Some Like It Hot: how Marilyn Monroe’s hit ended Hollywood’s censorship era

This report explores how the 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot shattered the Hays Code’s grip on Hollywood, grossing $25 million on a $2.9 million budget and paving the way for modern film freedoms. Discover why this film’s bold defiance marked a turning point in cinematic history.

Sources:
Screen Rant
Updated 2h ago
Tab background
Sources: Screen Rant
Marilyn Monroe’s 1959 film Some Like It Hot is widely credited with hastening the demise of Hollywood’s strict censorship system known as the Hays Code. For decades, the Hays Code dictated what content was permissible in American films, limiting filmmakers’ creative freedom.

Although earlier films like Frank Sinatra’s The Man With the Golden Arm had begun to challenge the code, Some Like It Hot boldly flaunted many of its rules, particularly through its crossdressing comedy and risqué themes. This defiance resonated with audiences, as the film grossed an impressive $25 million against a modest $2.9 million budget, later earning millions more through re-releases.

The film’s massive commercial success demonstrated that audiences were ready for more mature and unconventional storytelling, effectively delivering the final nail in the coffin for self-censorship in Hollywood. Its legacy extends beyond its iconic humor and characters, marking a turning point that allowed filmmakers greater freedom to explore complex and previously taboo subjects.

As one analysis notes, "Some Like It Hot is considered a crucial player in the collapse of the Hays Code, which for decades had dictated the kind of stories that American (and increasingly global) audiences could see produced by filmmakers."

This shift paved the way for a new era in cinema, where creative expression was less constrained by moralistic guidelines, influencing generations of filmmakers and audiences worldwide.
Sources: Screen Rant
Marilyn Monroe’s 1959 film Some Like It Hot, a crossdressing comedy that grossed $25 million on a $2.9 million budget, played a pivotal role in ending Hollywood’s Hays Code censorship era by boldly challenging its strict content rules and achieving massive box office success.
Section 1 background
The Headline

Some Like It Hot's success ends Hays Code censorship

Some Like It Hot is considered a crucial player in the collapse of the Hays Code, which for decades had dictated that kind of stories that American (and increasingly global) audiences could see produced by filmmakers.
Film Historian
Screen Rant
Key Facts
  • Some Like It Hot, a crossdressing comedy, openly flaunted many Hays Code rules that had governed Hollywood content.Screen Rant
  • Some Like It Hot grossed $25 million against a modest $2.9 million budget, marking a massive commercial success.Screen Rant
  • The massive success of Some Like It Hot is widely regarded as the final nail in the coffin for the Hays Code's self-censorship.Screen Rant
Key Stats at a Glance
Box office gross of Some Like It Hot
$25 million
Screen Rant
Budget of Some Like It Hot
$2.9 million
Screen Rant
Background Context

Hays Code censorship and early challenges

Key Facts
  • The Hays Code had long imposed strict censorship rules on Hollywood films, controlling what stories could be told.Screen Rant
  • Before Some Like It Hot, films such as Frank Sinatra's The Man With the Golden Arm had already begun challenging the Hays Code.Screen Rant
Article not found
CuriousCats.ai

Article

Source Citations