First Contact MPAA rating question

[Hedbergian]

I vaguely recall reading somewhere, probably 15-20 years ago, that before its release First Contact was sent to the MPAA ... and initially received an R-rating. ... This then prompted a recut, in which a few more instances of Borg neck-snapping by Data were removed, and only then was the studio granted a PG-13 rating.

Is this true? ... Or am I imagining something stupid? Because I can't find any mention of it anywhere online.

 

[Kor]

I was thinking if it initially received a different rating them then there would be a record of that. Unfortunately the film rating records currently available to the public on filmratings.com from the MPA (formerly MPAA, and not to be confused with the Music Publishers Association) are not very thorough. For ST:FC it lists Certificate #34447, "Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi adventure violence." Nothing else in the notes.

Kor

 

[Hedbergian]

Thanks. Still can't figure why I'd have such an inaccurate, yet specific "recollection" of something so mundane.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Thanks. Still can't figure why I'd have such an inaccurate, yet specific "recollection" of something so mundane.

Directors generally know how many grizzly deaths will score them an "R" rating.

"Jaws 2" was written and directed to be a "date movie", hence it featured a large group of teens. Director Jeannot Szwarc suspected that the script had tipped the death count into "R", so Billy Van Zandt's character was filmed with two fates, being washed up on the rocks and being devoured by Bruce II. He didn't know until opening night whether Bob Burnside lived or died.

 

[Kor]

The movie studios can also be heavy-handed with making the director change stuff in order to aim for a certain rating, before the film is ever submitted for a rating.

Kor