 The statute remained in force until 2013 when it was ruled to be in violation of the First Amendment.The law was amended in 2013 as to prohibit persons under the age of 18 only if the film was considered "harmful to minors".<ref></ref><ref></ref>

In the rating system's early years, "X"-rated films such as "Midnight Cowboy" (1969) and "A Clockwork Orange" (1971) were understood to be unsuitable for children, but non-pornographic and intended for the general public.However, pornographic films often self-applied the non-trademarked "X" rating, and it soon became synonymous with pornography in American culture.<ref></ref> In late 1989 and early 1990, two critically acclaimed art films featuring strong adult content, "" and "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover", were released.