MPAA Rejects Michael Moore’s ‘Where to Invade Next’ Ratings Appeal

After the MPAA branded Michael Moore’s “Where to Invade Next” with an R rating in early November, the outspoken director made it clear he would do everything he could to appeal the decision so that the film could play in front of as wide an audience as possible. Unfortunately, Moore’s attempts have been blocked. According to a decision made by the appeals board of the Classification & Ratings Administration in Los Angeles earlier today, “Where to Invade Next” will remain rated R for language, some violent images, drug use and brief graphic nudity. Moore was in attendance for the decision.

“It’s amazing how 25 years have passed — we invented the internet, gay marriage is legal and we elected an African American President of the United States, but the MPAA is still intent on censoring footage that is available from any evening network news show,” said Moore the first time the film got stamped with an R rating. “This film has been widely praised by critics for its warmth and humor and optimism…I wish the MPAA would just be honest and stick a label on my movies saying: ‘This movie contains dangerous ideas that the 99% may find upsetting and lead them to revolt. Teens will be the most agitated when they learn they will soon be $80,000 in debt just by going to school.'”

The film’s distributors, Tom Quinn, Jason Janego and Tim League, agreed: “With this rating, the MPAA is effectively telling high schoolers they just aren’t mature enough to handle or discuss important issues directly affecting their pursuit of the American dream. The notion that a teenager can’t walk into a theater and see ‘Where to Invade Next’ is ridiculous and frankly un-American.”

“Where to Invade Next,” which finds Moore traveling the globe and investigating foreign economic, social and political policies, is set to hit theaters in Los Angeles and New York on December 23 before opening nationwide January 15.

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