Sex Does Not Sell!
Study Shows American Moviegoers Reject
Movies with Explicit Sex and Sexual Nudity
Monday, January 29, 2018
Hollywood, Calif. – Contrary to popular opinion, the facts show that sex does not really sell.
A recent annual study of the top movies released in the United States and Canada shows that American moviegoers reject movies with scenes of explicit sex and sexual nudity in them.
Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide®: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment, released the following tables comparing movies with no sexual content and no sexual nudity to movies with some or heavy amounts of depicted sex and explicit nudity:
Content | 2017 Avg. B.O. |
No sexual content | $46.39 million |
Some depicted sex | $15.95 million |
Heavy depicted sex | $17.95 million |
Content | Total 2017 B.O. |
No sexual content | $3.85 billion |
Some depicted sex | $1.15 billion |
Heavy depicted sex | $0.22 billion |
Content | 2017 Avg. B.O. |
No sexual nudity | $42.10 million |
Some sexual nudity | $24.07 million |
Extreme sexual nudity | $21.33 million |
Content | Total 2017 B.O. |
No sexual nudity | $8.29 billion |
Some sexual nudity | $1.42 billion |
Extreme sexual nudity | $0.38 billion |
“Our previous studies have shown similar results,” Dr. Baehr noted.
Dr. Baehr will present these and other findings Friday night at the 26th Annual Faith and Values Awards Gala, to be held at the Universal Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
Author of “The Culture-Wise Family” and “How To Succeed in Hollywood (Without Losing Your Soul),” Dr. Baehr is chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission® (CFTVC) and its family guide to movies and entertainment, Movieguide® (www.movieguide.org).
Now in their 33rd year, CFTVC and Movieguide® are the largest, longest-running 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.”
Movieguide®’s Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala honors the best, most family-friendly movies and television programs honoring God and inspiring audiences with messages of faith, hope, goodness, justice, redemption, forgiveness, and true divine love. At the Awards, Dr. Baehr presents highlights from Movieguide®’s Annual Report to the Entertainment Industry, a comprehensive financial analysis of the major movies released in theaters and on home video.
For more information about Movieguide® or CFTVC, visit www.movieguide.org or call (805) 383-2000.