When 'Shame' was released with an NC-17 by Fox Searchlight, National Association of Theater Owners president John Fithian told TheWrap, 'I think we need more bold filmmakers and distributors to make content appropriate for the rating and release it that way.' The latest was William Friedkin’s “Killer Joe,” which grossed almost $2 million in 2012 the top-grossing was Steve McQueen‘s “Shame,” which grossed $3.9 million in 2011.

In the last five years, more than 1,000 movies have been released without a rating, while only three have gone out with an NC-17.

Its only real choice was to accept the NC-17 or to do what most companies in its situation have done, and release the film without an MPAA rating. Given the badge of honor bestowed by a Palme d’Or, Sundance Selects would have been mercilessly criticized if it had ordered the extensive cuts necessary to bring the film an R rating. Though it gained initial attention because of a lengthy sex scene between the two, the film won raves at Cannes, and jury president Steven Spielberg said it was an easy choice for the festival’s top prize. “Blue Is the Warmest Color” stars Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Sedoux as young women who become involved in a sexual relationship. We refuse to compromise Kechiche’s vision by trimming the film for an R rating, and we have every confidence that ‘Blue Is the Warmest Color’ will play in theaters around the country regardless.” “The film is first and foremost a film about love, coming of age and passion. “This is a landmark film with two of the best female performances we have ever seen on screen,” said Sundance Selects/IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring in a press release announcing the decision.

Blue is the warmest colour film youtube