# Do Movie Ratings Even Change? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-movie-ratings-even-change/237739 "2004-04-01T15:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-movie-ratings-even-change/237739/1 "2004-04-01T15:35:42Z")
I was recently sitting down to watch one of my favorite movies, The Godfather, when I noticed the original (I assume) “R” rating notification at the beginning of the DVD. At the time it was first released, in 1972, I can understand it getting an R rating based on its brutal violence, but compared to some recent PG-13 movies I have seen I don’t think it would have been rated R if it had been released today. So my question is if the distributor decided to re-release The Godfather to theaters would he be obliged to use the original R rating or could be petition to have the rating changed to PG-13? Has this ever happened before? ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-movie-ratings-even-change/237739/2 "2004-04-01T15:46:38Z")
_A Clockwork Orange_ was originally rated X, but this was back in the days before porn “hijacked” the “X” rating. Back in the day, “X” was the equivalent of an “NC-17” today. However, because so many porn films were rated “X”, the movie industry overhauled its ratings system in the late 60s or early 70s to distance themselves for the “tainted” X rating. And thus _Clockwork_ was re-rated as an “R” movie. Original _Clockwork_ movie poster with the “X” rating are collectors items - I saw once at a record show in the 80s that was going for $125 - no telling what they’d go for today. Aside from any other movies that might have been released around the “ratings changeover” time, I can’t think of any other “re-rated” movies. I’m pretty sure that _Saturday Night Fever_ was released with an “R” but was edited down to a “PG” during its theatrical run to get bigger crowds, but this isn’t exactly what you’re asking. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-movie-ratings-even-change/237739/3 "2004-04-01T15:46:39Z")
Producers can petition for a rating change. Most obvious example is “Midnight Cowboy,” which was originally rated X, but later changed to an R. The producers weren’t even required to make changes (though the ratings board can ask for them). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-movie-ratings-even-change/237739/4 "2004-04-01T15:48:23Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > _A Clockwork Orange_ was originally rated X, but this was back in the days before porn “hijacked” the “X” rating. Back in the day, “X” was the equivalent of an “NC-17” today. However, because so many porn films were rated “X”, the movie industry overhauled its ratings system in the late 60s or early 70s to distance themselves for the “tainted” X rating. And thus _Clockwork_ was re-rated as an “R” movie. Original _Clockwork_ movie poster with the “X” rating are collectors items - I saw once at a record show in the 80s that was going for $125 - no telling what they’d go for today. Clockwork was originally required to make cuts to get the R Rating (the “William Tell Overture” scene was removed).