road trip unrated vs theatrical

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Common sense media reviewers.

Vulgar for some parents, but teens will love.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Comic violence.

Frequent and explicit sexual references and situat

Strong language.

Drinking, smoking, and drug use.

Parents need to know that the version of this movie on video includes even raunchier scenes deleted before theatrical release in order to get an R rating. The unrated version released on the video would have been likely to receive an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, and parents might want to view it themselves before…

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Frequent and explicit sexual references and situations, nudity.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the version of this movie on video includes even raunchier scenes deleted before theatrical release in order to get an R rating. The unrated version released on the video would have been likely to receive an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, and parents might want to view it themselves before allowing their children or teenagers to watch it, even if they saw it in the theater. There's foul language, crude humor, nudity, sexual situations, and a character who does drugs to hide his sensitivity. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (3)
• Kids say (5)

Based on 3 parent reviews

Crass Comedy with a LOAD of bare breasts/swearing

What's the story.

ROAD TRIP centers on Ithaca University student Barry (Tom Green) and his friends. Trouble begins when Barry's friend Josh (Seann William Scott) cheats on his girlfriend (Rachel Blanchard) with the girl he really likes, Beth (Amy Smart). Not only is his video camera accidentally left on but his friend accidentally mails it to his girlfriend in Austin. Barry remains behind on campus while Josh and three friends set off on an 1,800 mile epic road trip on which they blow up their car, constantly run out of money and regain it in various ways, meet all sorts of crazy people, and learn their respective lessons about standing up to your parents, getting girls, friendship, etc.

Is It Any Good?

Although the entire cast is very good and Green is not the main character, it's really his movie. In fairness to the intended audience for this movie, the following review was written by my 16-year-old, who wanted to give it more stars: Road Trip , a raunchy comedy in the style of Detroit Rock City and American Pie , is a laugh out loud movie that's good to see with friends if you're a teenager (probably guys will like it more than girls) while parents will avoid it for its vulgar humor and its parents-just-don't understand star Tom Green.

Throughout the movie they shoot back to Barry, who stays on campus because he wants to feed Josh's snake while he's gone. His attempts to get it to eat a mouse, sing folk songs and help Beth find Josh ("He went to Austin. It's in Massachusetts." "You mean Boston?" "Yeah.") had the audience laughing harder than anything else. Green seems to be just thrown in to make it funnier until the ending where he unwittingly saves the day.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the appeal of raunchy comedies such as this one. Do characters and plot matter, or are the jokes the most important part?

Movie Details

• In theaters : May 19, 2000
• On DVD or streaming : December 19, 2000
• Cast : Amy Smart , Breckin Meyer , Seann William Scott
• Director : Todd Phillips
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : DreamWorks
• Genre : Comedy
• Run time : 93 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : strong sexual content, crude humor, language and drug use
• Last updated : August 9, 2023

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Details At A Glance

Plot synopsis, transfer quality, deleted scenes ( 8 , 12:36, 1.33:1, dd 2.0), music video - eels (3:31, 1.33:1, dd 2.0), featurette - making of (4:54, 1.33:1, dd 2.0), theatrical trailer 1 (2:06, 1.85:1 16x9, dd 2.0), theatrical trailer 2 (1:45, 1.85:1 16x9, dd 2.0).

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

Ratings (out of 5)

Theatrical vs Unrated Version: Difference and Comparison

The terms theatrical and unrated versions are commonly used in the film industry to describe what kind of movie is being released. The directors or filmmakers send their submissions to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to decide on a rating.

Key Takeaways A theatrical version of a film is the original cut released in theaters, adhering to the guidelines and rating requirements set by the film classification board or organization in a particular country. An unrated version of a film is a cut that has yet to be submitted for review by a film classification board and may include additional scenes, extended footage, or content that was deemed unsuitable for the theatrical release. The main difference between theatrical and unrated versions lies in their content and target audience, with unrated versions containing more explicit material not included in the version approved for general audiences.

Theatrical vs Unrated Version

The theatrical version of a film is one that has been edited and approved by the Motion Picture Association of America to meet certain guidelines. An unrated version contains more or extended scenes that were not included in the theatrical release and may have more mature or explicit content.

