In this article, we will discuss the Theatrical vs unrated version.
The film industry releases multiple movies every month. Before releasing, the content of the film is deeply analyzed. The movies are rated keeping in mind the sensitive audience and the children. Movie ratings are necessary to meet the different needs of the viewers.
These ratings can also be seen during the advertisement of the movie. Upon submission, the films are rated by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). However, filmmakers can still promote their films without any ratings.
The key difference between the theatrical version and the unrated version is that the theatrical version is the final version that is ready to be released and viewed in the theatres. On the other hand, the unrated version includes the uncut portions of the film.
The theatrical version of a film is known as the final version that is made by the filmmakers and submitted for release. Once it is released, the audience can view it in the theatres. This version of the movie has a clear view of the saints that the director felt was right for the film and its audiences.
On the other hand, an unrated version of a film includes all the deleted scenes that the filmmakers, for multiple reasons, did not want to include in the release. The scenes are usually removed to maintain the film rating or the scenes were not interesting enough.
Comparison Table: Theatrical vs Unrated Version
| Criteria | Theatrical Version | Unrated Version |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The theatrical version of a film is the final version that is viewed by all kinds of audiences including children in the theatres. | The unrated version contains all the deleted scenes that the filmmakers removed in the theatrical version. |
| Rating | The rating in a theatrical version is given by the MPAA. The MPAA looks after the type of movie being released and the scenes concerning the movie. | Unrated versions of a film are normally not submitted to the MPAA for a rating. |
| Censorship | It is done in the theatrical version so that the movie can be family-friendly. Both adults and kids can easily view the film. | Censorship is not found in the unrated version so all types of audiences can view the film. |
| Reason | The reason behind rating these films is to make a safe space for audiences who are sensitive to multiple scenes. These movies are usually made family-friendly and come with trigger warnings. | The unrated version of films are released keeping in mind the audiences are adults. |
| Examples | Examples of theatrical versions of movies are The ‘Avengers’ sequel, ‘Seven’, all the sequels of ‘Saw’, ‘Baywatch’, ‘Salt’ and ‘The Magic of Belle Isle. | Examples of the Unrated versions of movies include: ‘Saw 2-6: unrated’, ‘Hatchet’, ‘Now and Later’, ‘Salt: Unrated’ and ‘Antares’. |
About Theatrical Version
The movies which are viewed in the theatre are screened by officials of the Motion Picture Association of America so that a rating can be provided. This is done keeping in mind the type of audience that comes to watch a movie in a theatre. The theatrical version of a film is the final version that is submitted and released to be viewed in the theatres. The ratings given by the MPAA determine the age group that is suitable to view the movie. The movies are rated so that people can feel safe while watching the movie along with their children.
The categories in which a movie is rated are
- Rated G: General audience- All ages are allowed.
- Rated PG: Parental guidance suggested since some content might not be suitable for children.
- Rated PG-13: Parents are strongly cautioned. The material may not be appropriate for children under 13.
- Rated R: Restricted- Under 17 requires an adult guardian.
- Rated NC-17: Adults only- no one under 17 is allowed to enter.
About Unrated Version
The unrated version of a film includes all the cut or deleted scenes without any limitations. Scenes from movies are deleted for multiple reasons. Let us take a look at some of the reasons:
- Some of the scenes are categorized as the ‘Director’s cut’. These are removed so that the film can be easily released again with the additional clips or footage.
- Sometimes scenes are removed due to the inappropriate content for the targeted audience. In this case, the filmmakers want the rating to be given.
- Certain scenes are often considered unwanted or less interesting by the directors. These are later on added to the unrated version so that the audience can get a full view of whatever they have missed.
Unrated versions are submitted to the MPAA to get a suitable rating. Censorship is not found in the unrated version so all types of audiences can view the film.
The unrated version of films are released keeping in mind the audiences are adults.
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Difference Between Theatrical Version and Unrated Version
1) Meaning
The theatrical version of a film is the final version that is submitted to be viewed in the theatres. On the other hand, the unrated version of a film includes deleted scenes and is released online or on a DVD.
2) Rating
The theatrical version of a film usually has a rating whereas the unrated version of a film does not have a rating.
3) Film censorship
the reason behind censoring the theatrical version is to provide a safe environment for sensitive audiences. The unrated versions are released without any censorship.
4) Audience
The theatrical version is censored keeping in mind the safety of the sensitive audience. Whereas the unrated versions of the film are released without any uncut scenes for the mature audiences.
5) Examples
Examples of theatrical versions of movies are The ‘Avengers’ sequel, ‘Seven’, all the sequels of ‘Saw’, ‘Baywatch’, ‘Salt’ and ‘The Magic of Belle Isle. Examples of the Unrated versions of movies include ‘Saw 2-6: unrated’, ‘Hatchet’, ‘Now and Later’, ‘Salt: unrated’ and ‘Antares’.
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Summary
Both the theatrical and unrated versions of a film should be available so that the audience gets the option to choose. The ratings are necessary to allow all kinds of audiences under a suitable age group to view the content.
Naomi is an educator with 2 decades of experience working with children of all ages. She is a keen observer of the magic and importance of Maths in our daily lives. Follow me on Linkedin