Censorship: History and Implications for the Film Industry

Film censorship is the practice of evaluating a film’s content and imposing limitations on its release for social, moral, or religious correctness. Censorship is a tool used by governments and other groups to limit the spread of false or damaging information or to shield the public from it. This article will investigate the evolution of cinema censorship, the various forms it has taken, and the ways in which it has affected the film business and broader culture.

At a Glance

History of Censorship in films
What are the different types of censorship?
Impact on the film industry
Type of Censorship in new films
The use of the Hays Code for Censorship

History of Censorship in films

Censorship of movies has been around since the dawn of the film industry when governments and moral organisations saw the potential of the new medium. In the United States, the film material is governed by the Motion Picture Production Code or Hays Code, which was enacted in 1930. The MPPDA maintained a rigorous code that limited how sexuality, violence, and other taboo subjects may be shown on screen. A new rating system, established by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), took its place in 1968, but the code remained in use until that year.

Censorship of motion pictures has been an ongoing problem not just in the United States but in many other nations as well. Censorship laws are used to regulate the release and content of films in many nations, usually to uphold a predetermined set of political or social values. It is a kind of political control employed by totalitarian governments to suppress opposition or advance their own ideology.