The STX Entertainment summer comedyBad Momshas become one of this seasons' surprise hits, taking in $97.1 million domestically and $125.9 million worldwide from a $20 million budget. TheR-rated comedystarringMila Kunis,Kristen BellandKathryn Hahnhas found itself in some hot water inMila Kunis' home country of Russia, where one of the movie’s billboards was banned. It seems the actress' name, along with some sexual innuendo, lead to this billboard being shipped back to America.
The Hollywood Reporterreports that a St. Petersburg-based ad agency refused to place billboards for the movie in the city because ofsexual implications. The billboard featured the tagline “Do You Want Some Kunis?” featuring starMila Kunis, with the agency refusing to use the billboard becauseMila Kunis' last name is too close to the Russian word for “cunnilingus.” Conservative St. Petersburg legislatorVitaly Milonovpraised the ad agency’s actions for “saving the city’s pride” in a statement.
“We couldn’t care less about the distributor’s interests and opinion. St Petersburg is thecultural capital, and you shouldn’t bring all kinds of trash here.”
The Russian online newspaper Life.ru also reports that a St. Petersburg TV station refused to air a TV spot for the movie due to “sexual content.” The Russian distributor forBad Moms, Volga, has declined to comment on the controversy. The movie opened in Russia on September 1, and it will also open in Argentina, Hong Kong and Chile on September 8, with the movie debuting in its last international market, Germany, on September 22.
Mila Kuniswas actually born in Russia, before moving to Los Angeles at the age of seven, where she quickly started her acting career. It isn’t known yet how this controversy will affectBad Moms' performance at the box office in Russia, but we’ll have to wait and see. Stay tuned for more onBad Momsas it continues its impressive theatrical run. Here are a few of the more questionable international posters that have been released.
