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Does Sex Sell? A Look at the Effects of Sex and Violence on Motion Picture Revenues

Author

Listed:
  • David M. Switzer
  • David M. Lang

    (Department of Economics, St. Cloud State University)

Abstract

The Motion Picture Association of America is responsible for assigning all movies one of five movie ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17). Previous research has found that G and PG-rated movies perform better at the box office, yet movie studios continue to make more PG-13 and R-rated movies. Other research has used data on a film�s levels of sex, violence and profanity (SVP), to explore the link between SVP, movie rating, and box office revenues. In this paper, we use a more recent data set and include additional variables to account for movie quality to further explore this relationship. We investigate the issue of how the amount of SVP has changed in the last fifteen years. We also use theater-level data for a major Midwestern theater chain to extend our analysis beyond total box office revenues, examining the effects on revenues in four ticket categories: adult, child, senior citizen, and student. Finally, we explore the difference between foreign and domestic box office responses to SVP levels and suggest that there is a justifiable reason why movie studios continue to produce far more PG-13 and R movies than G and PG movies.

Suggested Citation

  • David M. Switzer & David M. Lang, 2007. "Does Sex Sell? A Look at the Effects of Sex and Violence on Motion Picture Revenues," Working Papers 2008-5, Saint Cloud State University, Department of Economics, revised Mar 2008.
    • Handle: RePEc:scs:wpaper:0805
    as

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    File URL: http://repository.stcloudstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=econ_wps
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Darren Filson & David Switzer & Portia Besocke, 2005. "At the Movies: The Economics of Exhibition Contracts," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 43(2), pages 354-369, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    motion pictures; movies; violence; sex;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature

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