Here’s the real reason why “I, Tonya” was rated R
There’s a reason R-rated movies require viewers to be at least 17 years old (or to be in the presence of a parent or guardian). While PG-13 ratings can include mild nudity, profanity, or violence, R-ratings often take all three up a notch, featuring blood, excessive profanity, or sex scenes that might be upsetting to young teens. I, Tonya is no exception.
According to its IMDB page, the 2018 Oscar-nominated film is rated R for “pervasive language, violence, and some sexual content/nudity.” More specifically, as anyone who has seen the dark comedy knows, it has disturbing and graphic domestic violence scenes, a liberal use of the “F” word, and brief sex and strip club scenes.
I, Tonya shows topless women wearing tassels on their nipples, a sex scene, gunshot wounds, domestic violence including with a knife, and serious profanity (the F-word is said about 120 times). Still, it’s easiest to understand the film’s R-rating by reading an excerpt of this detailed New York Times review.
"As a child, [Tonya] is degraded and smacked around by her mother, who kicks little Tonya's chair so violently the kid flies off it. When the teenage Tonya gets involved with the man she will marry, her life as a punching bag continues. Her husband smashes her head onto a glass surface so hard that shards scatter; he bloodies her nose a few times. He also points a gun at Tonya, threatening to kill her."
For some of us, it’s upsetting even to read a paragraph describing so much physical abuse, much less watch the film — so I, Tonya‘s R-rating seems entirely appropriate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 90th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, March 4th on ABC at 5 p.m. PST.