One-fuck rule
The one-fuck rule is an oft-quoted guideline in American filmography. It is a reference to the movie rating system enforced by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and claims that films rated PG-13 are only able to use the expletive fuck once to avoid an R rating for language.[1]
Rule
Contrary to popular belief, the MPAA's rules make no mention of specific expletives. The rules only state that "A motion picture's single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context."[2] However, more than one sexual swear word may be permitted in a PG-13 film if the ratings board opines that the use of an expletive is appropriate in context or if the word was inconspicuous.[3]
The MPAA rule was referenced in the 2005 film Be Cool, in which the movie producer Chili Palmer (John Travolta) says: "Do you know that unless you're willing to use the R rating, you can only say the 'F' word once? You know what I say? Fuck that. I'm done."[4] Often film producers will use their "one fuck" for a scene of gravitas or humor and then blur out any further instances with sound effects.[4]
Implementation
Though it has commonly been held that the one-fuck rule was MPAA policy, it has been observed by media critics that it is applied inconsistently. Some films with more than one use of fuck in them, such as Antwone Fisher and The Hip Hop Project, have been granted a PG-13 rating.[5] Other occasions such as Bully were allowed more than one instance of the expletive on appeal on the grounds that it was "... to avoid confusion or inconvenience for moviegoers".[6] The King's Speech, however, was given an R rating for one scene using the word fuck several times in a speech therapy context; the MPAA refused to recertify the film on appeal. This was despite the British Board of Film Classification reducing the British rating from a 15 to a 12A on the grounds that the uses of the expletive were not directed at anyone.[7]
Some forms of media are cut post-release so as to obtain a PG-13 rating for home media release or to feature on an Internet streaming service that will not carry films rated higher than PG-13. In 2020, a recording of Hamilton was released on Disney+ after cuts by Lin-Manuel Miranda to remove two of the three instances of fuck in the musical to qualify it as PG-13 under MPAA guidelines.[3]
References
- ↑ "Ready Player One's F-Bomb Is One of the Best Ever". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ↑ "Rating Rules" (PDF). MPAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alexander, Julia (2020-06-23). "Hamilton drops two uses of "fuck" to land on Disney Plus". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Using the F-word in PG-13/12A movies". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ↑ Brown, Ben. "HOW DO YOU KNOW Likely to Be Re-cut to Avoid R-Rating for Language". Collider.com. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ↑ Peter Knegt (2012-04-05). "MPAA Grants PG-13 To "Bully" Without Cut of Crucial Scene". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ↑ "To the MPAA ratings board, 'The King's Speech' is just as bad as 'Saw 3D'". 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
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