<P> On August 28, 1974, Louis Peraino of Bryanston agreed to distribute the film worldwide, from which Bozman and Skaaren would receive $225,000 (about $1092661.94 inflation - adjusted) and 35% of the profits . Years later Bozman stated, "We made a deal with the devil, (sigh), and I guess that, in a way, we got what we deserved ." They signed the contract with Bryanston and, after the investors recouped their money (with interest),--and after Skaaren, the lawyers, and the accountants were paid--only $8,100 (about $39335.83 inflation - adjusted) was left to be divided among the 20 cast and crew members . Eventually the producers sued Bryanston for failing to pay them their full percentage of the box office profits . A court judgment instructed Bryanston to pay the filmmakers $500,000 (about $2428137.65 inflation - adjusted), but by then the company had declared bankruptcy . In 1983 New Line Cinema acquired the distribution rights from Bryanston and gave the producers a larger share of the profits . </P> <P> The Texas Chain Saw Massacre premiered in Austin, Texas on October 1, 1974, almost a year after filming concluded . It screened nationally in the United States as a Saturday afternoon matinée and its false marketing as a "true story" helped it attract a broad audience . For eight years after 1976, it was annually reissued to first - run theaters, promoted by full - page ads . The film eventually grossed more than $30 million in the United States and Canada ($14.4 million in rentals), making it the 12th highest - grossing film initially released in 1974, despite its minuscule budget . Among independent films, it was overtaken in 1978 by John Carpenter's Halloween, which grossed $47 million . </P> <P> Hooper reportedly hoped that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) would give the complete, uncut release print a "PG" rating due to its minimal amount of visible gore . Instead, it was originally rated "X". After several minutes were cut, it was resubmitted to the MPAA and received an "R" rating . A distributor apparently restored the offending material, and at least one theater presented the full version under an "R". In San Francisco, cinema - goers walked out of theaters in disgust and, in February 1976, two theaters in Ottawa, Canada, were advised by local police to withdraw the film lest they face morality charges . </P> <P> After its initial British release, including a one - year theatrical run in London, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was initially banned on the advice of British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) Secretary Stephen Murphy, and subsequently by his successor, James Ferman . While the British ban was in force the word "chainsaw" itself was barred from movie titles, forcing imitators to rename their films . In 1998, despite the BBFC ban, Camden London Borough Council granted the film a license . The following year the BBFC passed The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for release with an 18 certificate (indicating that it should not be seen or purchased by a person under 18), and it was broadcast a year later on Channel 4 . </P>

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