Deadpool Do you think the Deadpool movie would have grossed better if it wasn't r-rated?

[def28]

I certainly agree (as seen previously) that a PG-13 isn't guaranteed to make more money, but I also don't think that it's certain that the R rated version will have made more money, as seems to be another common argument.

Tons of Deadpool stories in the comics have not been what would make a movie rated R so you can clearly make Deadpool without that aspect. The directors also said that their PG-13 version of the script didn't feel as right but wasn't dramatically different either.

It's just a pretty difficult question to answer, especially since the success of Deadpool is unexpected so no one really knows the exact answer, but I think we're all happy that it was rated R and that it was hugely successful.

Deadpool could definitely be done PG-13, I'm not really arguing that. Done as good as this film? That's a far stretch.

Without the R rating you lose a lot of marketing, positive hype and the creative team that was seen to get people to the theatre and peak interest. I don't see another team or film matching what these guys did. This just broke too many records and had solid buzz that was dependent on the rating. You would have to strip it away of all that. Which would no doubt lead to a lower box office.

 

[RLAAMJR.]

A Pg-13 rating could tone down the violence, excessive language and nudity... but those things aren't really gonna hurt the movie if the story is still good and the humour is still there. And there's nothing Rated R about the story. There's plenty of films with the lead character seeking revenge or their leading lady getting kidnapped. Wade could still get cancer, Vanessa could still work in a strip bar, they could keep the holiday sex scenes (minus the butt shots), they could keep the songs that they used, keep the opening sequence, post credits scenes, there's nothing R rated about Colossus and Teenage Warhead Negasonic, the violence towards the unnamed henchmen would be tone down and there wouldn't be blood but for Angel Dust/Colossus/Ajax/Deadpool, not really since we already saw that heavy violence towards mutant in The Wolverine/DOFP. And lastly, Deadpool is like the only one in the movie with a pouty mouth in the film and I don't even think he cursed a lot in the film. So I don't think it would tone down the character"S".

A Pg-13 rating Deadpool would have earned a lot of money in China and people under 16 or whatever ages that aren't allowed for a R film, would have seen the movie in a theater. And besides, the older people (18 or 21 and above), would not skip the film if the movie isn't rated R. Would it be a better movie, maybe not if you think more violence or action the better, but it would have definitely earned more money worldwide at least outside North America, Deadpool is not even close to DOFP's international box office.

You are so right.

 

[def28]

Absolutely not. I can tell you, The Wolverine is a weaker film for being PG 13 when compared to the Unrated Cut. They had to cut the freakin Ninja fight. And that really wasn't THAT violent. I shudder to think of what they would've had to cut to make this film PG 13. This is just absurd monday morning quarterbacking, of something that really, really worked. Beyond all of our imaginations.

This movie would not have made $200 million domestic with a PG 13 rating. And undercutting the marketing with the PG 13 rating would've been disasterous. I mean, just look at the announcement of the R rating. You couldn't do that "**** you slater" bit.

Bingo

 

[Kargo Warrior]

A Pg-13 rating could tone down the violence, excessive language and nudity... but those things aren't really gonna hurt the movie if the story is still good and the humour is still there. And there's nothing Rated R about the story. There's plenty of films with the lead character seeking revenge or their leading lady getting kidnapped. Wade could still get cancer, Vanessa could still work in a strip bar, they could keep the holiday sex scenes (minus the butt shots), they could keep the songs that they used, keep the opening sequence, post credits scenes, there's nothing R rated about Colossus and Teenage Warhead Negasonic, the violence towards the unnamed henchmen would be tone down and there wouldn't be blood but for Angel Dust/Colossus/Ajax/Deadpool, not really since we already saw that heavy violence towards mutant in The Wolverine/DOFP. And lastly, Deadpool is like the only one in the movie with a pouty mouth in the film and I don't even think he cursed a lot in the film. So I don't think it would tone down the character"S".

A Pg-13 rating Deadpool would have earned a lot of money in China and people under 16 or whatever ages that aren't allowed for a R film, would have seen the movie in a theater. And besides, the older people (18 or 21 and above), would not skip the film if the movie isn't rated R. Would it be a better movie, maybe not if you think more violence or action the better, but it would have definitely earned more money worldwide at least outside North America, Deadpool is not even close to DOFP's international box office.

The only reason DOFP had a bigger international gross is because of China. Without China, DOFP did $397 million while Deadpool is at $380 currently, and will most certainly beat that by the end of it's run.

