This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

This Film Is Not Yet Rated is a bold and eye-opening documentary directed by Kirby Dick. It pulls back the curtain on the secretive practices of the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), specifically its rating system that dictates how films are labeled for audiences (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17). The film is equal parts investigative journalism and activist filmmaking, exposing the inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and lack of transparency in how American films are rated.

Detailed Summary

Opening: What’s the MPAA?

The film begins by explaining the power of the MPAA rating board. Since the late 1960s, Hollywood has used the ratings system as a form of self-regulation, ostensibly to protect children and inform parents. However, the film quickly makes the case that the MPAA ratings are arbitrary, inconsistent, and disproportionately harmful to independent filmmakers.

Sexuality vs. Violence Bias

Kirby Dick highlights how sexual content (especially anything involving female pleasure, LGBTQ+ themes, or non-heteronormative sex) is punished much more severely than violence. He shows numerous examples where extreme violence receives a PG-13 or R, while scenes of consensual intimacy are slapped with NC-17, effectively killing a film’s commercial viability.

The Investigators and the Hunt for MPAA Members

Since the MPAA’s board members are kept secret, Dick hires a private investigator, Becky Altringer, to uncover their identities. This turns the film into a half-documentary, half-thriller investigation, complete with stakeouts and background checks. Eventually, they identify several of the anonymous raters, revealing that many of them had little to no background in film criticism, psychology, or child development, and often had biases linked to conservative values.

Filmmaker Testimonies

The film features interviews with directors like John Waters, Kimberly Peirce, and Matt Stone (South Park), who all share their frustrations with how their films were censored or punished by the MPAA system. Their testimonies add credibility and emotional weight, showing how the ratings board impacts creative freedom.

Movie Ending

The climax of the documentary focuses on Kirby Dick’s boldest move: he submits his own film (This Film Is Not Yet Rated) to the MPAA for a rating. Predictably, the board rates it NC-17, citing its use of sexually explicit clips (ironically, clips from other films that had already been rated). The MPAA is essentially punishing Dick for criticizing them.

Dick then appeals the rating, but just like the filmmakers interviewed earlier, he experiences the same opaque and unfair process. The appeal is rejected, reinforcing the film’s central argument—that the MPAA operates like an unaccountable, secretive censorship board rather than a fair system for parents and audiences.

The film ends with a montage exposing the identities of MPAA raters, combined with a sense of unresolved frustration. While the truth is out, the MPAA remains entrenched, leaving viewers with both outrage and a push to demand change.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, This Film Is Not Yet Rated does not feature a post-credits scene. The documentary ends directly after its final revelations, maintaining its sharp and uncompromising tone.

Type of Movie

This is a documentary film—specifically investigative, political, and activist in nature. It is also part exposé and part personal crusade against censorship and industry secrecy.

Cast (Key Appearances)

• Kirby Dick – Director and narrator
• Becky Altringer – Private Investigator
• John Waters – Filmmaker interviewee
• Kimberly Peirce – Filmmaker interviewee
• Matt Stone – Filmmaker interviewee
• Atom Egoyan – Filmmaker interviewee
• Mary Harron – Filmmaker interviewee

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Eytan Mirsky, featuring a mix of quirky, investigative-style music that underlines the detective-work angle of the film. The soundtrack also includes indie-rock tracks that give it an energetic and rebellious tone.

Filming Locations

Most of the film takes place in Los Angeles, California, since that’s the headquarters of the MPAA and the hub of the U.S. film industry. Various interviews were shot in directors’ homes or studios, giving it a raw, behind-the-scenes feel.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival (2006)
• Winner of the Freedom of Expression Award at the National Board of Review
• Screened at several international film festivals and became a critical darling, though commercially niche.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Kirby Dick purposely included clips from already-rated movies to highlight hypocrisy.
• The MPAA tried to avoid addressing the film directly, and members refused interviews.
• The film itself became an example of the problem it was exposing when slapped with an NC-17 rating.
• Hiring a private investigator was controversial but gave the film its unique investigative edge.

Inspirations and References

The documentary was inspired by decades of complaints from independent filmmakers and critics who felt silenced by the MPAA’s opaque practices. It takes cues from investigative journalism and activist filmmaking traditions, similar to Michael Moore’s documentaries but with a sharper industry focus.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While no “alternate ending” exists, some deleted interviews and extended discussions with directors were cut for time. The home release includes bonus material with more testimonies and in-depth analysis of specific censorship cases.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a book, but its subject has been widely discussed in academic works about censorship, media regulation, and Hollywood history.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The private investigator tailing suspected MPAA raters and uncovering their backgrounds.
• The shocking juxtaposition of violent clips rated PG-13 alongside mild sexual clips rated NC-17.
• The dramatic submission of the documentary itself to the MPAA.

Iconic Quotes

• John Waters: “I think NC-17 is just a way of calling a movie porno.”
• Matt Stone: “If you’re an independent filmmaker, you’re screwed.”
• Kirby Dick (narration): “The raters are anonymous, accountable to no one, and their decisions can mean the difference between box office success and failure.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Kirby Dick subtly edits in clips from films rated unfairly, serving as both evidence and irony.
• The choice to show censored versus uncensored cuts side by side underscores the absurdity of the MPAA’s standards.
• The final credits include a list of the revealed MPAA raters, a bold move at the time.

Trivia

• The MPAA threatened legal action against the filmmakers for revealing rater identities, though nothing came of it.
• The NC-17 rating virtually killed the film’s theatrical distribution, proving Dick’s point in real-time.
• The documentary has since become a cult favorite in film schools for its critical perspective on censorship.

Why Watch?

If you’ve ever wondered why American movies seem inconsistent in their handling of sex and violence, this documentary is essential. It’s entertaining, eye-opening, and a little rebellious—perfect for cinephiles, filmmakers, and anyone who likes pulling back the curtain on powerful institutions.

Director’s Other Movies

• Twist of Faith (2004)
• Outrage (2009)
• The Invisible War (2012)
• The Hunting Ground (2015)
• The Bleeding Edge (2018)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Bowling for Columbine (2002)
• Inside Job (2010)
• Room 237 (2012)
• The Act of Killing (2012)
• Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)