Fifty Shades of Grey movie: R rating in US means young film fans will have to bring mum

The Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson film has a 15 rating in the UK

Jamie Dornan as playboy billionaire Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey

Upcoming raunchy movie Fifty Shades of Grey has been given a R rating in the US, meaning state-side teenagers under the age of 17 will only be able to watch it with mum (or another adult, but the cringe levels of mum are more amusing).

The Motion Picture Association of America has based the film’s rating on its “strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behaviour and graphic nudity”.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson star as S&M-loving billionaire Christian Grey and infatuated student Anastasia Steele in the hotly-awaited big screen adaptation of EL James’ bestselling erotic novels.

Filmmakers will be thankful to have dodged the NC-17 rating, which bars anyone aged 17 and under from seeing the film, meaning that more people will be able to see the movie.

Producer Dana Brunetti hinted last year that a more explicit take could also be released, although one is yet to be announced.

“Everybody could go and enjoy the R version and then if they really wanted to see it again and get a little bit more gritty with it then have that NC-17 version out there as well,” he said.

Fifty Shades of Grey has yet to be given a rating by the British Board of Film Classification.

First look footage shown to critics last March was met with a luke-warm response, with journalists describing “a lot of PG kissing” and branding it “surprisingly tame”.

Dornan has revealed how he researched his role by visiting a sex dungeon to learn about kinky fetishes. The Northern Irish actor has also defended Fifty Shades against critics who condoning it for allegedly glamourising violence against women.

“It’s all consensual,” he told GQ. “There’s weirder s**t than [S&M]. I think plane spotting is far weirder than S&M. That I really don’t get. I can understand why people are into S&M but standing outside Heathrow Terminal 5 waiting for Ryanair to come in?”

Fifty Shades of Grey arrives in UK cinemas on 13 February, just in time for Valentine’s Day.