2000s to 2020s American action movies that have been cut in Australia.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Directed by Chad Stahelski / 2019 / USA / IMDb
In May 2019, a 131-minute DCP of JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM received an MA15+ (Strong action violence).
The classification matrix described,
Strong impact: violence
Moderate impact: themes, language
None: drug use, nudity, sex
StudioCanal, the applicant, precut the film to avoid an R18+.
What was censored?
Tom S. reports
Uncut – At 19:30 approx., John Wick (Keanu Reeves) holds the assassin in a headlock and stabs him in the eye.
MA15+ – The entire 00:14 sequence is zoomed. The knife and the assassin’s head dip just below the frame before we hear the squelch and the scream. I would not have thought anything of this, as the sound effects, screams and the shot’s composition did not look off. It made me think it was a choice, as it still plays incredibly effectively.
Movie-Censorship has more details of the cuts.
Home viewing options
In July 2019, StudioCanal received an R18+ (High impact violence) for a 131-minute UHD RELEASE VERSION.
Apart from the violence, which went from ‘strong impact’ to high impact’, the classification matrix was the same as the MA15+.
The 4K Ultra HD disc contains the uncut R18+ version. However, the accompanying Blu-ray is reportedly censored.
The MA15+ version was released on DVD and Blu-ray.
In February 2020, the censored version of JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM began screening on Netflix Australia.
Imported BBFC censorship
In April 2017, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017) received an uncut MA15+ (Strong action violence).
Unfortunately, StudioCanal used a censored UK version for the Australian DVD and Blu-ray. Missing is approximately 00:20 of Gianna’s (Claudia Gerini) suicide, cut for a BBFC 15 classification.
The 4K Ultra HD disc contains the uncut MA15+ version and a censored Blu-ray.
Jumanji: The Next Level
Disc extra – Trick or Treat
Directed by Jake Kasdan / 2019 / USA / IMDb
In November 2019, a 123-minute DCP of JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL twice received a PG (Mild fantasy violence, coarse language and crude humour).
The classification matrix described,
Mild impact: themes, violence, language
Very mild impact: sex
None: drug use, nudity
Sony Pictures Releasing was the applicant.
Rating bump
On 3 February 2020, a 146-minute DVD received the same PG as the theatrical release.
At the same time, an 184-minute Blu-ray received an M (Coarse language). The classification matrix increased the language from ‘mild impact’ to ‘moderate impact’. On 13 February, a censored 183-minute version dropped it back to the previous PG.
Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, the applicant, issued DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD discs.
What bonus content was dropped?
Peter F. reports
A 01:16 extra titled TRICK OR TREAT is missing from the Australian Blu-ray of JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL. It features Kevin Hart, dressed as The Rock, visiting Dwayne Johnson’s house on Halloween.
Presumably, the 4K Ultra HD is also censored.
My Spy
Directed by Peter Segal / 2020 / USA / IMDb
On 15 November 2019, a DCP of MY SPY received an M (Action violence).
The classification matrix described,
Mild impact: themes, violence, language, drug use
None: nudity, sex
It received the same M (Action violence) on 29 November. The ‘More information about the content of this film’ sections were identical. However, the classification matrix increased the themes and violence from ‘mild impact’ to ‘moderate impact’, possibly indicating precuts to the first submission.
A censored version received a PG (Mild themes, action violence and coarse language) on 11 December.
The classification matrix described,
Mild impact: themes, violence, language, drug use
None: nudity, sex
All three submissions ran 100-minutes.
Roadshow Films, the applicant, released the PG-rated version theatrically.
Movie-Censorship details the missing footage.
Home viewing options
In April 2020, Roadshow Entertainment issued a PG-rated DVD and Blu-ray. At the same time, it streamed on Foxtel and Amazon Prime.
Netflix [December 2021] had the uncut M-rated version.
Still too violent
September 15, 2021
– Classification Board, Annual Report 2020–2021
The Board received 44 complaints about the classification of films, five of which related to the theatrical release film, MY SPY.
Gladiator II
Directed by Ridley Scott / 2024 / UK – USA / IMDb
On 16 October 2024, a 148-minute version of GLADIATOR II received an M (Animal cruelty, blood and gore, injury detail and violence).
The classification matrix described,
Moderate impact: themes, violence
Mild impact: language, drug use
None: nudity, sex
Paramount Pictures Australia rated the film themselves as an ‘Accredited Classifier Decision’.
It was identified as precut, to avoid an MA15+, after opening on 14 November.
What was censored in the theatrical version?
Tom S. reports
These are the cut I could identify in GLADIATOR II. There may be other, less obvious, trims.
Cut No. 1 – Lucius (Paul Mescal) beheads his opponent at the first Roman games.
The beginning is trimmed to remove the swords connecting with the head. It cuts into the shot midway to show the stump and a bit of blood spray.
Cut No. 2 – Macrinus (Denzel Washington) slashing at the neck of Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn).
The initial long shot of the neck cutting and blood spray is missing. The following close-up is zoomed to the left to remove the continued neck slashing and blood spray on the right.
