‘Draft Day’ R-Rating Overturned By Classification and Rating Appeals Board

Lionsgate’s sports drama starring Kevin Costner is now considered appropriate for ages 13 and up

“Draft Day,” Ivan Reitman’s upcoming film about the NFL draft, is now PG-13 after the Classification and Rating Appeals Board overturned its previous R rating on Wednesday.

Following the appeal over the  Classification and Rating Administration’s restrictive rating due to “brief strong language,” the sports drama was ruled appropriate for ages 13 and up due to “brief strong language and sexual references.”

See video: ‘Draft Day’ Trailer Stars Kevin Costner as GM of NFL’s Cleveland Browns (Video)

Joan Graves, Chairman of CARA, represented the ratings board in the dispute, while Reitman and Lionsgate’s president of production, Erik Feig, represented the appellant Lionsgate Entertainment.

The ruling is important for the studio because an R rating can taint a movie’s box office performance, as it cuts off the majority of teenagers’ disposable income. PG-13 releases, on the other hand, often have the broadest audience appeal.

Kevin Costner stars in the football film as Sonny Weaver Jr., the fictional general manager of the Cleveland Browns, who is tasked with rebuilding the underachieving team through the NFL Draft.

Jennifer Garner and Denis Leary co-star alongside Ellen Burstyn, Frank Langella, Chadwick Boseman and Sean Combs.

“Draft Day” hits theaters on April 11.

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