Why run away from a 'G'?

Townhall.com ^ | June 17, 2005 | Brent Bozell

[sportutegrl]

A new study by the Dove Foundation demonstrated that Hollywood may not love money as much as it loves its "adult" themes of sexual perversion, violent death and ear-bending profanity. The foundation's founder and chairman, Dick Rolfe, reported: "While the movie industry produced nearly 12 times more R-rated films than G-rated films from 1989 to 2003, the average G-rated film produced 11 times greater profit than its R-rated counterpart." Wow.

Defenders of Tinseltown's antics might argue that there's a lot more R-rated movies around to flop and ruin the averages. The Dove Foundation does note that R-rated films are declining and G-movies are increasing. In recent years, the average number of R-rated films released each year dropped from 105 to 93. G-rated films increased from seven to 10. PG-rated films decreased from 36 to 21, and PG-13-rated films rose from 50 to 75.

For those who might argue the numbers are stilted, since the pool of G movies is so small -- and whose fault is that? -- consider the foundation's calculations of profit don't include profits from merchandising spin-offs. Those are often a cash cow for family films, while we won't yet expect an R-rated Happy Meal toy.

Once again, as schools let out for the summer, it's obvious that creative, original and clean films focused on entertaining children are a big moneymaker. Last week's top five included the zippy computer-animated "Madagascar" in second place with a gross of $17 million, and after just three weeks, an accumulated gross of $128 million. (So far, it's the No. 3 highest-grossing film of 2005.) Fresh from his extremely harsh and violent film "Sin City," Robert "Spy Kids"

[sportutegrl]

Major movie studios produce an average of 30 to 40 R rated movies for each G, yet G rated movies earn 11 times more profit. I remember a scene in the made for TV movie, Gilligans Island, when Ginger complains about how much the movie industry has changed and that they want her to undress for a scene and Gilligan responds by naming some major movie hits he had just seen: Jaws, ET, Star Wars, etc, which all had no overt sexuality yet were major blockbusters. Nothing has changed in the movie industry--the tired old excuse that they are just giving the people what they want is not true and has never been true. They want to show filth even if it makes less money.

[kharaku]

It is possible however the increased revenues of G movies represents the same, not increased, demand if in fact there's so fewer movies, the amount of folks willing to see them would be concentrated on that few, to make the case the article makes you'd need to compare total revenue for Rs to total for Gs. That isn't to say that mindless blood guts and sex hasn't gotten boring; it absolutly has.

[anniegetyourgun]

And why? It confirms their own lousy choices.....

[spetznaz]

Too often, in the public mind, the G rating stands for cinematic baby food instead of movies directed for a general, family audience

I loved Finding Nemo, but most G-rated films are indeed 'cinematic baby food.'

[Rakkasan1]

[dmz]

right. all those folks in hollywood are not driven by the almighty dollar.

[sportutegrl]

It is possible however the increased revenues of G movies represents the same, not increased, demand if in fact there's so fewer movies, the amount of folks willing to see them would be concentrated on that few, to make the case the article makes you'd need to compare total revenue for Rs to total for Gs. That isn't to say that mindless blood guts and sex hasn't gotten boring; it absolutly has.

I agree with your first premise, I think that that is similar to why Fox News is stomping on the other cable news networks. It is puzzling though, why one doesn't pull from the pack and take advantage of these numbers, though. Even if they could bank on a 2 to 1 instead of 11 to 1 profit margin, it still would make more sense to up the number of family movies.

[sportutegrl]

What about Pirates of the Carribean, or National Treasure? I liked them, (but then I liked Escape from Gilligans Island).

[ThinkDifferent]

What about Pirates of the Carribean, or National Treasure?

National Treasure was PG, and Pirates was PG-13.

[spetznaz]

What about Pirates of the Carribean, or National Treasure? I liked them, (but then I liked Escape from Gilligans Island).

Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was NOT rated G ....it had a PG-13 MPAA rating.

National Treasure was also NOT rated G ....it was rated PG by the MPAA.

The only G rated movie I can think of that would not turn me into a slobbering veggie is Finding Nemo. All the rest (at least the ones I can think of) are only fit for kids ....and very young kids at that.

[discostu]

If you look at the over all numbers it's clear why they make more R movies, yes last year G movies averaged 11 times as R movies on a movie by movie basis, but there were 15 times as many R movies meaning they made a lot more money on R movies as a whole than G, which means their "tired old excuse" IS true. With more G movies this year and fewer Rs we'll have to see which category moves in what directions. Hollywood constantly seeks for just below over saturation. If Gs continue to have solid profits there will be more, if not forget about it.

[TheOtherOne]

It is possible however the increased revenues of G movies represents the same, not increased, demand if in fact there's so fewer movies, the amount of folks willing to see them would be concentrated on that few, to make the case the article makes you'd need to compare total revenue for Rs to total for Gs. That isn't to say that mindless blood guts and sex hasn't gotten boring; it absolutly has.

Well said. It is a false comparison.