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The Weinstein Company announced plans to release Lee Hirsch’s documentary Bully unrated, rather than with the Motion Picture Association of America’s original R rating, and Hirsch toldThe Hollywood Reporter that it is "the right thing to do."
The recent controversy that developed when the MPAA gave the film an R rating had kids, celebrities and politicians all rallying to reduce the rating to PG-13. The film, about the bullying epidemic in the American school system, received the R rating for using the word “fuck” six times, two more times than allowed for PG-13 rated films.
A recent appeal hearing to reduce the R rating with the Classification and Ratings Administration filed by Harvey Weinstein and Lee Hirsch was unsuccessful, as they lost by just one vote. The Classification and Ratings Administration has set guidelines about language in film, while sex and violence are more subjective.
"The small amount of language in the film that's responsible for the R rating is there because it's real," Hirsch said to THR. "It's what the children who are victims of bullying face on most days. All of our supporters see that, and we're grateful for the support we've received across the board. I know the kids will come, so it's up to the theaters to let them in."
It is up to each theater or theater chain to decide whether or not to show unrated films, and for the most part, showing unrated films is avoided in order to support the ratings board since it is administered by the MPAA and National Association of Theatre Owners. However, AMC CEO Gerry Lopez is among supporters of the Weinstein Co, and will show Bully at certain AMC theaters.
"The kids and families in this film are true heroes, and we believe theater owners everywhere will step up and do what's right for the benefit of all of the children out there who have been bullied or may have otherwise been bullies themselves," Stephen Bruno, president of marketing at TWC said.
Bully opens in Los Angeles and New York on March 30 at select theaters.
By releasing an unrated version of the film in LA and NYC, the film can still be re-edited to receive a PG-13 rating before opening in theaters throughout the country.
At the film's premiere, Hirsch spoke with THR on the red carpet, check out the video below:
