# Why is The Matrix rated R? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935 "2003-05-03T23:55:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/41 "2003-05-05T16:29:22Z")
**Silentgoldfish:** Could you go into more detail about the Australian rating system? Does M correspond to America’s PG? What’s Australia’s version of the G rating (ie, a children’s movie)? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/42 "2003-05-05T18:23:57Z")
Trinity in latex pants. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Spurious\_George](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Spurious\_George](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spurious_George)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/43 "2003-05-05T19:05:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*I say that because I don’t think the corporation behind it asked for an R rating, making all this all the more strange. > > Well, The Matrix has a place in history now, at least in my mind: It has edged out Batman: Returns as the least-intelligently rated film of all time.\* > > \*PG-13, even with Penguin spitting blood, child abuse themes, and Catwoman being a completely psychotic sex criminal. But it made sense: The corporation behind the movie wanted the lucrative under-17 crowd. Same corporation, BTW. (Warner Bros.) And I think that the Matrix is rated ‘R’ because the _filmmakers_ wanted to make an R-rated film, not the studio. Movie studios always prefer PG-13 when they can get it, and some directors or producers are contractually mandated to submit a film which will receive a PG-13, or the studio will cut it so that it does. This is because a PG-13 will always make more money than the same film with an R rating. There is an article in the current Entertainment Weekly about this rating topic. I’d link to it but they have gone to a subscribers-only website. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/44 "2003-05-05T20:01:19Z")
From the new Time Magazine [cover story](http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030512/story.html) (Danger: **Major** spoilers reportedly enclosed): > [@](#): > > “If you have kung-fu fights with kicks to the head,” explains Joel Silver, the trilogy’s producer, “it automatically makes it R.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/45 "2003-05-05T20:15:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mikahw \* > \*\*Wasn’t The Matrix edited to remove the headbutts for the Australian market, or am I thinking of somewhere else? \*\* Knowing the Australians, it was probably edited to _add_ headbutts. _d&r_ ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/46 "2003-05-05T21:44:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArchiveGuy \* > \*\*From the new Time Magazine [cover story](http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030512/story.html) (Danger: **Major** spoilers reportedly enclosed): > > > [@](#): > > > > “If you have kung-fu fights with kicks to the head,” explains Joel Silver, the trilogy’s producer, “it automatically makes it R.” > > \*\* So TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is rated R? Huh. Seems like they could have a lot fewer shirts on the show, then. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/47 "2003-05-05T23:04:00Z")
Maybe it was the part where people in black trenchcoats were blowing away innocent people with automatic weapons that did it? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/48 "2003-05-05T23:31:41Z")
perhaps it was an unclothed mr. reeves? ---
**Author:** ![Ooner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/49 "2003-05-06T00:12:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mikahw \* > \*\*Probably, According to [this part](http://www.mpaa.org/movieratings/about/content5.htm) of the MPAA site: > > A film’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, shall initially require the Rating Board to issue that film at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive must lead the Rating Board to issue a film an R rating, as must even one of these words used in a sexual context.\*\* Ocean’s 11 and Finding Forester are both PG-13 movies with 2 uses of the word “fuck” and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more. I’m not sure if context matters, I’ve heard somewhere that it’s taken less seriously if not used in a sexual context… or something? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/50 "2003-05-06T01:12:52Z")
> [@](#): > > More than one such expletive must lead the Rating Board to issue a film an R rating, as must even one of these words used in a sexual context. That’s what’s weird about _ **My Best Friend’s Wedding** _. The one and only occurence of “fuck” in that movie is when Julia Roberts is pretending that her gay male buddy is her boyfriend, and says that “he came down here to … um, fuck me.” She is **definitely** using “fuck” in a sexual context. Yet, _My Best Friend’s Wedding_ was only rated PG-13. What gives, MPAA? ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/51 "2003-05-06T01:21:07Z")
Did Columbine affect it or was it already rated when the shooting occured? I know they were right around the same time… ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/52 "2003-05-06T01:21:58Z")
