UCLA Entertainment Law Review

There have been efforts to censor their content from the time movies emerged as fixtures of popular culture.  In response to growing concerns about government intervention, the film industry created a self-regulatory ratings system.  However, there are insufficient incentives for the industry to regulate itself, as ratings play a direct role in box office success.  Critics of the ratings system have pointed to increased leniency over time and to the influence of powerful studios over the process as evidence of fundamental flaws in the regulatory scheme.  This Article suggests a more effective ratings system would base decisions in social science data to better protect children and inform parents.