Sexy, steamy and certainly scandalous, February’s Fifty Shades of Grey is sure to be one of 2015’s biggest films, and today brings the answer to one question every die-hard fan of the erotic novel it’s based on has been asking since day one: NC-17 or R? The MPAA has made up its mind by announcing an R-rating, and the wording of its rating is predictably amusing.
The organization, which has delivered some ridiculous ratings over the years (my personal favorite may be Congo‘s PG-13 rating for “jungle adventure terror and action and brief strong language”) bestowed the R-rating on Fifty Shades of Grey for “strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language.” So congratulations to all of you BDSM practitioners out there – the fine folks over at the MPAA think you’re all a bunch of weirdos.
An R-rating for the sultry flick, which focuses on the sexually extreme relationship between a university student (Dakota Johnson) and a wealthy bachelor (Jamie Dornan), was all but assured, seeing as Universal is hoping for the Sam Taylor-Johnson-directed pic to gross huge numbers at the box office. If all the fans of the book, which set a record for the fastest-selling paperback of all time, turn up to see it, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Star Wars: The Force Awakens may just be facing another legitimate contender for biggest smash hit of 2015.
Additionally, two new songs from the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack have hit the web. Check out The Weeknd’s “Earned It” and Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do” below. Those should tide you over until the film itself hits theaters on February 13th.
When Anastasia “Ana” Steele, a literature student, goes to interview the wealthy Christian Grey, as a favor to her roommate Kate Kavanagh, she encounters a handsome, brilliant and intimidating man. The innocent and naive Ana, startled to realize she wants him, despite his enigmatic reserve and advice, finds herself desperate to get close to him. Not able to resist Ana’s beauty and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her too, but in his own terms. Ana hesitates as she discovers the singular tastes of Grey – despite the embellishments of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family – Grey is consumed by the need to control everything. As they get close, Steele starts to discover Grey’s secrets and explores her own desires.
