X rating
The X-Rating is an age rating for films and literary works that are classified as " not suitable for young people " due to their strong sexual or violent content . It is found in Australia , France and Great Britain and was also used in the United States until 1990 . The degree of restriction varies from country to country.
Australia
In Australia, OFCL grants age ratings for cinema and television films. The X-Rating is still used here today and marks films with a strong pornographic content.
France
In 1975, the X certificate was introduced in France to mark films with explicit violence and sex scenes. Films of this type are only allowed to be shown in certain cinemas in France.
United Kingdom
In England, the X certificate was awarded from 1951 to 1982. By 1970, this clearance meant that films were not suitable for viewers under the age of 16. From 1970 the limitation was increased to 18 years. In 1982 the BBFC replaced the X-Rating with the 18 Certificate (for films with violent content) or the R18 Certificate (for films with pornographic content).
United States
In the United States, the X certificate is not subject to any legal protection. It existed long before the Motion Picture Association of America introduced a new age recommendation system for films in 1968 , in which the X-Rating was the strictest rating, but was also extended to some mainstream films such as The Exorcist , Asphalt- from the late 1960s to the 1980s. Cowboy and clockwork orange award.
As porn films became more popular in the 1970s , the X Certificate was increasingly associated with pornographic content, making it difficult for filmmakers to market their films. For this reason, some of them even waived an age rating and even issued their films with warnings about their violent content (e.g. zombie ). In December 1990, the MPAA therefore introduced the legally protected NC17 rating instead of the X rating.
See also
- For the situation in Germany see: Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry