What was the first "R" rated film to win the Best Picture Oscar under the MPAA rating system?

In 1971, "The French Connection" was the first R-rated film to win the Oscar for Best Picture under the new Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating system.

"The French Connection" starred Gene Hackman (who also won the Best Actor Oscar) as detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle and dealt with the international heroin trade from Marseille, France to New York City. It also features one of the greatest car chase scenes in movie history.

The MPAA system is used to rate the suitability of film for certain audiences based on its content. The MPAA system is voluntary and not enforced by any law in the United States and its territories.

When the MPAA came under new leadership in 1966, the Motion Picture Production Code, that was adopted in 1930, was deemed outdated and bordered on extreme censorship. Filmmakers had been pushing the envelope on the code. Films, such as "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", were being frowned upon for language, nudity and violence.

The MPAA devised a system with three organizations _ The MPAA, National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), International Film Importers & Distributors of America (IFIDA) _ monitoring each film.

The system from 1968-1970 rates a film had R as restricted to those viewers 16 and older. In 1970, R was raised to 17 and under.

Currently, the rating system is G, PG-13, R, NC-17 and X.

More Info: www.mpaa.org

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12 Comments

Mike Hibner

MIdnight Cowboy would probably be rated PG if it came out now...

Mike Hibner

Don't know when Midnight Cowboy's rating was changed to R, but it was X when I saw it. Interesting that the first (and ONLY) movie to be rated X would win the Academy's bet movie before an R rated movie would...

Richard G Schwartz

The director William Friedkin won an oscar for TFC and then had a huge hit with The Exorcist and then downhill from there.

Gery Tillmanns

Great question.

Emalie Monarrez Ortega

I have always deemed MIDNIGHT COWBOY to be the first rated "R". Altho it started off as "X".

filmnut

Midnight Cowboy was “X” Rated.

Kevin Coleman

majohnson, As I said to another player, Midnight Cowboy was X when it won in the eyes of the Academy. The Academy also recognizes The French Connection as the first R-rated winner of the Oscar for Best Picture. I hope this clears it up for you.

Kevin Coleman

Steve Heady, Midnight Cowboy was rated X when it won the Oscar for best picture and is still considered the only X-rated film to win that Oscar. The Academy also recognizes The French Connection as the first R movie to win the Best Picture. Yes, the rating was changed, but it was X when it won in the eyes of the Academy. I hope this clears things up for you.

Steve Heady

Again, you choose to publish these ambiguous questions, where the correct answer is debatable. In addition, the explanation doesn't even address the movie Midnight Cowboy, and its change in rating.