February 11, 2009: Los Angeles, Calif. – Once again, Movieguide® Magazine’s Annual Report to the Entertainment Industry shows that moviegoers prefer movies with no explicit sex, nudity and foul language.
“This was especially clear in 2008,” said Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide®: A Family Guide to Movies, Entertainment and Culture. “Movies with no foul language, sex and nudity averaged significantly more money at the theatrical box office in America and Canada than movies with some or a lot of such vulgarity, sex or nudity.”
Movieguide®’s analysis of the top movies released in 2008 also showed that moviegoers rejected movies with extreme forms of substance abuse.
Movieguide® also measured miscellaneous amounts of immorality, such as lying, stealing, blackmail, extortion, greed, envy, jealousy. Movies with no miscellaneous immorality made nearly six times more money than movies with extensive or extreme amounts of miscellaneous immorality.
“We have found similar results in practically all of our previous studies,” Dr. Baehr noted.
Movieguide® has been analyzing the content of movies and comparing box office numbers since 1991. The annual studies since 1996 have been particularly comprehensive.
* Amount of Foul Language in 2008 Movies:
Movies with No Foul Language Do Best!
|
Lang. |
Avg. B.O. 2008 |
|
No obscenities/profanities |
$55,568,733 |
|
0-25 obscenities/profanities |
$32,145,527 |
|
More than 25 |
$22,934,908 |
* Amount of Sexual Content in 2008 Movies
Movies with No Sex Do Best!
|
Content |
Avg. B.O. 2008 |
|
No S |
$42,953,235 |
|
S |
$33,290,253 |
|
SS |
$19,390,655 |
|
SSS |
$14,878,503 |
* Amount and Kind of Nudity in 2008 Movies
Movies with No Nudity Do Best!
|
Content |
Avg. B.O. 2008 |
|
No Nudity |
$36,274,503 |
|
Some sexual nudity |
$29,132,665 |
|
Extensive sexual nudity |
$19,874,327 |
** Analysis of Substance Abuse
Alcohol Abuse in 2008 Movies
|
Alcohol |
Avg. B.O. 2008 |
|
Some Drunkenness |
$32,809,224 |
|
Extreme Abuse |
$14,014,314 |
Drug References in 2008 Movies
|
Code |
Avg. B.O. 2008 |
|
No Drug References |
$48,819,627 |
|
Some Drug References |
$18,880,203 |
|
Very Strong Drug References |
$11,621,557 |
** Miscellaneous Immorality in 2008 Movies
|
Content |
Avg. B.O. 2008 |
|
No M |
$58,783,936 |
|
M |
$37,993,403 |
|
MM |
$24,612,051 |
|
MMM |
$10,114,778 |
Dr. Baehr is chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission® (CFTVC) ministry and publisher of its family guide to movies, Movieguide® (www.movieguide.com). CFTVC and Movieguide® are an international non-profit ministry dedicated to “redeeming the values of the entertainment industry by influencing industry executives and by informing and equipping the public about the influence of the entertainment media.”
For more information, visit www.movieguide.com or call 1-800-577-6684.
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