Which brings us to the subject of content. A recent report by the Dove Foundation found that G-rated movies are more profitable than any other category--and particularly when compared with R-rated movies, which average a profit of about $7 million, compared with about $79 million in profit for the average G. These figures do not mean that mature-themed movies will disappear. Indeed, of the 3,000 films Dove counted between 1989 and 2003, 1,533 were R-rated, compared with 123 G's. According to Dove Foundation chairman Dick Rolfe, this ratio is partly explained by the fact that studios no longer depend on satisfied audiences for their bread and butter. He says that movies now tend to be financed like shopping centers are, with the studios functioning like building contractors. They'll get paid something no matter what; it's the investors/financiers who are taking the biggest risk. (Dove sent copies of its report to 200 top mutual-fund and pension-fund managers.)
http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110006864
well, to be cautious, one might consider that the myriad R rated movies dilute their genre's per-movie profit margin, and the slim pickin's of G rated films concentrates that genre's per-movie profit margin. A side effect of supply and demand.