The film’s theatrical version is the final version made by the filmmakers and submitted to be released and viewed in theatres. This version gives a clear view of the scenes the director thought was best for the film.

The unrated version of a film contains any deleted scenes that the filmmakers, for various reasons, did not want to release in theatres. Removing a few scenes might be to maintain the film rating, or maybe the scenes shot were not attractive enough.

Comparison Table

What is theatrical version.

The movies viewed in theatres must be screened beforehand to determine what audiences can see them. A film’s theatrical version is the final version made by the filmmakers and submitted to be released and viewed in theatres.

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These final submissions are sent to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) so that a rating can be provided for the movie. The ratings determine the age groups that are eligible to view the film.

Movies are rated so people can make a safe choice when viewing them, such as whether it is family-friendly or not.

The system for rating movies is different in a few countries, but the most common categories are –

• Rated G : General audiences – All ages admitted
• Rated PG : Parental guidance suggested – Some material may not be suitable for children.
• Rated PG-13 : Parents strongly cautioned – Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
• Rated R : Restricted – Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
• Rated NC-17 : Adults Only – No one 17 and under admitted.

All movies showcased in theatres are the “Theatrical versions,” and a few examples are – All released “Avengers” sequels, “Seven”, all sequels of “Saw”, “Baywatch”, “Salt”, “The Magic of Belle Isle”.

What is Unrated Version?

The unrated film version contains deleted scenes that the filmmakers did not want to release in theatres.

Scenes can be deleted from movies for various reasons, such as –

• A few scenes are categorized as the “director’s cut” and removed so the film can be re-released with additional footage.
• At times a few scenes are removed due to being inappropriate for the targeted audience, and the filmmakers wish to maintain the ratings given.
• Some scenes are considered unwanted or unattractive by the director or the filmmakers and are added to the unrated version so the audience can get the complete picture of what they might have missed.

Unrated versions normally are not submitted to the MPAA for attaining a rating, as they won’t be released in theatres. Examples of unrated versions of movies are – “Saw 2-6: unrated”, “Hatchet”, “Now & Later”, “Salt: unrated”, and “Antares”.

Main Differences Between Theatrical and Unrated Versions

• The movie’s theatrical version is the final cut submitted to be viewed in theatres, while the unrated version has a few deleted scenes and is released online or on DVD .
• The theatrical version of a movie has a rating, while the unrated version does not.
• The theatrical version of a movie undergoes heavy censorship, while the unrated versions aren’t checked as thoroughly.
• The reason for censoring the theatrical version is to provide a safe choice for audiences, while the unrated versions are released for mature audiences.
• A few examples of theatrical versions of movies are –  “Seven”, all sequels of “Saw”, “Baywatch”, “Salt”, “The Magic of Belle Isle”. Examples of unrated versions – Hatchet”, “Now & Later”, “Salt: unrated”, “Antares”.

• https://decider.com/2017/10/17/fifty-shades-darker-unrated-just-how-unrated-is-it/

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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24 thoughts on “theatrical vs unrated version: difference and comparison”.

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• Standard DVD

Road Trip (Unrated)

Review by: Matt Brighton

Plot: What’s it about?

Essentially every movie about college that comes out is automatically compared to “Animal House”. Though the days of the fraternity movies may be left back in the 80’s, college is still the focus point for many a mindless comedy. This is where Road Trip comes in. Featuring an ensemble cast, Road Trip doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s a darn good thing. Featuring the one and only Tom Green, and if you haven’t seen this guy…he’s about the funniest person alive, as a college vet giving tours on campus and assorted other activities as well. A quick background on what a “Road Trip” is…essentially it’s mindless college kids packing up cases of beer, heading into a car and going to another college campus (usually to party). What’s wrong with that? In this case, Josh (Breckin Meyer) and his longtime girlfriend Beth (Amy Smart) have gone to different colleges. She’s at the University of Austin (not Boston…it makes sense once you’ve seen the movie) and he’s at a college in the northeast. The two still remain loyal (or try to, anyway) to each other, but events take place that could jeapordize their long-standing relationship.

