Movies With No Sex, Foul Language and Nudity Win At Box Office

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. 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.

Movieguide has been analyzing the content of movies and comparing box office numbers since 1991. The annual studies since 1996 have been particularly comprehensive.

Movies with no foul language compared to average box office in 2008:

• No obscenities/profanities averaged: $55,568,733
• 0-25 obscenities/profanities: $32,145,527
• More than 25: $22,934,908

Movies with no sexual content compared to average box office in 2008:

• No sexual content averaged: $42,953,235
• Implied adultery, promiscuity, sexual perversion or sexual immorality: $33,290,253
• Depicted adultery, promiscuity, sexual perversion, or sexual immorality: $19,390,655
• Graphic adultery, promiscuity, sexual perversion, or sexual immorality: $14,878,503

Movies with no nudity compared to average box office in 2008 movies:

• No nudity: $36,274,503
• Some sexual nudity: $29,132,665
• Extensive sexual nudity: $19,874,327

Movies with no alcohol abuse compared to average box office in 2008 movies:

• Some drunkenness: $32,809,224
• Extreme abuse: $14,014,314

Movies with no drug references compared to average box office in 2008 movies:

• No drug references: $48,819,627
• Some drug references: $18,880,203
• Very strong drug references: $11,621,557

For more information, visit www.movieguide.org or call 1-800-577-6684.