In 1990, the MPAA introduced the NC-17 rating (No Children Under 17 Admitted) to replace the X rating, which had become synonymous with pornography. The goal was to create a rating for serious adult films that were not pornographic, such as 'Henry & June.' However, the rating became a 'kiss of death' for Hollywood movies. Most major theater chains refused to screen NC-17 films, and many newspapers refused to carry advertisements for them. As a result, studios often force directors to cut their films to achieve an 'R' rating to ensure commercial viability. Today, an NC-17 rating is almost exclusively seen in independent cinema, as major studios view it as a financial liability that prevents a film from reaching a wide audience.