After a party, Josh and Tiffany (Rachel Blanchard) hook up. Tiffany is the object of everyone’s desire and it’s lucky Josh that takes the excitement back to his room. Tiffany has the bright idea to film them while they, uh…make whoopie. Josh, hesitant at first, quickly changes his mind once Tiffany takes her clothes off. Now this isn’t the problem…the problem is that Josh was in the middle of a videotape letter to Beth as she has not been returning his calls. Josh thinks she is cheating on him and sends her a “heart and soul” message via videotape. Josh then asks his friend, Rubin (Paulo Costanzo) to mail the letter for him and in the process the tape of Tiffany and Josh is on it’s way to Austin for Beth and all of her friends to see. So this is where the “Road Trip” part of the movie comes in. They have to race halfway across the country to beat the mail so they can make sure that Beth doesn’t see the tape and the relationship is saved, yada, yada, yada…

Of course, all the fun of a road trip is getting there, right? Taking local nerd, Kyle’s (D.J. Qualls) car, the foursome is off to Austin to get the tape. It’s not long before Kyle’s parents are on his trail as he has maxed out their credit card and destroyed their car. But fear not, the gang soon hijacks a schoolbus and is back on track to intercept the tape. It’s amazing the amount of things that happen and the lengths that they go to to get money (details I’d rather not mention here). Still, Road Trip is an instant classic “college” movie. Tom Green really has no point in the movie other than to make us laugh harder. As mentioned before, he’s a tour guide trying to help a group of high school students make their college decision. And he has a real taste for seeing if the pet snake will ever eat his dinner…While Road Trip may not be the best movie ever made, it’s funny and one that you’ll probably watch on more than one occasion. Dreamworks has added a few interesting supplements which should make your viewing all the more enjoyable. Drink up friends…and enjoy!

Video: How does it look?

Road Trip is shown in it’s 1.85:1 aspect ratio that looks very good. Ok, it’s near perfect. After seeing some of the other movies that came out on DVD from “new” movies, it’s hard to say how Dreamworks keeps cranking out these superior-looking transfers. Road Trip is filmed, for the most part, outside and the landscapes look very well-detailed throughout. The colors are rich and vibrant and edge enhancement is at a bare minimum. Sometimes, though, this can be a bit too much as evidenced in a few scenes in this movie. Trust me when I say that you just don’t want to see that much detail. I won’t mention the scenes…I’ll let you figure them out. Overall, this is another stunning example of how DVD should look from Dreamworks.

Audio: How does it sound?

Now this is something that I wasn’t expecting…Road Trip has both a DTS and Dolby Digital track as well as a Dolby Surround track. It’s almost common knowledge that comedies, especially ones like this movie, will not have a soundtrack that you’ll remember. And, it’s the case with Road Trip. While most all new movies have ample surrounds, a clear dialogue track and an all-around decent sound, Road Trip excels. The DTS, as usual, has a richer field of sound than the Dolby Digital, but either one that you pick will be just fine. After all, this isn’t the kind of movie that sound really makes a whole lot of difference. A nice touch to see dual soundtracks on the same disc, something that Dreamworks is doing more and more of.

Supplements: What are the extras?

Though not a full blown Special Edition, Road Trip does have it’s share of supplements. The original theatrical trailer, along with some production notes and cast bios are included (as they are on almost every Dreamworks disc). An “Eels” music video is included, but the real treat here are the deleted scenes and the “Making of Featurette with host tom Green”. I won’t elaborate on the deleted scenes, as I don’t want to ruin any of the surprise, but I will say that they should have all been in the movie. The making of featurette is more of typical Tom Green’s schtick, which is always a good thing. On the whole, I’d say that Road Trip is a fairly decent movie that takes me back to the 80’s with it’s style and humor (i.e. lots of naked girls for no point…). The DVD has been given a good treatment by Dreamworks and the sound is fairly decent as well. So what are you waiting for?