Cut No. 3 – Macrinus puts a spike into the ear of Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).
The red blood flowing from his ear is now green/yellow.
The Australian theatrical version runs 147:36 compared to the BBFC’s 147:43. Cuts No. 1 and 2 are missing footage, while 3 is a CGI change.
M to MA15+ after one week & still censored
On 21 November, the Classification Board increased it to MA15+ (Strong themes and violence).
The classification matrix now described,
Strong impact: themes, violence
Mild impact: language, drug use
Very mild impact: nudity
None: sex
November 21, 2024
Themes
The film contains thematic content including scenes of humans pitted against animals inside the gladiator arena, with resulting injury and death. There are also post-action depictions of blood pooling, injury detail, decapitations and severed limbs, including the extended depiction of a severed head. Other themes of the film include enslavement, revenge, political machinations and tyrannical rule in the context of the Roman Empire, along with a discreet reference to incest.Violence
The film contains a large-scale battle and multiple frenetic fight sequences set in the gladiator arena, with hand-to-hand combat and weapons including swords and arrows. At times there are blood sprays and spurts as combatants are implicitly injured and killed, including with the severing of a head and arm.Language
The film contains use of the words, “bitch”, “whore”, “tit” and “damn”.Drug use
The film contains verbal references to opium and “dragon’s breath”, and the depiction of a character smoking opium for pain relief.Nudity
– More information about the content of this film
The film contains discreet and naturalistic nudity, including the highly stylised and artistic depiction of genitals and breasts on marble statues, and a scene in which a breast is distantly shown with no nipple detail.
– Classification Board
Cinemas were informed the following day, and advertising updated to reflect the new rating.
To ensure the guidelines are followed, Accredited Classifier Decisions are sometimes reviewed by the Classification Board. It is unknown if this was a random check or triggered by complaints.
Uncut for home viewing?
On 25 November, the Spherex Classification Tool awarded an MA15+ (Strong animal cruelty, violence and blood and gore).
The previous MA15+ described the nudity as ‘very mild impact’ while here it was ‘none’. The remaining classification matrix was identical.
The 143-minute time compares to 148 for the theatrical print. It should be uncut, so the difference may be a PAL speed issue.
This ‘Home Entertainment Version’ was relabelled as ‘DVD-BD Version’ on 15 December.
Failed appeal
On 2 December, the Classification Review Board announced they heard an appeal from Paramount Pictures Australia. Unusually, the Board did not issue a media release before any hearing.
December 2, 2024
A three-member panel of the Classification Review Board has unanimously determined that the film, GLADIATOR II, is classified MA 15+ with the consumer advice Strong violence and injury detail.In the Classification Review Board’s opinion, GLADIATOR II warrants an MA 15+ classification because the film’s violence has a strong impact, due to the inclusion of implicit and explicit depictions of decapitation and dismemberment and the level of blood, injury and body part detail.
Films classified MA 15+ are legally restricted. Persons aged under 15 cannot attend screenings of films classified MA 15+ unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Consumer advice is additional information about the main content of a film which is intended to help consumers decide if they want to view this type of material.
The Review Board convened on 2 December 2024 in response to an application from the applicant, Paramount Pictures Australia Pty Ltd, to review the decision made by the Classification Board on 21 November 2024 to classify GLADIATOR II MA15+ (Mature Accompanied).- Gladiator II classified MA 15+.
– Classification Review Board
Although retaining the MA15+, the Board modified the consumer advice from ‘Strong themes and violence’ to ‘Strong violence and injury detail’.
Additionally, the classification matrix dropped themes from ‘strong impact to ‘moderate impact’ and increased nudity from ‘none’ to ‘mild impact’.
December 2, 2024
Members:
Susan Bush (Chair)
David Toll
Damien PowerApplicant: Paramount Pictures Australia Pty Ltd
Business: To review the Classification Board’s decision to classify the film GLADIATOR II MA 15+ with the consumer advice Strong themes and violence.
Decision and reasons for decision1. Decision
The Classification Review Board (the Review Board) unanimously classified the film MA 15+, with the consumer advice Strong violence and injury detail.2. Legislative provisions
The ‘Classification (Publications, Film and Computer Games)’ Act 1995 (Cth) (the Classification Act) governs the classification of films and the review of classification decisions.
The Review Board
Part 5 of the Classification Act outlines the provisions relevant to the Review Board and its procedures.
Section 42 of the Classification Act sets out the persons who may apply for review of a decision:
(a) the Minister
(b) the applicant for classification of the film, or the likely classification of the film under section 33
(c) the publisher of the film, or
(d) a person aggrieved by the decision.Section 43 sets out the conditions regarding the manner and form of applications for review, including time limits. Under section 44, the Review Board must deal with an application for review in the same way that the Board deals with an application for classification of a film.
Classification of Films under the Classification Act
Section 9, subject to section 9A, provides that films are to be classified in accordance with the National Classification Code (the Code) and the classification guidelines. Section 9A states that a computer game that advocates the doing of a terrorist act must be classified RC.
