New Documentary BULLY to Be Released as Unrated Film

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the documentary film BULLY will now be released as an unrated film rather than carry the R rating given to it by the MPAA. Lee Hirsch's documentary which focuses on several families who have been serverely affected by bullying, was given the R rating due to the swear words used during parts of the film.

The Weinstein Company began a very public battle over the rating it was issued, asking for the public to sign a petition which eventually contained over 200,000 signatures. The film's creator, producers, politicians and Hollywood celebrities all argued that the film offered a very powerful message that needed to be sent to teens and children under the age of 18.

Commented Hirsch, “People are frustrated. They feel like this rating was unjust,” he said. “They’re tired of the double standard of gratuitous violence getting through and a film that could actually do some good that’s not about just exploitation getting slammed with this rating.” 

Just hours before the film premiered, The Weinstein Company announced that the documentary would be released unrated rather than carrry an R rating. The film opens in theaters in LA and New York on March 30.