No one went to Deadpool because of the story. We've seen that story a hundred times. It's the irreverent, foul mouthed, no holds barred twisted comedy that created the hype and that delivered in cinemas. Without the R rating and the twisted humor and crazy action, it would have been just another cliched superhero film. The film broke out because it was unique. Without the R rating, everything that separated the film from Marvel's storytelling and the type of humor they have, is gone.

 

[Mjölnir]

Deadpool could definitely be done PG-13, I'm not really arguing that. Done as good as this film? That's a far stretch.

Without the R rating you lose a lot of marketing, positive hype and the creative team that was seen to get people to the theatre and peak interest. I don't see another team or film matching what these guys did. This just broke too many records and had solid buzz that was dependent on the rating. You would have to strip it away of all that. Which would no doubt lead to a lower box office.

And I'm not saying it would have been as good. As I stated, I think we're all happy that it was rated R. Also I've said that I'm not convinced it would have made more money, but I'm not ruling it out. As for the marketing, it wasn't that much of it that was R rated. Mainly due to that the R rated marketing was only available via finding it yourself on the web or combined with other R rated material. Seeing how few people out of what it takes to make these numbers that do those things I think the movie was sold to the GA in a PG-13 environment. The word of mouth was more likely helped by the rating though.

The R rating is definitely right for Deadpool, and it is likely that it helped the movie at the BO, but I think some are slightly overestimating the importance of it for the character as he's not that shallow that everything depends on the R rating, and it doesn't seem like even the writers thought that.

 

[def28]

I disagree strongly with the marketing. The first thing they put out for marketing video wise was an announcement that the film would be Rated R with Deadpool killing and cursing at Mario Lopez. The R announcement got more hits on youtube then most theatrical trailers do. It played very heavily into the marketing and trended on all major sites/social media.

 

[psylockolussus]

The only reason DOFP had a bigger international gross is because of China. Without China, DOFP did $397 million while Deadpool is at $380 currently, and will most certainly beat that by the end of it's run.

Which proves my point that a China release would have made a difference to the box-office total of Deadpool.

 

[Mjölnir]

I disagree strongly with the marketing. The first thing they put out for marketing video wise was an announcement that the film would be Rated R with Deadpool killing and cursing at Mario Lopez. The R announcement got more hits on youtube then most theatrical trailers do. It played very heavily into the marketing and trended on all major sites/social media.

I can't find any version of that on Youtube that has that many viewers with a quick search. Extra TV's own only has a couple of million views. I think the trailers and the ads where he got to talk more factored in far more as they showed the GA what the movie was, rather than a video just saying that a superhero "no one" knew about (popular character but not for the GA) had an R rating, which several comic book movies has had before.

Not to mention that the Rated R announcement was still PG-13.

 

[def28]

Go to Joblo on youtube it has about 6 million there and was R rated. Extra was bleeped but the whole videos point rather it's the edited version or not is "that the movie will of course be rated R". You couldn't put that video up if the movie was pg-13 edited cause there would be no point. This started everythitng and it just grew with positive hype from that point. That vid, SDCC and the first red band trailer were the big sells.

With different material the outcome and reactions would just not be the same. Be it the marketing or the film itself. Change the jokes in Borat, Superbad or The Hangover to PG-13 and it's not gonna have the same impact or wom, especially with the 17-35 year old demo. If things were that simple the world would be a far different place.

 

[-JKR-]

Which proves my point that a China release would have made a difference to the box-office total of Deadpool.

But who knows what impact the movie might have had, if it had been 'just another funny PG-13 Marvel adaptation.'

Deadpool was lightning in a bottle and overperformed in an amazing way, which is why it's useless to talk about 'what ifs.'

But if y'all wanna keep guessing what could've been if it had been PG-13, keep talking. But the "let's add what it could've made in China to its box office performances" just doesn't work. There are many variables to consider. Had this been PG-13, it wouldn't have stuck out as much as something fresh.

 

[psylockolussus]

Deadpool was lightning in a bottle and overperformed in an amazing way, which is why it's useless to talk about 'what ifs.'

And yet here you are having this "useless" talk. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mjölnir]

Go to Joblo on youtube it has about 6 million there and was R rated. Extra was bleeped but the whole videos point rather it's the edited version or not is "that the movie will of course be rated R". You couldn't put that video up if the movie was pg-13 edited cause there would be no point. This started everythitng and it just grew with positive hype from that point. That vid, SDCC and the first red band trailer were the big sells.

