Firearms in major motion pictures, 1995-2004.
BACKGROUND
Firearms are a major cause of injury and death. We sought to determine (1) the prevalence of movie scenes that depicted firearms and verbal firearm safety messages; (2) the context and health outcomes in firearm scenes; and (3) the association between the Motion Picture Association of America ratings and firearm scene characteristics.


METHODS
Ten top revenue-grossing motion pictures were selected for each year from 1995 to 2004 in descending order of gross revenues. Data on firearm scenes were collected by movie coders using dual-monitor computer workstations and real-time collection tools.


RESULTS
Seventy of the 100 movies had scenes with firearms and the majority of movies with firearms were rated PG-13. Firearm scenes (N = 624) accounted for 17% of screen time in movies with firearms. Among firearm scenes, crime or illegal activity was involved in 45%, deaths occurred in 19%, and injuries occurred in 12%. A verbal reference to safety was made in 0.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
Depictions of firearms in top revenue-grossing movies were common, but safety messages were exceedingly rare. Major motion pictures present an under-used opportunity for education about firearm safety.
Binswanger
Ingrid A
IA
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Cowan
John A
JA
D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009040:Motion Pictures / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012449:Safety; D014481:United States; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control