Disc Scores

• STANDARD DVD
• Video Codec: MPEG-2
• Audio: Dolby Digital
• Theatrical Trailer
• Audio Commentary
• Deleted Scene(s)
• Documentary
• Digital Copy

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• DreamWorks Distribution

Summary Josh, a college student, videotapes an incident with a coed and someone actually mails the tape to his girlfriend, after which Josh tows two of his college buddies and one not-so-eager kid on a wild 1,800 mile road trip from Ithaca to Austin to save his lifelong romance.

Directed By : Todd Phillips

Written By : Scot Armstrong, Todd Phillips

Where to Watch

Breckin Meyer

Seann William Scott

Paulo Costanzo

Rachel Blanchard

Anthony Rapp

Earl Edwards

Motel Clerk

Ethan Suplee

Horatio Sanz

French toast guy.

Rhoda Griffis

Tour group mom, marla sucharetza, sperm bank nurse.

Ellen Albertini Dow

Barry's grandma.

Edmund Lyndeck

Barry's grandpa.

Jessica Cauffiel

The wrong tiffany.

Kohl Sudduth

Wendell b. harris jr., professor anderson.

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Theatrical Version vs. Unrated Version: What's the Difference?

Key Differences

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Screen Rant

10 most underrated road trip films.

The road trip movie formula has proven to be a seemingly endless well for Hollywood. Here are some of the best, underrated road trip films.

The road trip movie  formula has proven to be a seemingly endless well for Hollywood. The open-ended nature of the template has allowed filmmakers to produce numerous variations on the notion of simply taking to the open road.

RELATED:  10 Most Underrated Comedy Films of the Last 20 Years

From comedy classics ( Vacation ,  O Brother, Where Art Thou? ) to Best Picture winners ( Rain Man ,  Green Book ), the road movie is an inexhaustible starting point. Due to the exceptionally high volume of content, there are bound to be certain gems that get swept away in time's tides. Here are the 10 best road trip films that are all too underrated.

Wolf Creek (2005)

The  Wolf Creek   series is an Australian horror  franchise that has produced two theatrical films and one television show. Though the original film was controversial and buzzed about in its home continent, as well as in the underground indie horror scene, American critics and audiences largely dismissed it as another cog in the torture porn machine.

This is an unfortunate stance because  Wolf Creek takes the typical 'dopey traveling friends fall into the wrong hands' formula and injects it with a hefty dose of genuinely well-executed subversive horror. Undeniably brutal, but always compellingly horrifying,  Wolf Creek  deserves a second look.

Sideways (2004)

A decidedly grown-up affair, Alexander Payne 's critically adored  Sideways details the mid-life antics of a wine snob and his goofy friend as they traverse across the wine country of Santa Barbara, California. Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church have excellent chemistry in the film, a slow and melancholic comedy-drama that reveals itself to actually be about feeling stuck in life, and they are matched by the exceptional screenplay.

RELATED:  Sideways: 5 Scenes That Made Us Laugh Out Loud (& 5 That Hit Us In The Feels)

For as near-perfect as  Sideways  is, it's a crime it isn't more revered in today's cinephile circles. Payne continued to use the road trip motif in further films, such as  Nebraska .

Locke (2013)

Tom Hardy has crafted quite a diverse career in a relatively short time, mixing dark and quiet dramas with top billing in big-budget studio films. Luckily, Hardy is one of the finest actors working today, a fact fully on display with this 2013 one-man film.

Hardy plays the titular character, a man who is driving through the night as he takes a series of phone calls that systematically dismantle his life, piece by piece. A brilliant concept brought to life by an amazing performance from Hardy and a whip-smart script from Stephen Knight that uses the literal road as a metaphor for the highway of the soul.

Broken Flowers (2005)

Bill Murray proved he had serious acting chops when he starred in Sofia Coppola's masterpiece  Lost in Translation . Joining with previous collaborator Jim Jarmusch , Murray turns in another brilliantly understated performance in  Broken Flowers . Murray plays an old bachelor who receives a letter telling him he has a son, the news of which sends him on a cross-country trip to see four of his former flames.

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The film deftly balances poignant reflections of life's curious paths with Murray's typical brand of deadpan comedy. A film that should have received as much attention as  Translation , it sadly flew under most people's radar.

