Top 10 Movies With A Secret R-Rated Cut
#10: “The Meg” (2018)
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This Jason Statham creature feature received mixed reviews when it was released. One possible reason may have been the removal of gore effects to earn a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, thus giving the movie a chance to be seen by a broader and younger audience. Director Jon Turteltaub has been very open about the studio pushback he received concerning dismembered bodies and floating limbs. Ultimately, though, the director doesn’t think these edits ruined the movie. It still has plenty of thrills and intense shark attack scenes to make up for the lack of blood and guts.
#9: “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” (2007)
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Sometimes the difference between an R rating and a PG-13 is as simple as a kiss. At least when it’s between two men. That was the case with this Adam Sandler comedy, which finds the comedian’s character entering a sham marriage with his buddy in a life insurance scam. The MPAA reportedly threatened to slap the comedy with an R-rating for featuring a kiss between Sandler and co-star Kevin James. The kiss was subsequently removed, and the movie, which features an actor in yellowface, gay panic jokes, and casual misogyny, was finally given the less restrictive PG-13 rating.
#8: “Slender Man” (2018)
This cinematic take on the popular creepypasta legend was doomed from the jump. The film coming just four years after a near-fatal stabbing in Wisconsin that was inspired by the title character, Screen Gems required “Slender Man”s producers to cut potentially offensive material from the film. The decision to remove several scenes, including some that were included in the theatrical trailer, didn’t do the movie any favors. What remains in the PG-13 cut is an inconsistent narrative, a rushed ending, and a movie that was underwhelming for critics and audiences alike. Although the movie did respectable business at the box office, it’s unclear whether or not the original cut will ever see the light of day.
#7: “Stay Alive” (2006)
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The post-production changes made to this supernatural horror movie are a clear case of sabotage-by-editing. Originally a true-blue gore and suspense tale about teenagers being lured to their death via an online video game, Hollywood Pictures, a subsidiary of Disney, pressed the filmmakers to aim for a PG-13 rating. This led to roughly fifteen minutes being edited out of the theatrical cut to be more in line with the parent company’s family-friendly catalog. An unrated director’s cut was later released, but the movie’s lackluster performance doomed it to semi-obscurity. “Stay Alive” has the distinction of being one of the only horror movies ever produced by an original Disney production company.
#6: “The King’s Speech” (2010)
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Chronicling the relationship between King George VI and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue, “The King’s Speech” was one of the most respectable movies during the 2010 awards season. So who would’ve thought there’d be an explicit, R-rated version? Actually, the R-rated version was the one that was originally dropped into theaters and later made available on home video. The rating is largely based on technicality, having only earned an R due to a few instances of vulgar language. The confusion over there being two versions comes from the film’s subsequent re-release in America by the Weinstein Company, which decided to make a few edits to get a PG-13 rating. It was a controversial and highly unpopular move.
#5: “Galaxy Quest” (1999)
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Although it’s since become a beloved cult phenomenon, this Tim Allen-led sci-fi parody underwent significant edits to attain a PG rating. Instances of vulgar language and sexualized humor were cut. Star Sigourney Weaver was especially upset by this. She even went as far to say that her infamously dubbed line, “Screw that!” was badly done on purpose as a form of protest against these edits. Weaver also said there’s an even rougher cut of the film that would have definitely garnered an R-rating had it been turned into the MPAA for review. The suggestion of a more mature cut of the movie is like catnip for completist fans, who’ve even started petitions to see it released.
#4: “The Avengers” (2012)
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While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its thrilling action sequences and comic book depictions of violence, all of its entries have thus far managed to get a PG-13 rating. That wasn’t the case for the 2012 megahit “The Avengers” at first. In a particularly brutal scene which finds the villainous Loki stabbing Agent Coulson in the back, the original cut of the film featured a more graphic shot of the agent’s impaled body. The final cut leaves a little more to the imagination, relying on its evocative sound effects and the actors’ horrified reactions to shock the audience.
#3: “Cursed” (2005)
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Production woes and studio interference plagued the making of this werewolf pic from genre maestro Wes Craven. Hoping for a repeat of the success of “Scream,” Dimension Films pushed for rewrites and edits all throughout production, leading to delays, production shutdowns, and the departure of original lead actor Skeet Ulrich. Actor Judy Greer said “Cursed” took so long to film that she figured there were at least four movies’ worth of footage shot. In the end, Dimension required the R-rated movie be cut to appease a younger, PG-13 audience. It bombed at the box office, and since then, several gorier cuts of the film have been confirmed to exist, but as of 2022, have yet to be released.
#2: “Scooby-Doo” (2002)
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Writer James Gunn’s vision for the live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon was originally intended for mature audiences. Even though traces of edgy humor still remain in the theatrical cut, it’s clear the powers that be went with a more family-friendly approach. However, Gunn also dropped the tidbit that there was a straight-up R-rated cut of “Scooby-Doo.” Although details are sparse, one note the MPAA gave involved the cleavage of its female actors. CGI had to be employed to erase the offending anatomy for its final cut. It’s unlikely we’ll ever see an R-rated cut, but knowing the Internet, it’s not likely fans will stop asking for it.
#1: “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993)
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Robin Williams was known for both his warm, comedic presence and his skills with breathless improvisation. Footage of the legendary actor on many a film set shows him ignoring the dialogue as written and just riffing as a character. “Mrs. Doubtfire” director Chris Columbus revealed that there were in fact many takes of Williams that, though hilarious, would not have made a PG-13 release possible. However, he excited fans of the classic gender-bending comedy by adding that he would be entirely open to releasing the footage and re-editing select scenes to give viewers a taste of Williams’s more mature take on the character.
