Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

MPAA Snuffs Onscreen Smoking

Flicks with cancer sticks will draw tougher rating

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted May 11, 2007 5:37 AM CDT

(Newser) – Cigarette and cigar smoking will be considered alongside violence, profanity, nudity, and drug use in assigning ratings, the MPAA announced yesterday. Any film that glamorizes the habit or features lighting up outside of "an historic or other mitigating context "could face a box-office-busting... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

There are no comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Cops Shoot Naked Guy Eating Man's Face on Highway

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

Los Angeles Times (Source Grid »)

film • MPAA • smoking • cigarettes • tobacco • Motion Picture Association of America • audiences • smoking ban • movie industry • movies

More Newser Stories

PG-13 Rating: Ticket to Box-Office Magic?

6 highest-grossing films all have it

(NEWSER) - One key to The Avengers' record success this weekend: its PG-13 rating. The top six highest-grossing movies ever made are all rated PG-13; the rating points to a film that's titillating enough for teens but isn't likely to offend adults, the Los Angeles Times notes. The rating has become a Holy Grail for movie execs, particularly lately. Last year, R-rated movies accounted for 21% of US box office takings—the lowest figure in decades. More»

Smoking in Bhutan? Cops Can Raid Your Home

New law is quite unpopular

(NEWSER) - It’s not a good time to be a smoker in Bhutan: In an effort to become the world’s first smoke-free nation, the Buddhist country will now allow police to raid homes in an effort to smoke out illegal smokers. Bhutan banned sales of tobacco in 2005, but it's often smuggled in from India and sold illegally in small shops. Now, in addition to the new police powers, a tobacco-sniffing dog will also be brought in to assist with the crackdown. More»

Why All Movies With Smoking Should Be Rated R

If it will cut down on teen smoking, why wouldn't we?

(NEWSER) - Between 2005 and 2009, tobacco use in top-grossing movies declined by almost half—and that same time period also showed a notable decline in the number of high school students trying cigarettes. Coincidence? Probably not—which is why the CDC is calling for all films with tobacco use to be rated R. The MPAA’s response to this request was to point out that, since May 2007, a full three-quarters of movies depicting smoking were rated R. More»

WHO Pushes Governments to Battle Smoking

Developing countries most at risk, can least afford measures

(NEWSER) - Aiming to slash the 5.4 million tobacco-related deaths worldwide per year, the World Health Organization today called on governments everywhere to discourage smoking, the Wall Street Journal reports. As it stands, only 5% of countries have programs working to curb the habit, such as advertising bans and warning labels. A WHO report offers a six-point strategy to battle the tobacco beast. More»

Ang Lee's 'Lust' Too Hot for Hollywood

Ratings group slaps 'Brokeback' director's new flick with NC-17

(NEWSER) - Focus Features says it will stand by Ang Lee and his racy new war flick “Lust, Caution,” even though a movie trade group branded the film NC-17. The film industry's Scarlet Letter could cost the pic audiences, ad dollars, and theater distribution, but Focus CEO James Schamus said he won’t “change a frame” to satisfy the MPAA—or even appeal its decision. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

MPAA Snuffs Onscreen Smoking

Flicks with cancer sticks will draw tougher rating

film • MPAA • smoking • cigarettes • tobacco • Motion Picture Association of America • audiences • smoking ban • movie industry • movies

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

PG-13 Rating: Ticket to Box-Office Magic?

6 highest-grossing films all have it

Smoking in Bhutan? Cops Can Raid Your Home

New law is quite unpopular

Why All Movies With Smoking Should Be Rated R

If it will cut down on teen smoking, why wouldn't we?

WHO Pushes Governments to Battle Smoking

Developing countries most at risk, can least afford measures

Ang Lee's 'Lust' Too Hot for Hollywood

Ratings group slaps 'Brokeback' director's new flick with NC-17

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?