10 R-Rated Characters Ruined In PG-13 Movies
1. Gremlins
Gremlins remains an oddity as a film, is it a flat out horror movie, a Christmas movie or just a fun romp? This question concerned the MPAA enough to create the new rating of PG-13, so you can blame Gizmo.
There is a lot in this film that is R-rated content...The Gremlins commit at least two murders, yet there are some uncomfortable moments where a 23 year old is hanging out with an 11 year old... and a science teacher who is clearly a little bit disturbed, conducting experiments in his class room.
The desire to push the limits of the MPAA rating to the limit, yet appeal to kids is the reason Gremlins sits just below the classic status... the original script would have been hard-R but genuinely classic. For example, the original plan was Billy's mom being decapitated and her head being thrown down the stairs. That's a scene we needed to see rather than the bizarre moment she turns into Rambo in the kitchen.
Ultimately the new rating led to Joe Dante going full PG-13 for the sequel and making The New Batch an out and out spoof that appealed to kids in the main. It's great fun, but a waste of the Gremlins themselves. To this day no one has tackled another Gremlins movie and arguably because whoever owns the rights would be reluctant to go full R. The original needed more gore, any remake or continuation MUST have it.