Section 11 of the Classification Act requires that the matters to be taken into account in making a decision on the classification of a film include:
(a) the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults; and
(b) the literary, artistic or educational merit (if any) of the film; and
(c) the general character of the film, including whether it is of a medical, legal or scientific character; and
(d) the persons or class of persons to or amongst whom it is published or is intended or likely to be published.The National Classification Code
Relevantly, the Films Table of the Code provides that:
Films (except RC films and X 18+ films) that are unsuitable for a minor to see are to be classified MA 15+, and the Code also sets out various principles to which classification decisions should give effect, as far as possible:
(a) adults should be able to read, hear, see and play what they want
(b) minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them
(c) everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive
(d) the need to take account of community concerns about:(i) depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence and,
(ii) the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner.The Guidelines
Three essential principles underlie the use of the Guidelines for the Classification of Films 2012 (the Guidelines), determined under section 12 of the Classification Act:
– the importance of context
– the assessment of impact, and
– the six classifiable elements – themes, violence, sex, language, drug use and nudity.3. Procedure
Three members of the Review Board met on 2 December 2024 in response to the receipt of an application from Paramount Australia Pty Ltd on 2 December 2024 to conduct the review of the film GLADIATOR II, which had previously been classified MA 15+ (Mature Accompanied) with consumer advice of ‘Strong themes and violence’ by the Classification Board. The Review Board determined that the application was a valid application.
The Review Board viewed the film.
The Review Board was provided a submission from the Applicant.
The Review Board then considered the matter.
4. Evidence and other material taken into account
In reaching its decision, the Review Board had regard to the following:
(i) Paramount Australia Pty Ltd’s application for review
(ii) Paramount Australia Pty Ltd’s submission
(iii) the film, GLADIATOR II
(iv) the relevant provisions in the Classification Act, the Code and the guidelines, and
(v) the Classification Board’s report.5. Synopsis
Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honour needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.
6. Findings on material questions of fact
The Review Board found that the film contains aspects or scenes of importance under various classifiable elements:
(a) Themes – the film contains that are moderate in impact.
This classifiable element includes the treatment of animals and the nature of political power and the use of violence to keep it. In the Review Board’s opinion, the themes in this film are justified by context and their impact does not exceed moderate.
The impact of this element is no higher than moderate and can be accommodated at the M level.
(b) Violence – the film contains violence that is strong in impact.
This classifiable element includes violence such as decapitation, dismemberment, injury detail as the result of animal attacks and the display of a severed head.
The impact of this element is no higher than strong and can be accommodated at the MA 15+ level.
(c) Sex – the film contains sexual references that are mild in impact.
The impact of this element is no higher than mild and can be accommodated at the PG level.
(d) Language – The film contains coarse language that is mild in impact.
The impact of this element is no higher than mild and can be accommodated at the PG level.
(e) Drug Use – The film contains drug references and drug use that are mild in impact.
The impact of this element is no higher than mild and can be accommodated at the PG level.
(f) Nudity – The film contains nudity that is very mild in impact.
The impact of this element is no higher than very mild and can be accommodated at the G level.
7. Reasons for the decision
In making the decision, the Review Board has applied the Classification (Publication, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (The Classification Act), the National Classification Code (the Code) and the Guidelines for the Classification of Films 2012 (the Guidelines).
In the Review Board’s opinion, this film warrants an MA 15+ classification as, in accordance with item 4 of the films table of the Code, the impact of the classifiable elements is strong.
In the Review Board’s opinion, the film’s violence has a strong impact, due to the inclusion of implicit and explicit depictions of decapitation and dismemberment and the level of blood, injury and body part detail. This includes depictions of severed heads, a severed forearm stump, in addition to multiple blood spurts and sprays that are shown during fight sequences. These have a strong impact, which increases cumulatively across the film.
The film therefore warrants an MA 15+ classification, with consumer advice of strong violence and injury detail, best describing its most impactful element.
8. Summary
Pursuant to the Guidelines, the impact of the classifiable elements is strong. It is therefore the unanimous view of the Review Board that the film warrants a classification of MA 15+ with the consumer advice of ‘Strong violence and injury detail’.
– Classification Review Board report
Spherex Classification Tool review
On 10 January 2025, the Classification Board reviewed the MA15+ (Strong animal cruelty, violence and blood and gore) awarded by the Spherex Classification Tool on 25 November. Consumer advice changed to ‘Strong bloody violence and injury’. Apart from the addition of ‘bloody’, it matched the Classification Review Board’s decision and indicated an uncut version.
Nudity went back up from ‘none’ to ‘very mild impact’, resulting in a classification matrix identical to the one on 21 November. However, the matrix differed from the Review Board’s 3 December decision. Now themes increased from ‘moderate impact’ to ‘strong impact’ while the sex reduced from ‘mild impact’ to ‘none’.
GLADIATOR II was released on 5 March on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD.