to not count it as "pornographic". Movies with an X rating may only be shown in specific theaters; they bear special taxes and tax rates, including a 33% tax on revenue.[citation needed]

In 2000, some conservative associations sued the government for granting the movie

Council of State ruled that the movie should have been rated X. The decision was highly controversial, and some suggested changing the law under which it was rated 18.[citation needed
]

United Kingdom

BBFC X symbol 1951-1970
BBFC X symbol 1970-1982
Two "X" symbols used by the British Board of Film Classification (1951–1970 and 1970–1982, respectively)

The original X certificate, replacing the

British Board of Film Censors in the United Kingdom. It was introduced as a result of the Wheare Report on film censorship.[1] From 1951 to 1970, it meant "Extremely graphic, only those aged 16 and over can be admitted," and from 1970 to 1982 it was redefined as meaning "Suitable for those aged 18 and over". The X certificate was replaced in November 1982 by the 18 certificate
.

Sometimes the rating of a film has changed significantly over time. For example, the French film

Bolshevik propaganda" in 1926, passed X in 1954, and finally rated PG in 1987.[3]

United States

Until 1990, the X rating was used by the Motion Picture Association of America for films deemed only suitable for adults.

In the

The Evil Dead. Films that achieved critical and commercial success were later re-rated R after minor cuts, including Midnight Cowboy and A Clockwork Orange. The threat of an X rating also encouraged filmmakers to re-edit their films to achieve an R rating; one notable example of this was the 1987 action film RoboCop, which had to be edited eleven times before it could attain an R rating.[4]

Because the X rating was not trademarked, anybody could apply it to their films, including pornographers, as many began to do in the 1970s. As

obscenity laws
.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wheare Report, The (1950)". Screenonline. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Jules and Jim". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  3. ^ Case Study:Battleship Potemkin Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Backstory RoboCop AMC". YouTube. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  5. ^ Rotslter, William. Contemporary Erotic Cinema. New York: Penthouse/Ballantine Books, 1973. page 251.

External links