Film Ratings Born: MPAA Creates G Through X System
Hollywood invented its own censors to avoid government ones. The rating system launched with four categories: G, M, R, and X. No trademark on X—anyone could use it. Pornographers did. Within years, X meant one thing only, and the industry replaced it with NC-17 in 1990. The whole system started because Jack Valenti wanted to kill the old Production Code. He gave parents letters instead of rules.
October 7, 1968
58 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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