Sightseers (2012)

Ben Wheatley has been steadily cranking out some of the most inventive genre films of the past 20 years since breaking out with  Kill List . This follow-up effort is a dark comedy that was written by and stars Alice Lowe and Steve Oram as a couple taking a road trip that soon turns into a deadly and hilarious descent into Hell.

Wheatley's sensibilities behind the camera perfectly align with the couple's script and performances, creating a uniquely brutal comedic experience that often gets lost in the shuffle of the director's flashier works, such as  Free Fire .

The Last Detail (1973) / Last Flag Flying (2017)

Though officially speaking, the two films are not sequels, they are undeniably companion pieces.  The Last Detail  features one of Jack Nicholson 's most overlooked and eccentric performances as one of two Naval officers tasked with escorting a cowardly young man to serve his jail time.

Richard Linklater 's 2017 film picks up the story years later when the young man, now middle-aged, requests the two older officers to accompany him to retrieve his son's body, a soldier killed in Iraq.  Last Flag Flying , in particular, was quickly forgotten about when it should have been acclaimed as one of the year's best films.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

This is a wacky and heartwarming film about a transgender woman and her two drag queen friends as they travel around in a van they've nicknamed "Priscilla." The film is funny and well-directed by screenwriter Stephan Elliott, but the film's major achievement comes in the form of the three lead performances.

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Terence Stamp, known for his villainous roles, is particularly amazing as the aforementioned woman. The film is in many ways ahead of its time and is just the kind of film we need right now.

Withnail and I (1987)

If  Downton Abbey   can rule the American imagination on both the small and big screens, then Bruce Robinson's almost unbearably British cult classic   Withnail and I has just as good a chance of a delayed crossover. The film's singular blend of literary tragedy with some of the wittiest one-line based dialogue ever committed to type makes it one of the very best films from the 1980s.

Unfortunately, the film has never had the same level of success in America as it has in Europe, though if it were to be placed on a streaming service, the probability of finding late-night fame is high.

Into The Wild (2007)

Being remembered as a great film and being considered a "modern classic" are two very different legacies. Sean Penn's film  Into the Wild is remembered as a great film. Adapting John Krakauer's brilliant real-life account of Christopher McCandless, a man who left his comfortable life to hike across the country in search of meaning and purpose.

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Unfortunately, the story is ultimately a tragic one. Penn's film manages to capture the essence of profound traveling, the naturalistic feel and look of the film is just right for the material. It's beautiful and heartbreaking. It's a modern classic.

American Honey (2016)

Andrea Arnold is one of the most ambitious indie filmmakers producing work right now. Her first masterpiece, and one of the best films of the decade, is 2016's  American Honey . At nearly three-hours long, the film is something of a quiet epic that sprawls across the country telling the story of a group of young men and women in the door-to-door sales business.

The film's central narrative is the relationship between a recruiter, played in a career performance by Shia LaBeouf , and the "new girl" played by Sasha Lane in her first role.  American Honey  is one of the best road trip films of all time and deserves to be known as such.

NEXT:  10 Underrated Movies By Female Directors

Road Trip (Unrated)

About this movie

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Difference Between Theatrical and Unrated Versions

Movie time with family or your loved ones is nice. But it’s so boring to watch the same old movies over and over again, right? If you have already seen a lot of movies, you may have noticed that there are two versions of some movies. One is the theatrical version, which has been released in cinemas nationwide, and another one is the unrated version. It’s often thought that these two versions are different from each other. However, it turns out that they are just edited differently.

• 1 Summary Table
• 2 What is a Theatrical Version?
• 3 What is an Unrated Version?
• 4 How are They Related?
• 5 What are the Differences?

Summary Table

When we talk about the unrated version, we usually refer to the cut of the movie that is longer than the theatrical version. The director or producer often makes these changes because they want to keep the content of the movie more explicit, or in other cases more family-friendly. For example, if there is a scene in which a character is doing something naughty, they might add a more family-friendly scene to replace it. It is similar to the way they would release an extended version of a movie.

But what about the theatrical version? What exactly are the differences between the two versions? How much do they differ from each other? If you are curious about this, then this article is for you. We will discuss these differences in this article. We will also compare the two versions of the movie in this article.

