2000s to 2020s American comedy movies that have been cut in Australia.
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Directed by Adam Shankman / 2005 / USA / IMDb
On 14 December 2005, a 35mm print of CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2 received a PG (Infrequent mild coarse language).
A censored G-rated version passed on 19 December. It opened theatrically three days later.
Both submissions, from Twentieth Century Fox Film Distributors, ran 94-minutes.
Censored DVD
In February 2006, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment again received a G-rating, this time for the DVD release.
A 2011 resissue saw it paired with CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (2003) on a double-bill DVD.
What was cut?
Australia Movie & TV Censorship reports
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (au) – DVD – 90:01 (PAL) – Censored
A line of dialogue from Nora (Piper Perabo) was cut to remove the word ‘pissed’.
Before – ‘I’m going, Dad’
Censored at 72:33 (PAL) or 75:40 (NTSC) by 00:04 – ‘You just pissed off a severely hormonal pregnant woman’.
After – ‘Let’s do this!’
The G vs. PG comparison is on my YouTube channel.
The Pink Panther
Disc extra – Extended Soccer Open
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.
Rating increase
In April, a DVD was awarded an M (Infrequent moderate coarse language).
April18, 2006
– Classification Board report
Reasons for the Decision:
The feature was previously classified PG with the consumer advice Mild comedic violence, Mild sexual references, Infrequent mild coarse language on 10/01/06. This DVD release includes deleted scenes. At 12.40 minutes on the VHS tape supplied, in the deleted scene titled EXTENDED SOCCER OPEN, the soccer coach is clearly heard to say, “Play your fucking game.” In the Board’s view this DVD release warrants an M classification with the consumer advice 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.
Censored extra
Extended Soccer Open – 05:31
PG-rated censors audio and subtitles of Yves Gluant’s (Jason Statham) dialogue.
Uncut version – ‘Yes, play your game. Your fucking game, not his’.
Australian version – The audio removes ‘fucking’. The subtitles read, ‘Your f*****g game, not his’.
This motivational speech is only in the extended extra.
Brüno
Directed by Larry David / 2009 / USA / IMDb
On 4 June 2009, an 80-minute version of BRÜNO passed with an R18+ (Sexual activity and nudity).
An 81-minute version was classified on 18 June, followed by an 80-minute one on 1 July. Both received MA15+ (Strong sex scenes and nudity, crude humour and coarse language) ratings. It is unclear why the second MA15+ submission was necessary.
The censored MA15+ version opened theatrically on 8 July. In all cases, Universal Pictures International was the applicant.
Uncut Blu-ray & DVD
Universal Pictures Video received two classifications on 18 September. MA15+ for a 90-minute DVD and an R18+ for a 264-minute Blu-ray.
The MA15+ was released on DVD only.
The R18+, released on DVD and Blu-ray, promoted it as:
Un-Cut Edition, bulging with unseen extras’
‘Restricted: The version you couldn’t see in Australian cinemas’
‘See what everyone was talking about with the version that wasn’t released in Australian cinemas’
Both had the same consumer advice as the initial ratings.
What was censored from the MA15+ version?
Matt reports
Universal Pictures (au) – DVD – 76:46 (PAL) – MA15+
Universal Picture (us) – DVD – 81:19 (NTSC) – Uncut
Censored by 01:20 approx.
Brüno & Diesel
Before – As they walk, Brüno (Sacha Baron Cohen) talks about his relationship with Diesel (Clifford Bañagale). The MA15+ version features extra footage of the walk to include the line, ‘We’re just like an ordinary couple, you know, boring, stay-at-home types’.
Censored at 4:17 by 00:35 – The line ‘We’re just like an ordinary couple, you know, boring, stay-at-home types’ plays over footage of Diesel peddling on his dildo-pumping exercise bike. It continues with four more brief sex scenes involving a fire extinguisher, elasticated chair, vacuum cleaner and Brüno spinning Diesel.
After – Brüno pops a bottle of champagne sticking out of Diesel’s rear. He picks him up and pours a glass.
Swingers party
Before – Outside the party, Brüno is shown different sex positions by Jack. It ends with Brüno saying, ‘Oh wow, I can’t wait to do this to a woman’.
Censored at 65:30 by 00:42 – At the party, Brüno is shown next to two different sets of people having sex. He finally stands next to Jack and pats him on the back.
After – Brüno tells Jack, ‘You’re doing a great job’.
The Dominatrix
Before – Michelle McLaren whips Brüno as he stands on the bed and orders him to ‘Take it off, right now’.