With different material the outcome and reactions would just not be the same. Be it the marketing or the film itself. Change the jokes in Borat, Superbad or The Hangover to PG-13 and it's not gonna have the same impact or wom, especially with the 17-35 year old demo. If things were that simple the world would be a far different place.

6 million is nothing in the context of how much money this movie has made. 6 million views can be gotten by just interested fans alone, you don't need the GA. The Deadpool trailers smash that number, where I think the highest is about 40 million. That's a number you can derive some popularity from.

I know what the R rating brings as I've said more than once that I think the movie was best served by that. I just don't think it's as simple as to point to that and attribute all the success to it (especially not with key differences like that China didn't allow it, as it's now a big market). I think it's the common fan trope where when something works that's the only way it could work. One actor does a great job as a character? He's now the only one that could play him, etc. This movie had much more than just the R rated stuff, which is why it became bigger than almost all other R rated movies. I wouldn't want it any other way though.

 

[def28]

Deadpool didn't just get over 40m hits from it's redband instantly. This was a build from the leaked material, marketing and interest throughout over a year. You think taking all the build up away wouldn't hurt it?

It wasn't just 6 million, but even if it was a Trailer like Star Trek gets 14m. Kingsmen 12 mil. Cloverfield 8mil. This wasn't even a trailer representing the film itself. This was just a skit saying the movie was rated R. It trended everywhere on mainstream movie, comic and gossip sites, and was a big deal cause there are barely any R rated mainstream Marvel films. For the most part only 150m-250m pg-13 blockbusters get over 20m views. 40m redband is just ****ing insane for a first IP.

It didn't even need an official trailer to start getting major attention. That's what is so crazy. I just don't get downplaying the R with all that advertising, millions of hits and positive word of mouth. You have the R rated script, the R rated leaked footage, the R rated announcement, the rend band trailer etc.

Just assuming Deadpool would have done this well with content change is a pretty big stretch imo. This movie was known for and had promised to deliver a certain kind of R humor and violence before it was even announced, and it was always showing it off as part of the main sell.

Other then China I just personally can't see any solid arguments here, but hey agree to disagree. This was a killer first IP.

 

[Sithborg]

Which proves my point that a China release would have made a difference to the box-office total of Deadpool.

At what cost? You keep assuming that it would've been able to make close to what it did with a PG 13 rating? It wouldn't have. China didn't make Kingsman make over $500. Is making $100 in China worth making $200 less domestic?

Yes, China would've helped. But, keep in mind, this is making more than recent MCU movies that have had China. Hell, Star Wars didn't exactly need China to crack a billion foreign.

 

[RLAAMJR.]

The only reason DOFP had a bigger international gross is because of China. Without China, DOFP did $397 million while Deadpool is at $380 currently, and will most certainly beat that by the end of it's run.

No one went to Deadpool because of the story. We've seen that story a hundred times. It's the irreverent, foul mouthed, no holds barred twisted comedy that created the hype and that delivered in cinemas. Without the R rating and the twisted humor and crazy action, it would have been just another cliched superhero film. The film broke out because it was unique. Without the R rating, everything that separated the film from Marvel's storytelling and the type of humor they have, is gone.

I disagree. It's easy to replace those parts to make the movie not r-rated and still be interesting. I am sad that the young audience are not able to watch this awesome movie.

 

[BlackFox]

I disagree. It's easy to replace those parts to make the movie not r-rated and still be interesting. I am sad that the young audience are not able to watch this awesome movie.

And one day they will all grow up and still be able to watch it and be thankful they waited to get the full experience and not only that they will have learned one of lifes great truths that some things are worth waiting for.

Plus it will create a whole new generation of Deadpool fans that are blissfully unaware of its awesomeness at the moment.

Make it PG-13 and you lose all that and something more, a piece of this films soul would have been lost.

Life is not all about "making more money".

 

[psylockolussus]

At what cost? You keep assuming that it would've been able to make close to what it did with a PG 13 rating? It wouldn't have. China didn't make Kingsman make over $500. Is making $100 in China worth making $200 less domestic?

Yes, China would've helped. But, keep in mind, this is making more than recent MCU movies that have had China. Hell, Star Wars didn't exactly need China to crack a billion foreign.

Kingsman earned at least $40 million there. But internationally, it would have earned more because of China and kids/teenagers who are under 16 or 18 would have seen it.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

This is like asking would Eminem have the same record sales if his lyrics were kid friendly.

Nope, shock value and adult humor is the main appeal.

 

[Mjölnir]

Deadpool didn't just get over 40m hits from it's redband instantly. This was a build from the leaked material, marketing and interest throughout over a year. You think taking all the build up away wouldn't hurt it?

