# Why Put Curse Words in Movies Made for Children? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241 "2013-02-14T00:56:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/1 "2013-02-14T00:56:45Z")
My 8 year old just told me that they were watching Casper in school today and he heard the “b word” and the “d word”. So I googled and sure enough, there are more than a few curse words in the movie. I’ve noticed curse words in other kid friendly movies, like the Pixar movie Cars, the movie Antz, and some others. These movies are obviously catered to children and families; why is it necessary to include obscenities? Does it enhance the story line in any way? And yes, I’m sure my son has heard these words on more than one occasion; I’m not worried about him losing his innocence over a few swear words. Feel free to move if in the wrong forum; I figured this was the best place for discussion. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/2 "2013-02-14T00:59:32Z")
I don’t recall any cursing in Cars, but I always assumed it was done in order to get a PG rating? Whatever the reason, they’ve been doing it a while as I remember some classics from my childhood having curse words thrown in. Namely Secret of Nimh and Transformers the Movie (the cartoon). ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/3 "2013-02-14T01:02:15Z")
Does having a PG rating help with theater turn out and sales? If so, then maybe that would make some sense. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/4 "2013-02-14T01:07:12Z")
According to [Screen It](http://www.screenit.com/movies/1995/casper.html), Casper has 3 "damn"s, 1 “crap” and 2 "hell"s. What’s “the b word?” Bloody, bastard, bitch? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/5 "2013-02-14T01:09:17Z")
This is an interesting topic. I assume that you used the euphemisms (and that is not the precise term) for the two words you mentioned because you did not wish to offend anyone here with the use of these words. If that is true, then I am baffled as to why. Words have no power (or meaning, for that matter) intrinsically, only that which we choose to give them. But, I digress. Casper was rated PG when it was released. That allows for ‘mild profanity’ based upon the mores of the time it was released. If the movie had been released with a G rating it would not have had such mild profanity, but the backers of the movie might have judged that such a rating would have made the movie less successful in the box office. This judgment in choosing a rating for the movie appears to be the important factor in this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/6 "2013-02-14T01:10:21Z")
> [@I\_Like\_Pie](#): > > Does having a PG rating help with theater turn out and sales? If so, then maybe that would make some sense. In short, yes. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/7 "2013-02-14T01:11:05Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > According to [Screen It](http://www.screenit.com/movies/1995/casper.html), Casper has 3 "damn"s, 1 “crap” and 2 "hell"s. > > What’s “the b word?” Bloody, bastard, bitch? One of the ghosts says “the bitch is back” when speaking about another character. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/8 "2013-02-14T01:12:13Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > This is an interesting topic. > > I assume that you used the euphemisms (and that is not the precise term) for the two words you mentioned because you did not wish to offend anyone here with the use of these words. If that is true, then I am baffled as to why. Words have no power (or meaning, for that matter) intrinsically, only that which we choose to give them. Nope, just quoting an 8 year old. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/9 "2013-02-14T01:18:21Z")
The only thing worse for a movie than a G rating is an NC-17 rating. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/10 "2013-02-14T01:22:22Z")
Sometimes I don’t understand why they put curse words in movies _not_ made for children. Many times it’s unnecessary for the film and doesn’t even add verisimilitude to what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/11 "2013-02-14T01:31:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Sometimes I don’t understand why they put curse words in movies _not_ made for children. Many times it’s unnecessary for the film and doesn’t even add verisimilitude to what is going on. I agree with you to an extent. Sometimes the curse words are a distraction and take away from the mood that is being conveyed, especially in period films where obscenities that are common today would more than likely not be uttered. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/12 "2013-02-14T01:35:41Z")
I think if I were making a movie, but wanted to get a PG instead of a G, at the very end of the credits, I’d have something scroll by on-screen, like “WARNING! In order to get a PG rating, we had to add the following phrase, so cover your kids’ ears!” Then, James Earl Jones would say “Testicles.” ---
