This Film Is Not Yet Rated 2006

In a unique and thought-provoking exploration, Academy Award-nominated director Kirby Dick shines a light on the often-overlooked authority of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This documentary delves into the inner workings of the most notorious non-censoring censors in American cinema. Driven by concern over the immense power the MPAA ratings board holds, Dick embarks on a quest to uncover the identities of the anonymous elite responsible for determining which films grace multiplex screens.

To further his investigation, he even employs private investigator Becky Altringer to observe the MPAA headquarters and unveil Hollywood’s best-kept secrets. Throughout his journey, Dick engages with a myriad of filmmakers who share their experiences regarding the haphazard and excessively punitive judgments imposed by the MPAA, including notable names like John Waters, Mary Harron, Darren Aronofsky, Kevin Smith, Matt Stone, and Atom Egoyan.

Among the film’s striking revelations are several startling findings: it appears that many members of the ratings board either have children aged 18 and over or do not have children at all, despite the MPAA’s usual practice of hiring parents with kids between 5 and 17 years old. Additionally, the film suggests that the board imposes harsher scrutiny on homosexual content compared to heterosexual themes, supported by a statement from an MPAA spokesperson in USA Today asserting, > “We don’t create standards; we just follow them.”

Dick also uncovers alarming truths regarding the selection of the board’s raters, who often lack training and expertise in media literacy and child development. Key senior raters enjoy direct communication with studio personnel following film screenings in mandatory meetings. The film further notes the secrecy surrounding the MPAA’s appeals board, comprised largely of studio and movie theater chain executives, along with two clergymen—one from the Catholic faith and the other Protestant—whose potential voting power remains ambiguous.

The documentary made waves prior to its Sundance Film Festival debut after receiving an NC-17 rating for “some graphic sexual content.” At the festival, the film’s ongoing ratings deliberations and Dick’s appeal were incorporated into the narrative. However, due to significant changes made since the initial NC-17 rating, the film must undergo a resubmission process to receive any MPAA rating upon release.