It’s the same thing with the 6th day. The word “fuck” is only used once in the movie, but it is used when Arnold’s character tells the bad guy to clone himself while he’s still alive so that he can go fuck himself. Seems like the “rules” mean nothing after all. Oh well, guess that’s not anything new, as they gave the original Planet of the Apes a G rating, even with blood (and I swear I heard a “fuck” come out when Heston’s character was taking a shower as well) ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/53 "2003-05-06T01:35:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Did Columbine affect it or was it already rated when the shooting occured? According to a site I just pulled up from the Internet, The Columbine shooting took place on April 20th. The Matrix was released on March 31st. I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t a factor in the rating, but it did cause a rumor that The Matrix wasn’t going to come out on VHS (of course, it did). ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/54 "2003-05-06T01:38:09Z")
I guess the director told him he had to go take a fucking shower. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/55 "2003-05-06T01:55:45Z")
(“He” being Charlton Heston, of course. Not the Columbine shooters. Or the cast members of _The Matrix_.) ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/56 "2003-05-06T02:11:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diceman \* > \*\ ***Silentgoldfish:** Could you go into more detail about the Australian rating system? Does M correspond to America’s PG? What’s Australia’s version of the G rating (ie, a children’s movie)? \*\* No, M is more like PG-13. From the ground up we’ve got C (aimed at children), not sure if there’s an American version G - same as American PG - ditto M15 - Little bit stronger than a PG-13, the example already given is that LOTR (PG-13 in America) and the Matrix (R in America) both got this rating here MA15 - no one under 15 allowed, most stronger American R’s go here (American Pie, Blade, Kevin Smith movies :)) R - really strong R rated movies mostly – Basic Instinct, Starship Troopers, Fight Club. It’s what the American NC-17 should have been. The big difference, and why I think it makes a lot more sense is that in America you’ve got an R rating used for most adult movies where as we’ve got a more graded system that allows someone that hasn’t seen the movie to quickly know that The Matrix is far more appropriate for their 14 year old kid than Eyes Wide Shut. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/57 "2003-05-06T02:47:53Z")
> [@](#): > > According to a site I just pulled up from the Internet, The Columbine shooting took place on April 20th. The Matrix was released on March 31st. I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t a factor in the rating, but it did cause a rumor that The Matrix wasn’t going to come out on VHS (of course, it did). I almost posted the same speculation, but a check of IMDb shows that The Matrix came out first. People claimed the movie helped inspire the massacre, which if I may say so is a total crock. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/58 "2003-05-06T05:16:23Z")
I think the best ratings-breaker is **Spaceballs**. There’s a couple of "shit"s and even a non-sexual “fuck” in a PG movie. What kind of spoilers are we talking about in that Time magazine article? Blatant give away major plot-point spoilers, or ones that would only bother people who want to know absolutely nothing about the movie? ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/59 "2003-05-06T06:24:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silentgoldfish \* > \*\*No, M is more like PG-13. > > From the ground up we’ve got > > C (aimed at children), not sure if there’s an American version > > G - same as American > PG - ditto > M15 - Little bit stronger than a PG-13, the example already given is that LOTR (PG-13 in America) and the Matrix (R in America) both got this rating here > MA15 - no one under 15 allowed, most stronger American R’s go here (American Pie, Blade, Kevin Smith movies :)) > R - really strong R rated movies mostly – Basic Instinct, Starship Troopers, Fight Club. It’s what the American NC-17 should have been. > > The big difference, and why I think it makes a lot more sense is that in America you’ve got an R rating used for most adult movies where as we’ve got a more graded system that allows someone that hasn’t seen the movie to quickly know that The Matrix is far more appropriate for their 14 year old kid than Eyes Wide Shut. \*\* Pretty much the same system here in the UK G, PG, 12, PG13, 15, 18 The PG/12/PG13 seems to be reasonably random though and should probably have stayed at just PG. Big problem over here in the UK is that it is illegal to sell anything equivalent to the US “Unrated” category. Therefore, so many movies get censored, or outright banned, over here it is stupid. For reference, Phantom Menace (censored to remove a headbut) was a PG, Spiderman was a 12, Matrix (censored to remove a headbut) was a 15, Fight Club was an 18 It is a good system but needs to have the PG/12/PG13 certificates rationalized a bit (to just PG in my opinion) and another option for “Unrated” - i.e. not censored by the BBFC at all. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935/60 "2003-05-06T07:06:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rocking chair \* > \*\*perhaps it was an unclothed mr. reeves? \*\* That was _terrifying_! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-matrix-rated-r/172935.md?page=4)