DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Regulations

 

The 1980s saw very few regulatory changes in the film industry as a whole. The most notable change in regulation would be the introduction of the PG-13 rating. Before the mid-80s, the only ratings for films were G (appropriate for all ages), PG (Parental guidance strongly suggested - most material may not be suitable for children), R (persons under 16 not admitted without an accompanying adult), and X (no one under 17 admitted). However, many parents felt that some PG films, most notably Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), had a "higher level of intensity" that called for a stricter rating. As a result, the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) created the PG-13 rating that stated "parental guidance strongly suggested - most material may not be suitable for children". 

 

 

Technology

 

One of the most notable technological advancements in the world of film during the 1980s was the introduction of the VHS to the United States. The war between VHS and Betamax had raged on from the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. Eventually, VHS won out in the United States because you could record 2 hours of programming on one tape, as opposed to Beta's 1 hour per tape. The introduction of the VHS marked the beginning of one of the largest industries in the film world - the home media industry. Audiences were no longer limited to watching movies at specific times on t.v. or in theaters. Instead, they could pick when and how they wanted to watch their favorite films at home or wherever a VHS was available. 

 

 

 

Financial

 

As mentioned earlier, the rise of the blockbuster films in the late 1970s and early 1980s helped Hollywood stay afloat during the economic recession from 1980-1982. Studios realized that these kinds of films were able to generate enough profit that allowed them to fund many other films for years after. Therefore, they did their best to make films like the Indiana Jones and Star Wars trilogies. 

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.