If PG-13 Is the Moneymaker, Why Is Hollywood Cranking Out So Many R-Rated Movies?

Hollywood releases more movies with R-ratings than any other kind — because for many films, it’s not all about the box office

On average, PG-13 movies make more than three times what R-rated films do at the box office in the U.S.

So why is Hollywood releasing far more R-rated movies than any other kind?

This year, PG-13-rated films have accounted for 52 percent of the overall box office grosses, well ahead of films that the Motion Picture Association of America rated R (27 percent), PG (16 percent) or G (3 percent). And none of the year’s top ten movies is rated R.

But there have been far more R-rated films released wide this year, as was the case in 2012.

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