2000s to 2020s American comedy movies that have been cut in Australia.
The Pink Panther
Directed by Shawn Levy / 2006 / USA / IMDb
In January 2006, a 93-minute 35mm print of THE PINK PANTHER passed with a PG (Mild comedic violence, Mild sexual references, Infrequent mild coarse language) rating.
The applicant was Twentieth Century Fox Film Distributors.
Mystery rating increase
In April, a DVD was awarded an M (Infrequent moderate coarse language).
The following month, a second DVD submission dropped to PG (Mild comedic violence, Mild sexual references, Infrequent mild coarse language).
The language in the PG version was described as ‘mild’ while in the M-rated it was ‘moderate’.
In both cases, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment was the applicant.
The theatrical release was either precut for a PG or an extra was removed or modified for the DVD. Either way, the disc was censored to avoid an M-rating.
The Hangover
Directed by Todd Phillips / 2009 / USA / IMDb
In May 2009, a 99-minute print of THE HANGOVER passed with an MA15+ (Strong sexual references, Coarse language and Nudity) rating.
The following month, Roadshow Films confirmed they modified it to avoid an R18+.
What was censored?
During the end credits, four photos show an old woman performing oral sex on Alan (Zach Galifianakis).
The Australian theatrical version pixelates his prosthetic penis.
Uncut DVD & Blu-ray
A longer version, featuring nearly ten minutes of additional footage, was released for home viewing.
On 16 October, a 128-minute DVD of the ‘extended cut’ passed with an R18+ (High impact sexual images) rating. It includes the uncensored end credit images.
The cover refers to it as the EXTENDED UNCUT and promises ‘photos not seen at the cinema’.
It was followed on 23 and 27 October by DVDs of the 123-minute ‘theatrical cut’ and 128-minute ‘extended cut’. A final 127-minute DVD, listed at THE HANGOVER PIXELLATED, was rated on 2 November.
All were the MA15+ (Strong sexual references, Coarse language and Nudity) censored version.
The applicant, Warner Bros. Entertainment Australia, released both MA15+ and R18+ versions on DVD and Blu-ray.
Ideal Home
Directed by Andrew Fleming / 2018 / USA / IMDb
On 16 April 2018, a 91-minute Digital Cinema Package (DCP) of IDEAL HOME passed with an M (Coarse language, sex and drug references) rating.
The classification matrix described,
Moderate impact: language, drug use, sex
Mild impact: themes
Very mild impact: violence
None: nudity
Icon Film Distribution was the applicant.
Icon Home Entertainment released a Blu-ray and DVD in September 2018.
Pre-cut to avoid an MA15+
A scene featuring the word ‘cunt’ was modified.
Tom S. reports
The M-rated theatrical release; Blu-ray and DVD of IDEAL HOME were censored.
Paul (Paul Rudd) is saying his final goodbye to Erasmus (Steve Coogan).
Before – Paul, ‘I think this might be the best thing for both of us’.
Censored at 76:00 by 00:18.
Erasmus, ‘Well, we had a good run’.
Paul, ‘Oh, and remember to keep an eyes out for the tile guy tomorrow, I think he’s over-billing us’.
Erasmus, ‘I don’t give a fuck what you think about the fucking tile guy, you fucking cunt!’.
Paul, Oh, and you were doing so well’.
After – Shot of Erasmus’s face as Paul turns and walks away to the car.
On 9 March 2019, Foxtel’s Premiere Movies screened the uncut version of IDEAL HOME.
Crazy Rich Asians
Directed by Jon M. Chu /2018 / USA / IMDb
On 3 July 2018, a 120-minute Digital Cinema Package (DCP) of CRAZY RICH ASIANS passed with an M (Coarse language) rating.
The classification matrix described,
Moderate impact: language
Mild impact: themes, sex
Very mild impact: violence, drug use
None: nudity
A second submission of a 120-minute DCP was rated PG (Mild themes and Coarse language) on 11 July.
The classification matrix now described,
Mild impact: themes, language, sex
Very mild impact: violence, drug use
None: nudity
In both cases, Roadshow Films was the applicant.
This modified version was released theatrically in Australia.
What was censored?
The word ‘fucking’ was removed to drop the language from ‘moderate impact’ to ‘mild impact’.
At 36:28, in the uncut version, Peik Lin Goh (Awkwafina) says, ‘Yeah, I’ll fucking come to dinner’.
Tom S. reports
In the PG version, Roadshow did not overdub the f-word, but instead simply took it out of the sentence. Seeing the cut version in theatres, it certainly was not noticeable.
Uncut for home viewing
In October 2018, Roadshow Entertainment received an M (Coarse language) for a 261-minute DVD and Blu-ray.
The classification matrix was the same as the first M-rating.
They were released the following month.
Netflix Australia has only ever streamed the full version.
Instant Family
Directed by Sean Anders / 2018 / USA / IMDb
In September 2018, a 117-minute DCP received an M (Coarse language).
The classification matrix described,
Moderate impact: language
Mild impact: themes, violence, drug use
Very mild impact: sex
None: nudity
Next, a 118-minute DCP was rated PG (Mild themes, Coarse language, Drug references and Violence) in October.
The classification matrix now described,
Mild impact: themes, violence, language, drug use
Very mild impact: sex
None: nudity
In both cases, Paramount Pictures Australia was the applicant.
The modified PG version opened theatrically in January 2019.
Censored DVD & Blu-ray
On 21 February 2019, a 181-minute Blu-ray received an M (Coarse language). The classification matrix was the same as the initial M-rating.
This was followed on 28 February by a 135-minute DVD and on 26 March by a 299-minute Blu-ray. Both received PG (Mild themes, coarse language, drug references and violence) ratings.
The classification matrix matched the theatrical PG.
The applicant, Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, released the cut version on DVD and Blu-ray in May.
What was censored?
A single mention of ‘fuck’ was missing from the Australian PG version of INSTANT FAMILY.
Tom S reports.
At 32:00, Ellie (Rose Byrne) argues with her family about adopting children. She declares, ‘We’re gonna adopt a whole shitwhack of kids, and I am thankful that whoever has a problem with it can fuck right off!’ It is a powerful delivery from Rose Byrne and makes the scene impactful and touching.
The Australian PG version uses an alternate take where the line is the same, but ‘fuck right off’ changes to ‘bite my ass’. This results in the take having a little less impact, as the delivery lacks the passion of the uncut version.
Streaming versions
In December 2020, Netflix Australia had the uncut version with an M (Coarse language) rating.
Tom S. reports.
In Australia, the DVD, Blu-ray and Amazon Prime stream [2019] contain the ‘bite my ass’ line.
The version currently [2019] screening on Foxtel (initially listed as PG, but later changed to M) keeps the ‘fuck right off’ line. Interestingly, it appears they used the PG version as their basis, so although the uncut line is spoken, Byrne’s mouth goes slightly out of sync. We see her mouth ‘bite my ass’, but hear her say ‘fuck right off’. Apart from the odd dubbing, Australians can now turn to Foxtel to see the uncut version.
Censored, but still too extreme for PG
September 9, 2019
– Classification Board
The Classification Board received 124 complaints about the classifications of films…INSTANT FAMILY…received 11 complaints.
The people who complained about the film INSTANT FAMILY… believed that the film’s coarse language and thematic content relating to a dysfunctional family could not be accommodated within the PG classification.
– Annual Report 2018 to 2019