Why do Movie Studios Produce R-rated Films?

Abstract

R-rated films are correlated with lower box office revenues. Using sex and nudity content as an instrument to predict R-ratings, we show that R-ratings themselves are not the cause of lower revenues. Instead, R-rated films contain traits that lower revenues and the ratings act as a signal of those traits. Why do film producers include those traits and seek R-ratings? We show that R-ratings alter the shape of the distribution of critical reviews, shifting the distribution to the right. Moreover, even after controlling for other influences, R-ratings improve critical reviews, suggesting that producers not only seek box office revenues, but also critical acclaim.