It wasn't just 6 million, but even if it was a Trailer like Star Trek gets 14m. Kingsmen 12 mil. Cloverfield 8mil. This wasn't even a trailer representing the film itself. This was just a skit saying the movie was rated R. It trended everywhere on mainstream movie, comic and gossip sites, and was a big deal cause there are barely any R rated mainstream Marvel films. For the most part only 150m-250m pg-13 blockbusters get over 20m views. 40m redband is just ****ing insane for a first IP.

It didn't even need an official trailer to start getting major attention. That's what is so crazy. I just don't get downplaying the R with all that advertising, millions of hits and positive word of mouth. You have the R rated script, the R rated leaked footage, the R rated announcement, the rend band trailer etc.

Just assuming Deadpool would have done this well with content change is a pretty big stretch imo. This movie was known for and had promised to deliver a certain kind of R humor and violence before it was even announced, and it was always showing it off as part of the main sell.

Other then China I just personally can't see any solid arguments here, but hey agree to disagree. This was a killer first IP.

But that's not the large numbers that shows that the GA is really invested.

I never said that the R rating wasn't a factor but, as I said, people are so prone to see something work and assume that it could only have worked that way. Probably because it makes thinking about it that much simpler if you ignore/diminish other possibilities. I certainly wouldn't have wanted a PG-13 Deadpool but I'm not dismissing that it could have been successful. There's just clearly more factors to it since other R rated comic book movies haven't been nearly as interesting to the GA.

The expected numbers for the movie also kept rising with the more mainstream marketing, which was way later than those initial things and drew in far more viewers. And when even the writers say that the PG-13 script wasn't vastly different I just don't see it as cut and dry when this is such a complicated success that the companies will have big trouble figuring it out for future projects.

So I'm not assuming or dismissing anything, that's what you're doing. I'm saying it could possibly be either way and that the situation is more complicated than some people make it out to be. You're saying that it's definitely one way. But we can certainly agree to disagree.

 

[SomeOldGuy]

Kingsman earned at least $40 million there. But internationally, it would have earned more because of China and kids/teenagers who are under 16 or 18 would have seen it.

Well, in some places they did. In the UK for example it was rated 15 and up.

Looking at the numbers it seems hard to argue that there's a lot of slack in them. Deadpool was at $379 million internationally as of 3/15. It will probably finish at or above $400 million. Add in $100 million as an estimate of what China would have added and you are at or above $500 million internationally. Just 5 out of 41 Marvel comics films have topped that mark internationally, and just three, IM3 and the two Avengers movies, have done so substantially. And those were all big-budget, special-effects extravaganzas very different from Deadpool.

So while I agree it would have made more from China I don't think it would have made much more everywhere else.

 

[def28]

But that's not the large numbers that shows that the GA is really invested.

I disagree. Off the bat there was large interest numbers for what they were doing. The whole reason Fox greenlit the film was because the reaction was so strong to the test footage. It wasn't just fanboys. It was the internet in general, which represents alot of people.

Again, there were a number of things that elevated this film and led to it building regarding the R rating. Changing anything would result in a complete different scenario. Not saying it couldn't be a success in ant way. But having success to this level? Or with equal quality and marketing to this film? Near impossible. Changing the rating changes the material, and the reaction with it.

 

[RLAAMJR.]

Which proves my point that a China release would have made a difference to the box-office total of Deadpool.

True and the fact that no r-rated film is in the worldwide top 50 grossing films of all time.

 

[def28]

That top 50 worldwide argument literally means nothing. China didn't start mattering until recently. There are only like 3 to 4 films made prior to 2000 that are in the top 50 worldwide. And we are talking major Steven Spielberg, Disney and James Cameron level films. The international box office didn't always bring in that much cash for as many films as it does now.

Barely anyone was making major blockbusters Rated R with massive pop culture appeal besides The Matrix during this time. Which isn't far from the top 50. The 70s and 80s had no problem with their R rated films making big cash with films like The Godfather, The Exorcist, Blazing Saddles, Animal House and Beverly Hills Cop.

 

[RLAAMJR.]

The top 50 grossing movies worldwide do matter.

Deadpool is an interesting character. His movie doesn't need to be r-rated to be successful. In the first place, I enjoyed the movie not because of the r-rated scenes but rather the story.

 

[-JKR-]

He's a freaking killer. Why would you tone something like that down? Why would you tone The Punisher down? You wouldn't.