Censored at 68:40 by 00:03 – She lifts he leg and orders him to ‘Get on your fucking knees and suck my spike here, bitch’.
After – On the other side of the bed, Brüno continues to be whipped before leaping through the window.
September 21, 2009
The Classification Board classified the original version of the film BRÜNO R 18+ with consumer advice for ‘Sexual activity and nudity’. In the opinion of the Classification Board, the impact of sexual activity in the film, although obscured was high. The Classification Board also noted that the film contained nudity, which could be accommodated within a lower classification but warranted flagging in consumer advice.A modified version of BRÜNO was classified MA 15+ with consumer advice for ‘Strong sex scenes and nudity, crude humour and coarse language’. The film contained sex scenes and nudity which were infrequent and strong in impact. Sexual activity in the film was entirely obscured and no actual or explicit sexual activity was depicted. Coarse language was infrequent and strong in impact. The Classification Board also noted that themes in the form of crude humour were frequent and strong in impact.
– Classification Board
– Annual Report, 2008 to 2009
MA15+ complaints
Despite being censored, the MA15+ was still too explicit for some people.
October 19, 2009
The board received many complaints about the classification of the film BRÜNO at the MA 15+ level. This was despite the fact that the consumer advice for the film left little to the imagination. It was ‘strong sex scenes and nudity, crude humour and course language’. Virtually all of the complaints evidenced an unfamiliarity with the advice in question.Many of the complaints again demonstrated that the complainant was not aware of this additional guidance about the film’s content. The board is working with the Attorney-General’s Department to examine what more can be done to provide better access to consumer advice prior to the purchase of tickets for a film as well as at the point of sale itself. I will update senators about this matter at the next estimates hearing.
– Donald McDonald, Director, Classification Board
– Senate estimates, Parliament of Australia
September 7, 2010
– Classification Board
There were 33 complaints about the film BRÜNO. Complainants were concerned that the sexual references and nudity were too explicit and coarse language too strong for the classification. Many suggested it should have been classified R 18+. The public exhibition version of BRÜNO was classified MA 15+ with consumer advice of ‘Strong sex scenes and nudity, crude humour and coarse language’. It should be noted that an application for another version of the film, not for public exhibition, was received with additional content. This version was classified R 18+ with consumer advice of ‘Sexual activity and nudity’.
– Annual Report, 2009 to 2010
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.
Grown Ups 2
Directed by Dennis Dugan / 2013 / USA / IMDb
In May 2013, a 101-minute DCP of GROWN UPS 2 was rated M (Crude humour).
The classification matrix described,
Moderate impact: themes
Mild impact: violence, language, drug use, nudity, sex
A censored 98-minute DCP received a PG (Mild crude humour, violence, sexual references, nudity and coarse language) in August.
The classification matrix now described,
Mild impact: themes, violence, language, nudity, sex
Very mild impact: drug use
In both cases, the applicant was Sony Pictures Releasing.
September 27, 2013
Refused Classification @RefusedC
@SonyPicturesAUS Why is this version only 98mins and PG-rated when it was originally 101mins and M-rated. What did you censor? #grownups2September 29, 2013
– Twitter @SonyPicturesAUS
Sony Pictures AUS @SonyPicturesAUS
…this is a version made for certain international territories, to keep in line with the first film which was also rated PG.
The PG version was released theatrically.
Censored Blu-ray & DVD
In October 2013, a 117-minute DVD of GROWN UPS 2 passed with a PG (Crude humour, violence, sexual references, nudity and coarse language) rating.
Despite the consumer advice increasing from ‘Mild crude humour’ to ‘Crude humour’, the classification matrix still matched the theatrical PG.
Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released it on DVD and Blu-ray.
All the cuts
Tom S. reports.
101:07 – Uncut
Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (au) – DVD – 97:59 – Censored
2:00 – Urinating deer
The deer interrupts Greg (Jake Goldberg) showering and pees on him for about 00:07. As it continues urinating, Roxanne (Salma Hayek) sees Greg and screams while pointing at him. Finally, it cuts briefly back to Greg screaming and returns to Roxanne as she and the deer run off.
To cover the pee stream, the PG zooms in on the shot of the deer leaping.
The shot of Greg covered in pee is substituted with an alternate take of him saying ‘Oh my God’ and attempting to hide.
When Roxanne enters the room, the PG has a close-up of what appears to be an alternate take of her screaming and pointing at Greg.
It replaces two shots of her and of the deer urinating. After this, the scene continues as normal.
11:00 – Drug dialogue cut
The uncut version features more dialogue of Nick (Nick Swardson) talking to Lenny (Adam Sandler) about his failed marriage. The PG removes 00:15 of the following dialogue.