What is a Theatrical Version?

A theatrical version is a version of a movie that is shown in theatres. The content of the theatrical version may differ from the original version. The theatrical version may also contain more or less content than the original version. This means that a theatrical version is not exactly the same as the original version.

When a movie is released in theatres, it is called a theatrical version. You can find the theatrical version of a movie on DVD, Blu-ray, and in some theatres. The theatrical version is often censored from the original version. The censorship in the theatrical version may be minor or major.

For example, let’s say that in The Hangover, the main character has a tattoo on his back. In the theatrical version of the movie, this tattoo is not visible. The reason for this is that the film studio wants to avoid any controversy. So, they censor the tattoo from the theatrical version while the original version of the movie contains this tattoo.

What is an Unrated Version?

An unrated version of a movie is a version of the movie that has not been given a rating by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America). This rating can be anything from PG-13 to R. Usually, the unrated version contains content that is not suitable for children and hence is allowed to be watched by adults. However, this is not always the case.

The unrated version is mostly different from the theatrical version of a movie. It has more content than the theatrical version. It has more violence, sex, profanity, and language. It is meant for an adult audience. It can be sold on DVD or Blu-ray with R-rating.

Some movies that are of a sensitive nature and not suitable for children can be released with an unrated version. However, the unrated version is not allowed to be shown in theatres. It is only allowed to be sold on DVD or Blu-ray with R-rating.

Since the MPAA rating system was created, there have been a lot of movies that have been released with a rating that is not suitable for children. Movies like The Matrix and Pulp Fiction are examples of this. They were not suitable for children. So, they were released with an unrated version.

The purpose of the rating system is to provide parents with information about the content of a movie. If they are not comfortable with the content of a movie, then they can use this information to decide whether or not they want their children to watch it. In addition, adults may watch the unrated version of a movie if they want to be able to enjoy the movie without any restrictions.

How are They Related?

A theatrical version of a movie is the version that is shown in theatres, and the unrated version is the version that is shown in other places, such as on DVD. Now, before we look at more about the differences between the two versions, let us first discuss the similarities between the two versions.

• They are both versions of the same movie.

The theatrical version and the unrated version are both versions of the same movie. In other words, they are both different cuts of the same movie. This means that the theatrical version and the unrated version are identical.

• They are both the same quality.

Usually, the theatrical version and the unrated version are both the same quality. This is because the theatrical version is the director’s cut of the movie, and the unrated version is the director’s cut of the unrated version.

• They are both edited versions of the movie.

Even though the unrated version can be considered as the “original” version of the movie, it is still edited. Editing is a process of cutting the movie. The director cut the movie for several reasons. For example, if a scene is too long, it will be cut to make it shorter. And, it is necessary to edit the movie for some other reasons. So, both the theatrical version and the unrated version are edited versions of the movie.

What are the Differences?

Now, let’s talk about the differences between the theatrical and unrated versions of this movie.

The unrated version of the movie has more violence than the theatrical version. This is because it contains much more gore and nudity. It also contains sexual content in this version, because it is usually an R-rated movie. The theatrical version of the movie contains less violence than the unrated version because there are cuts that are made in this version.

The unrated version of the movie is usually longer than the theatrical version. This is because the theatrical version has been edited to remove some scenes and the unrated version has not been edited too much.

• Distribution:

The unrated version of the movie is not released in theaters, but only on DVD, Blu-ray, and sometimes Netflix. The theatrical version of the movie is released in theaters and on DVD, Blu-ray, and Netflix.

Another difference between the theatrical and unrated versions of movies is their length. In most cases, the theatrical version is usually shorter, with scenes cut down or modified. This is done to help the film fit into a predetermined amount of time and to receive a PG-13 rating.

On the other hand, the unrated version of the same movie is usually longer. It may contain more scenes and footage that were cut out of the theatrical version.

The difference in length between these two versions can be between 10-20 minutes. However, you may see only a 5-minute difference or a difference of 40 minutes.

