As a film enthusiast who’s seen more reels than I care to remember, I must say the trend of PG-13 movies transitioning into R-rated sequels or reboots is quite intriguing. It seems that studios are learning to cater to their audience’s taste for something a bit more gritty and violent, which is understandable given the successes like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the original “Alien vs. Predator.”
When it comes to Hollywood execs, nothing terrifies them more than an R-rating. While audiences adore mature, adult-oriented projects that push the limits of a film’s narrative, an R-rating can stall a film’s box office run by cutting “family night” out of the equation. With an R-rating, a decent portion of the film-going audience, including teenagers, aren’t allowed to be admitted unless accompanied by an adult. Because of this, Hollywood tends to target PG-13 ratings for most franchise fare, which is their bread and butter.
As a gamer, I’ve noticed an interesting trend: if you look at the top 10 highest-earning movies ever, most of them belong to franchises, except for “Titanic.” These films all have PG-13 ratings, which suggests that franchises aim for broad appeal without compromising profits. However, over the past decade, audiences’ tastes seem to have changed, and R-rated films are now making a big impact. Movies like “Joker” and “Deadpool” have become blockbusters, showing us that even in the realm of franchises, an R-rating doesn’t necessarily mean we have to hold back. In fact, many of the highest-grossing R-rated films are also part of franchises, demonstrating that a great project can overcome broad appeal and accessibility, thanks to brand recognition.
As a passionate gamer, I’ve noticed a trend in some of the biggest gaming franchises: they often begin with mature content rated R, but there are exceptions where these series initially started as PG-13 and later evolved to include more mature themes, earning an R rating. This is especially common in superhero games. It used to be surprising when the first game in a superhero franchise was PG-13, but now it’s not uncommon for these games to start off tamer, with later installments diving deep into darker, more mature storylines.
Logan was an R-rated triumph
2017 saw director James Mangold and Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman opt for a mature, intense, and action-packed conclusion to the beloved mutant’s saga titled “Logan.” This marked the first “X-Men” installment to receive an R-rating, demonstrating that adult-oriented superhero movies with complex narratives were desired by viewers. The poignant ending of Wolverine’s tale is widely regarded as one of the best comic book films ever made, earning over $610 million at the box office and receiving an Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay.
The decision to create “Logan” with an R-rating was a crucial choice, considering the extensive popularity of the “X-Men” series among younger audiences. As Wolverine became the franchise’s main character, restricting access to his final story for a significant portion of his fanbase was a considerable risk. Even Hugh Jackman agreed to accept a lower salary to make sure “Logan” could secure an R-rating.
At the 2018 Writers Guild Association Beyond Words panel (as reported by Cinema Blend), Mangold explained that giving “Logan” an R-rating enabled him to create a mature drama, free from the constraints typically found in most superhero movies due to corporate expectations. In his words, “It wasn’t about the violence or the profanity, but because I didn’t have to write a film for 11-year-olds. If it had been rated R, there wouldn’t be any Happy Meals or action figures associated with it.”
The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey got R-ratings
In many cases, when film franchises transition from a PG-13 rating to R, they tend to escalate the use of strong language and violence, much like what was seen in “The Suicide Squad,” directed by James Gunn in 2021. This movie, serving as both a sequel and reboot of the series initially started by David Ayer in 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” was created with an older audience in mind due to its mature themes.
Achieving an R-rating for “The Suicide Squad” was a logical decision, given that the movie draws inspiration from mature genres such as 1970s war films which are known for their intensity. As producer Peter Safran explained to Cinema Blend, these movies serve as a foundation for the film and they can be quite raw. Director James Gunn is therefore able to showcase his grittier side in this movie, something he’s unable to do when making PG-13 films like “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The recent success of adult-oriented superhero movies such as “Deadpool” and “Logan” may have also influenced DC Films to pursue an R-rating.
Titled “Birds of Prey (and the Fabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn),” a sequel and spin-off focusing on Harley (played by Margot Robbie) from the 2016 film “Suicide Squad,” was given an R-rating. Director Cathy Yan revealed in an interview with Vulture that this DC team-up movie was not initially planned as a PG-13 project. For actress Margot Robbie, creating “Birds of Prey” for mature audiences was a truly liberating experience.