Lenny, ‘Yeah, you seem like you’re a little out of it today. What’s going on?’.
Nick, ‘Yeah, I’m a little medicated. I met a really reliable doctor at a Cypress Hill concert, and he floated me a couple of pills just to make me feel better. But I don’t feel better, you feel worse!’.
23:00 – Nick on the toilet
After sleeping in a store, Nick proceeds to use the showroom toilet. In the PG, the shot of him pulling his pants down cuts just as he begins to sit. The uncut version runs a split second longer and shows him pulling down his underwear. This is a pointless trim as it is already obscured by the laundry hamper beside the toilet.
Nick screaming, ‘Get out of me!’ is zoomed in the PG to make it less offensive.
27:00 – Climbing gym teacher
The gym teacher (Dan Patrick) knocks out Bumpty (Kamil McFadden) with a dodgeball. The PG cuts to Bumpty saying,’Never sneak up on a brother like that. Dang!’, before moving to the next scene. This line of dialogue is exclusive to the PG.
In the uncut version, the scene continues with the gym teacher asking, ‘Who wants to watch me climb a rope? ‘It then cuts to a shot of his shorts riding up as the students look on disgusted.
It is followed by him higher up the rope and an alternative response from Bumpty who now says, ‘Yo, he’s got to put those Easter eggs back in the basket’.
Including the changed line, approximately 00:15 is different.
35:00 – Defecating ice cream
Lenny and his friends are trying to make an ice cream machine work by getting Dickie (Colin Quinn) to hit the back of it. The view from behind makes it look like he is defecating everywhere. The PG is missing around 00:30 and only shows the first shot of ice cream falling through Dickie’s legs.
It is followed by some reaction shots of the gang laughing with farting sound effects laid over and Ronnie (Kaleo Elam) exclaiming, ‘Wow, that’s where ice cream comes from’, before it cuts to the next scene.
To try to mask the offending footage, the PG changes the order of cutaway shots of Lenny and his friends and the struggles of Dickie. The uncut version takes this further, with many more shots of the ice cream coming through his legs, splattering everywhere, complete with defecation sound effects. Finally, Deanne (Maya Rudolph) arrives with Ronnie and asks, ‘Why is Dickie crapping all over the ice cream stand?’.
38:00 – Alcohol disposal
Greg and his friend Andre (Nadji Jeter) have been handed some alcohol after accidentally stumbling across a college party at the waterhole. Being responsible, they decide to dispose of it instead of drinking. As they pour, the uncut version has a long shot where it appears they are urinating together on the rock.
The PG has an alternate close-up, making the joke less pronounced. There is no time difference.
44:00 – Three dialogue cuts
Lenny and the gang are forced to jump off the rock naked by a group of college party goers. The last one to jump is Eric (Kevin James), who lands naked on Marcus’s (David Spade) head. The long shot and the dialogue from Marcus of, ‘I was inside you!’, is cut from the PG.
Greg and Andre are looking at the ensuing chaos.
In the PG, Andre says, ‘What the hell just happened?’.
It then goes to the next shot of an arm rising from the water.
In the uncut version, Greg replies to the line ‘What the hell just happened?’, with ‘I saw my Dad’s dick!’. They both shudder in disgust before it cuts away to the next shot.
As the gang leave the quarry in pain, Marcus exclaims, ‘Lamonsoff landed on my face. What are you, made of rocks dude?’. From there, the PG cuts to a shot of their van and Eric saying, ‘Are you kidding me? My tyres slashed’.
In the uncut version, the dialogue continues after Marcus says, ‘What are you, made of rocks dude?’. Lenny replies, ‘Check this out, feel this. I’m not kidding! Right up here [pointing to his chest]. Feel that, and feel the other one. Those are my balls. I’m not kidding you, they went way up in there’.
Marcus comments, ‘I’m getting turned on’.
Eric replies, ‘Are you kidding me?’.
The PG resumes from there. Since the above dialogue was in a single unbroken shot, the PG masks the cut with an exclusive insert shot of the van.
Eric’s dialogue of ‘Are you kidding me? ‘ is inserted over it before the film cuts back to normal. It ensures the flow of the scene is not disturbed and the cut is not noticeable.
47:00 – Marcus vomits in the tyre
After Marcus is brought to a halt, the uncut version shows a stream of vomit emitting from inside the tyre.
The PG removes two shots of the stream and instead plays the sound of the vomit over a cutaway of Lenny running up to the tyre. The shot, shown in the picture below, is an extension of the uncut version where Lenny comes to a stop and exclaims ‘I’m next’.