5. Suspense & Atmosphere:

Both versions of the movie have the same plot and story. However, the pacing and atmosphere may be different between the theatrical and unrated versions. The theatrical version is usually faster-paced and includes more action. The unrated version, on the other hand, may be much slower and more atmospheric.

6. Visual and Audio Mix

One of the greatest differences between the unrated and theatrical versions of the same movie is the audio and visual mix. For instance, the theatrical version may use a traditional cinema mix designed to ensure the movie has good sound for various movie theaters and viewing experiences.

However, the unrated version usually includes an alternative audio and visual mix. These may include more details, effects, and sound elements not found in the theatrical version.

     7. Special Features

Another difference is the inclusion of special features in the unrated version of the movie. Special features may include behind-the-scenes documentaries, audio commentaries, funny bloopers, and deleted/extended scenes.

The unrated version usually contains more special feature content than the theatrical version of the same movie.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Alexa top questions

• How long is EuroTrip? 1 hour and 32 minutes
• When was EuroTrip released? February 20, 2004
• What is the IMDb rating of EuroTrip? 6.6 out of 10
• Who stars in EuroTrip? Scott Mechlowicz , Jacob Pitts , and Michelle Trachtenberg
• Who wrote EuroTrip? Jeff Schaffer , Alec Berg , and David Mandel
• Who directed EuroTrip? Jeff Schaffer , Alec Berg , and David Mandel
• Who was the composer for EuroTrip? James L. Venable
• Who was the producer of EuroTrip? Jeff Schaffer , Alec Berg , David Mandel , Daniel Goldberg , and Jackie Marcus Schaffer
• Who was the executive producer of EuroTrip? Ivan Reitman , Tom Pollock , and Joe Medjuck
• Who was the cinematographer for EuroTrip? David Eggby
• Who was the editor of EuroTrip? Roger Bondelli
• Who are the characters in EuroTrip? Scott Thomas, Cooper Harris, Fiona, Mrs. Thomas, Bert, Jenny, Jamie, Donny, Candy, Missy, and others
• What is the plot of EuroTrip? Dumped by his girlfriend, a high school grad decides to embark on an overseas adventure in Europe with his friends.
• What was the budget for EuroTrip? $25 million
• How much did EuroTrip earn at the worldwide box office? $22.6 million
• How much did EuroTrip earn at the US box office? $17.8 million
• What is EuroTrip rated? R
• What genre is EuroTrip? Comedy
• How many awards has EuroTrip been nominated for? 2 nominations

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Why the Unrated Version of 'The Invitation' is Essential Viewing

Bloodier is always better.

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for both the PG-13 and Unrated versions of The Invitation.

While not uncommon, The Invitation suffered the fate of many horror films before it: it was cut down to be a tamer, PG-13 cut for its theatrical release. This is no hate to PG-13 horror, which deserves its space in the horror genre just as much as the hard-R that is usually expected. PG-13 has delivered some of the most chilling films in the past , such as The Ring and Insidious . But the problem that arises is not when a film is made to be, or simply turns out to be, PG-13; but when the original vision is shaved down to a shell of its former self. Oftentimes it is very obvious when this is the case, even when no extended or alternate cut is announced at the time. The Invitation may not be a critically acclaimed masterpiece, but the unrated version of the film delivers a much more enjoyable and engaging experience to horror fans that was largely missing from the theatrical version.

RELATED: 'The Invitation' Gets Blu-ray & DVD Release Featuring New Unrated Cut

The Opening Scene Sets the Tone

Watching the opening scene of the unrated film is shocking, knowing that there is a tamer version of the same film available, and one that was forced into theaters. It is easy to not expect much from an unrated cut. Some have delivered meager results that don't add or change much to the film. I personally did not expect much from this one, but this is not one of those cases. While narratively, yes, the film remains mostly the same, it is still clear from this new and gore-filled opening that the film has much more promise — and that is just the first scene.

We follow a frantic woman in a gorgeous gothic mansion and soon begin to realize what she is doing as she gathers piano wire and a stone bust to weigh herself down. She jumps off the second-story railing in the grand entrance of the house, wire wrapped around her neck. The theatrical cut ends with her feet hanging and the bust smashing to the floor. The unrated cut goes one incredible step further, showing the viewer just what kind of cut this is going to be by the noticeable addition of blood following the bust, and having her severed head slam into the ground after the bust and roll right in front of the camera's view. Only then does it finally go to the title card.