Mad Max took full advantage of its R-rating
As a dedicated gamer, I’ve always been captivated by George Miller’s “Mad Max” series. What sets this franchise apart is its evolution, starting with R-rated episodes, then briefly veering towards PG-13 territory with a detour. While both “Mad Max” and its sequel, “The Road Warrior,” were rated mature, the creator decided to take a different route for the third installment, “Beyond Thunderdome.” Instead of another gritty post-apocalyptic tale, Miller aimed to create a more broadly appealing PG-13 film. However, despite being less intense and violent than its predecessors, “Beyond Thunderdome” is the least favorably received film in the series on Rotten Tomatoes.
When it came to reviving the franchise in 2015 with “Fury Road,” Miller opted to return Max to his gritty R-rated foundation. Aiming for an adult audience, he amplified the action and brutality to its maximum potential, resulting in one of the most spectacular action films ever made. However, during filming, Warner Bros. required Miller to produce a trim 100-minute film suitable for a PG-13 rating.
Unwavering in his vision, Miller brought two versions to the studio for “Mad Max: Fury Road”: a toned-down PG-13 movie and an R-rated, two-hour epic. Warner Bros. found that the R-rated version was more successful, prompting them to distribute the mature cut. In the end, “Fury Road” turned out to be both a financial triumph and a critical phenomenon, earning 10 Oscar nominations. The success of this action film later inspired an R-rated prequel titled “Furiosa,” starring Anya Taylor-Joy; however, it unfortunately underperformed at the box office.
Alien vs. Predator realized audiences wanted more gore
In the year 2004, the movie studio known as 20th Century Studios (previously called 20th Century Fox) came up with an innovative plan to merge the “Alien” and “Predator” series into a single movie. This film was named “Alien vs. Predator,” and it did reasonably well at the box office, earning over $172 million. However, this cinematic collaboration fell flat with critics, receiving a poor rating of 22% on Rotten Tomatoes. One major complaint from reviewers was that the film was given a PG-13 rating, which conflicted with both series’ history of R-rated films.
Marc Slavov, a critic from Austin Chronicle, was highly critical of the film in his 1-star review, commenting that despite being re-edited to receive a PG-13 rating (originally intended for a hard R), the movie lacks the intense violence seen in previous installments of the franchise. Later, an “unrated” version of the film was released on home video, featuring more graphic content than what was shown in theaters. Some fans think that this “unrated” version slightly improved the overall product, but not significantly.
Ultimately, the movie managed to achieve enough popularity to merit a follow-up titled “Alien Vs. Predator – Requiem” in 2007. Unlike its forerunner, this sequel earned an R-rating due to its graphic violence, intense gore, and explicit language, which aligned with the violent nature of both franchises. Regrettably, even though it provided fans with a more brutal experience as requested, the sequel didn’t leave a lasting impact and holds a dismal 12% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Hellboy reboot decided to go R
In the same way that comic book films were gaining popularity and dominance around 2004, director Guillermo del Toro introduced “Hellboy” to critical praise. Based on Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse Comics series of the same name, the movie was admired by both superhero enthusiasts and general viewers due to its brooding ambiance. Despite tackling mature subjects and dark imagery, the film managed to resonate with a wider audience while maintaining a PG-13 rating. Grossing almost $100 million, “Hellboy” developed a cult following, leading del Toro and Sony Pictures to produce a sequel in 2008 called “Hellboy II: The Golden Army.” This film was moderately successful financially, earning around $160 million. Regrettably, plans for a third installment never materialized.
Although actor Ron Perlman continues to hope for a third “Hellboy” movie, the creative team behind the franchise has been actively working on a reboot and revamp of the concept. In 2019, David Harbour took on the lead role in the initial reboot effort, which included an R-rating. Unlike the earlier films directed by Guillermo del Toro, this reboot emphasized more violence, gore, and explicit language, making it suitable for mature viewers. Unfortunately, the 2019 version of “Hellboy” was both a financial and critical disappointment. The upcoming reboot titled “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” is planned to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, though it has not yet been rated, it was filmed with the intention of securing an R-rating as well.
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2024-08-01 04:00