September 23, 2025

No Open Relationship Movies


No Open Relationship Movies
Movie theater. Fernando de Souza, Wikimedia Commons.

On September 17, it was revealed that the Russian Ministry of Culture delayed the distribution license for U.S. actress Dakota John's latest movie, Splitsville, making it impossible to show the rom-com in movie theaters in the country. The permit was withheld likely due to the film's discussion of open relationships.

Splitsville (Нескромные, "Indiscreet" in Russia), centers on a wife, Ashley, who asks her husband, Carey, for a divorce. In despair, Carey runs to Julie and Paul to figure out how to save his marriage, only to find out that having an open relationship keeps his friends' marriage afloat. Carey and Ashley open their relationship, an experiment that soon spirals out of control. The movie premiered on May 19 at the Cannes Film Festival.

The American film was scheduled for release in Russia on September 25. The movie's main cast, Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin, and Michael Angelo Corvino, gave interviews to the Russian press in preparation for the movie's premiere in the country. However, the licensing for the screening was never issued.

Independent film distributor Arna Media president Nadezhda Motina said, "I think it is a refusal [of the Ministry of Culture]. We don't understand the reasons. I personally saw the film and there is nothing problematic in it." Motina pointed out that similar films are being released in Russia. The film distributor added, "The state will lose R20 million rubles ($239,536) in direct taxes from us on this film alone."

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it faced a boycott from Hollywood's major studios. For the past three years, Russian cinemas have had to get creative on how to show American films. These tactics have included renting their screening rooms to third-party companies that project the movies. However, American films appear to be attempting a return to Russia, and the move has not been welcomed by the Russian government.

In April, the Ministry of Culture denied licensing for Guy Ritchie's World War II-themed movie The Ministry of Ungentlemenly Warfare, starring Henry Cavill. And in July, the Duma passed a bill refusing screening permits to films that "discredit traditional values." That law will officially come into effect in March 2026.

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