The Changes to the Third Act

This trend of more blood-filled moments continues for the remainder of the film's runtime. Any time a kill is cut short in the theatrical, the unrated delivers an array of spectacular and fun bloody special effects that were sorely missed. While the uptick in gore cannot fix the arguably rocky areas of the script, it certainly makes it a very fun, almost slasher-like horror film, whereas the theatrical cut just felt entirely bland.

Where the film really kicks it into high gear is the beginning of the third act. Evie ( Nathalie Emmanuel ) is at a masquerade dinner with Walt De Ville ( Thomas Doherty ) and her newfound family. Evie is under the assumption that it is for the bride and groom we have previously seen, but De Ville publicly announces that Evie and he are going to be wed. Just as she is attempting to stop him, a server's neck is swiftly cut at the table, and her blood is poured into a glass bowl. Only then are the guests revealed to all be vampires to Evie, with the insinuation that it is not wine in those glasses we have been seeing. Having only seen the unrated version of the film, it was quite a shocking experience to see the difference in the cuts. The theatrical's censorship is astonishing. This scene is not one that can be cut around, it is important to the structure of the narrative. If this scene were to be removed, then the reveal of the vampires would have fallen completely flat. Though, one can argue that it still falls flat within the theatrical due to its constraints on its rating. The same event occurs. The only thing that is different about it is that the screen blurs as the camera swings around to show the maid's throat pouring blood. It is nearly unwatchable, and it was a bizarre choice to make to skirt around the rating.

The rest of the final act makes small changes here and there as well, lingering on more violent content than the theatrical could in places. In Lucy ( Alana Boden ) and Viktoria's ( Stephanie Corneliussen ) fight in the final act, Lucy impales both of them with a spear. The unrated cut has the ability to linger on the spear through their abdomens for a moment, whereas the theatrical was only able to show a few seconds, then cut farther away to show it in full.

Gothic Horror Should be Sexy

While this is a much smaller addition to the film than the striking gore that was brought back, it is still notable to talk about. Gothic romance and horror hinge on one thing: the romantic and sexy aspect must be there for the story to work. This is seen in other films such as Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak ; it's always present within the genre. Here, it still is. Evie and Walt have a sex scene together mid-movie, actually just before the aforementioned dinner scene. However, just like the violence, it is extremely cut down. While not as noticeable, it suffered from fading in and out of blurriness just like the dinner scene later in the film. Watching the unrated cut makes for a much more cohesive scene. The frame stays sharp, it is a bit longer with more revealing shots added back in. All to say, it doesn't add much, probably only a few seconds. Yet, gothic horror wouldn't be gothic horror without sexuality. Temptation and sensuality go hand in hand, especially when dealing with vampires in a pseudo-adaptation of Dracula . This extended sequence allows the film just a little bit of the edge it needed to go a step further.

The Invitation is nothing new, it is a story done time and time again, but the unrated cut of the film is a real treat for horror fans. Especially those who only saw the theatrical, or only heard the bad about the theatrical. The unrated cut is worth a shot. It is a much better time, and while not adding much to the narrative or to the runtime (only a few minutes in total is the difference), the unrestrained violence and sexuality uplift this movie a great deal. Hopefully, we will see less of this over the years. I do believe that the R-rated version of this film might have made a bigger impact at the box office than what was actually released. When a film is made to be a certain rating (because no way was this ever meant to be PG-13), cutting it down is almost always detrimental to the final product. PG-13 horror can only succeed when it was intended to be, or just so happens to get that rating. With the success of IT in the last few years, studios should no longer be afraid of the R and box office, it can be successful. The Invitation might be retrodden ground, but this is essential viewing for horror fans looking for a fun and gory movie night.

The Invitation (Unrated Cut) is available to rent or purchase on VOD and available on Blu-ray. The PG-13 theatrical cut is available to stream on Netflix.