In the PG, his arrival now plays in one unbroken shot rather than the tail end of the preceding shot. Before the ‘I’m next’ dialogue in the uncut version.
This extension is exclusive to the PG.
A few shots of Marcus emerging from the tyre are cropped in the PG to remove images of vomit. There is no time difference.
54:00 – Drink driving dialogue cuts
The PG omits some dialogue when Andre pulls up at the lights and the college guys stop next to him.
Frat Boy Andy (Taylor Lautner) asks, ‘Are you taking your driver’s test drunk?’.
Andre replies, ‘Yeah! I’m MC Hammered!’.
Later in the conversation, a second cut deletes Wiley (Steve Buschemi) saying, ‘Taking your driver’s test while intoxicated?’. This was arguably removed due to continuity reasons.
59:00 – Cheerleader car wash
This is the biggest cut in the PG, with over 01:00 missing. The scene is in the trailer, which played before PG-rated movies on its 2013 release.
Eric and his wife Sally (Maria Bello) are at a car wash with the hope of getting an extra soapy wash by female cheerleaders. However, a car before them instead gets male cheerleaders.
The PG has the reveal of the male cheerleaders, followed by Sally saying, ‘I swear, I didn’t plan this’ and them both staring off into the distance before the scene cuts to an exterior of the Feder’s house. In the PG, the staring continues 00:05 longer so that CHERRY PIE by Warrant can finish at an appropriate time and the cut does not look obvious.
The PG removes the entire sequence of the male cheerleaders soaping the car, licking bird faeces and pressing their bulges and butts against the windows. The reveal is that the female cheerleaders are washing Wiley’s car. Officer Fluzoo (Shaquille O’Neal) is washed by his partner before the scene cuts to the exterior of the Feder residence and the PG continues.
77:00 – Dirty underwear
The PG crops out Nick’s pee-stained underwear.
77:00 – Missing jockstrap
The PG crops two shots of Officer Dante (Peter Dante) in his jockstrap.
78:00 – Pool pee
The PG removes Officer Fluzoo peeing in the pool and a blue stain appearing. It is a pointless cut as GROWN UPS (2010) had the same gag yet retained a PG-rating.
81:00 – More missing jockstrap
The PG removes a brief shot of Officer Dante standing in his jockstrap, as he watches the fight between Lenny and Cavanaugh (Steve Austin).
84:00 – More dirty underwear
The PG again crops out Nick’s pee-stained underwear.
87:00 – Head between legs
During the backyard fight, the PG deletes two shots of the gym teacher with another person’s head between his legs.
87:00/88:00 – Yet more dirty underwear
The PG once again crops out Nick’s pee-stained underwear.
87:00/88:00 – Deleted Nick
The PG again crops out Nick’s pee-stained underwear by removing him entirely from the right-hand side of the scene.
88:00 – Kyle vomits
The PG removes a brief shot of Kyle (Oliver Hudson) vomiting as Nick makes out with the dog.
Still too crude for PG
August 8, 2014
– Classification Board, Annual Report, 2013-2014
There were seven complaints about GROWN UPS 2.
The complainants were of the view that the PG classification with consumer advice of ‘Mild crude humour, violence, sexual references, nudity and coarse language’ was too low.
Streaming uncut
In December 2020, Netflix Australia streamed the full version with an M (Crude humour) rating.
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.
No uncut version at home
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 dropped the language from ‘moderate impact’ to ‘mild impact’.
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.
Australia Movie & TV Censorship has a YouTube comparison of the cuts. It shows the scene was shot twice and from different angles. One with ‘bite my ass’ and the other with ‘fuck right off’.
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
Next Goal Wins
Directed by Taika Waititi / 2023 / UK – USA / IMDb
On 27 October 2023, a 104-minute DCP of NEXT GOAL WINS passed with an M (Occasional coarse language) rating.
The classification matrix described,
Moderate impact: language
Mild impact: themes
Very mild impact: violence
None: drug use, nudity. sex
A second submission of a 104-minute DCP was rated PG (Mild themes and Coarse language) on 23 November.
The classification matrix now described,
Mild impact: themes, language
Very mild impact: violence
None: drug use, nudity. sex
In both cases, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures was the applicant.
What was censored?
The PG version’s ‘More information about the content of this film’ mentions ‘…use of the words, “shit”, “bitch”, “arse”, “crap” and “hell”‘.
Two uses of ‘fuck’ go unmentioned.
47:45 – ‘Fucking Sharpie. Get me another board.’
73:56 – ‘Oh, shit! Fuck!’