**Author:** ![steviep24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@steviep24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steviep24)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/13 "2013-02-14T01:38:06Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > The only thing worse for a movie than a G rating is an NC-17 rating. Nowadays there are quite a few movies that were originally made with an R rating but the studios tone them down so they can qualify for PG-13. So, depending on the movie, an R rating could also be a kiss if death. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/14 "2013-02-14T01:40:50Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > I think if I were making a movie, but wanted to get a PG instead of a G, at the very end of the credits, I’d have something scroll by on-screen, like “WARNING! In order to get a PG rating, we had to add the following phrase, so cover your kids’ ears!” **Then, James Earl Jones would say "Testicles.**" I just spit beer on my keyboard. Hearing James Earl Jones utter the word “Testicles” is now on my bucket list. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/15 "2013-02-14T01:54:37Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > I think if I were making a movie, but wanted to get a PG instead of a G, at the very end of the credits, I’d have something scroll by on-screen, like “WARNING! In order to get a PG rating, we had to add the following phrase, so cover your kids’ ears!” Then, James Earl Jones would say “Testicles.” 😃 _\_ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/16 "2013-02-14T02:15:25Z")
> [@I\_Like\_Pie](#): > > I agree with you to an extent. Sometimes the curse words are a distraction and take away from the mood that is being conveyed, especially in period films where obscenities that are common today would more than likely not be uttered. A movie where cursing was added for verisimilitude (or historical accuracy) was _The Kings Speech_, where the King would shout out swears (at the behest of his therapist) because of his nervousness. Other than these two scenes, the film was pretty curse free (lots of “bloody”-this and “bugger”-that’s, but those aren’t the “b-words” the OP is referencing, I’m sure.) What made the decision counterproductive was that there was talk, after the film won B. Picture at the Oscars, of making a G or PG version of it so that it could be shown to young schoolchildren. And to do this they would edit out the cursing scenes. :rolleyes: Had they not added the cursing (or kept it, depending upon your point of view), the producers would not have needed to edit their own movie. Swearing added nothing to the film but cost. And it was an odd decision, especially in an industry that sometimes can’t be bothered to get historical _epochs_ correct but, as mentioned above, might have been done to give the film a palatable rating. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/17 "2013-02-14T02:34:31Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > I think if I were making a movie, but wanted to get a PG instead of a G, at the very end of the credits, I’d have something scroll by on-screen, like “WARNING! In order to get a PG rating, we had to add the following phrase, so cover your kids’ ears!” Then, James Earl Jones would say “Testicles.” I have no idea what you win, but you won it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/18 "2013-02-14T03:52:02Z")
> [@hrhomer](#): > > I think if I were making a movie, but wanted to get a PG instead of a G, at the very end of the credits, I’d have something scroll by on-screen, like “WARNING! In order to get a PG rating, we had to add the following phrase, so cover your kids’ ears!” Then, James Earl Jones would say “Testicles.” _Adds to “Post Of The Year” list_ ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/19 "2013-02-14T04:00:42Z")
**JohnT** , did you see _The King’s Speech_? The language was integral. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241/20 "2013-02-14T04:34:17Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > **JohnT** , did you see _The King’s Speech_? The language was integral. Yes I did. But in a world… wait, I sounded like a trailer there. 😉 Seriously, while the language was integral to the plot, merely change the plot. Or change the words - this is _Hollywood_ we’re talking about, an industry where modifications of historical fact is so commonplace that, for your average historical drama, the shorter list is one that has instances where they get the history right. And it’s not like TKS was a paragon of [historical accuracy](http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/02/04/the-kings-speech-fact-vs-fiction/) (though some of the items on this list are more nit-picking than flat-out WRONG, true.) I brought TKS up to show that even when the swearing can be argued as integral to the plot, it became detrimental to the film. TKS would have been just as good a film without the two swearing scenes and could have been more accessible to younger film-goers. The Weinstein company actually released a “sanitized” PG-13 version of the film which did nothing but make the scenes look silly - had they decided not to go for the R rating in the first place, they wouldn’t have had to sustain the cost of editing the film so it could be shown in high schools. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-put-curse-words-in-movies-made-for-children/650241.md?page=2)