The R-Rated Superhero Movie: A Yay Or Nay?

After the massive successes of Deadpool and Logan, studios finally seem convinced of the appeal of the R-rated superhero movie, with plans to deliver more adult-orientated comic book films in the future. It's a direction that should please the older fans, who'd love to see their favorite characters step out of the confines of PG-13. More so, it'll help get rid of all those little hellions in the cinema whose sole life purpose is to piss you off. The leashes on children are getting longer and longer these days. While the mature filmmaking route is far from new or original, we need to think about why it's become so popular suddenly. Is it a result of audience fatigue, or studios following the TV trend? That probably depends on who you ask, but let's look at the R-rated superhero movie and see what difference it actually makes. Branching Out Of Cinematic Universes Shake a bush and a franchise pops out. Everything is part of a cinematic universe - even King Kong! This thing is connected to that thing, and those two things are connected to the thingamajig over there. It's tiring that we can’t just have good standalone films where the creators have carte blanche without all the baggage of a universe. This is where R-rated films buck the trend. Right now, there's no way that a studio would consider an adults-only comic book cinematic universe, since there's too much money to be lost. A carefully measured movie outside of the main universe, however, will be considered - especially if the source material has enough clout. For example, a Lobo adaptation (hint, hint) would be ideal for the older audience, and doesn't need to be part of the DCEU at all. That's got more chance of being made than, say, a rated R Spider-Man film. Financial Viability I've touched on this briefly, but comic book movies are like printing money. Not even the critical bashing that Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice endured could prevent it from making over $870 million. Trust me, I think a lot of filmmakers would take that beating (or even worse) to secure those sort of figures. When you suddenly make a film R-rated, you completely eliminate two key target markets: children and their parents. Sure, there are many comic fans over the age of 18, but there’s also a huge number who'll only watch these types of movies because of their children. Deadpool made good money, but it didn't make Captain America: Civil War cash, which undoubtedly attracted a lot more children and parents. In this current economic climate, studios will always reach for the lowest hanging fruits, rather than risk losing on their investments. Money trumps creativity, unfortunately. Free From Studio Interference? There's this strange idea where people believe R-rated means free from studio interference. While it does liberate the filmmakers from worrying about censorship codes, it doesn't mean the execs will keep their greedy paws to themselves. Look at Kick-Ass 2, for example, which reeks of the resultant blood from numerous fist fights and heads bashing. The first film shined because no one thought it'd do so well and let Matthew Vaughn do what he wanted. As soon as it made money, the suits took over and the rest is history. Now, imagine if the film in question is Batman. With so much money at stake, both in terms of investment and box-office returns, do you think Warner Bros. would allow an auteur to make the film he/she envisions? Not a chance. There would be consultants and "experts" weighing in with their two cents at every opportunity. We'd probably end up with a new origin story where Bruce Wayne is the result of a union between Thomas Wayne and a satanic bat. Full creative freedom is a myth in Hollywood. Good In Doses It's important to understand that ratings don't make or break movies. It's possible to have many family friendly hits and absolute stinkers, as it's the same with rated R films (cough, Fifty Shades Darker, cough). A rating shouldn't be seen as a trend or gimmick to get more butts in seats, but purely about what the film requires. If the tone is darker and the story delves with more mature topics, explore the option. If it's only about throwing in F-bombs and nudity, is it really necessary? Let's be honest: Logan isn't good because it's a R-rated superhero movie; it's good because James Mangold and his team created a compelling picture. Before we all rush out and demand adult-only comic book flicks, let's ask the all-important question: will this actually make the movies better? Tell us, do you think a film's rating makes a difference to its quality? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.