'You cannot be erotic': Basic Instinct director Paul Verhoeven says there is not enough sex onscreen in Hollywood

By Kayla Caldwell For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:10 EST, 14 November 2016 | Updated: 13:52 EST, 14 November 2016

He's known for controversial, erotic films such as 1992's Basic Instinct and 1995's Showgirls.

And speaking at the AFI Fest screening of his new erotic thriller Elle in Los Angeles on Sunday, filmmaker Paul Verhoeven complained that the Hollywood of today is not sexual enough.

The 78-year-old told France 24 that PG-13 ratings were a bane, because they mean sex in movies 'has to be suggestive, elliptic and whatever. And so then the movies become neutral and the movies are not challenging you in any way.'

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Not provocative enough: Speaking at the Los Angeles AFI Film Fest screening of his film Elle on Sunday, filmmaker Paul Verhoeven complained about Hollywood's lack of sex

That's more like it: Paul is the director behind erotic thriller Basic Instinct (1992, pictured, Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone)

Paul lamented that with that popular PG-13 rating, 'there are a lot of things you cannot do.'

Ratings in the United States are decided by a voluntary system managed by the Motion Picture Association of America and the National Association of Theatre Owners.

Last year, The Wrap reported that PG-13 movies had roughly double the box office returns as those rated R. 

Though almost the same number of PG-13 and R-rated films were released, the PG-13 earned an estimated $5.2 billion total grosses and $79 million average box office, while R earned $2.5 billion total grosses and around $42 million average box office.

Holding back: The Dutch filmmaker bemoaned the PG-13 rating, saying that 'there are a lot of things you cannot do'

Pushing boundaries: Paul is responsible for controversial films such as Showgirls (1995) and Basic Instinct (1992)

Graphic depiction of hard drug use, full male nudity, and sex or extreme and graphic violence can earn an R rating. Also, movies run the risk of being rated R if the word f*** is used as a verb.

Paul, who is also responsible for RoboCop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers, continued: 'You cannot be provocative, you cannot be controversial, you cannot be sexual, erotic, in a direct way.'

He noted that for that very reason, he took his film-making to France. 'There's no problem in France. As a director you can do what you want,' he said.

Finding a way: Paul, pictured with Elle's leading lady Isabelle Huppert, said that he took his film-making to France so there would be fewer restrictions 

He's got a point: Box office reports do show that PG-13 films bring in the money, with a 2015 report showing that they had roughly double the box office returns as those rated R

His most recent, controversial film follows a woman - played by French actress Isabelle Huppert - who embarks on a dangerous game with her attacker after being violently raped.

Paul's leading lady, Isabelle, 63, was also being honored at Sunday's event for a glittering career that has seen her appear in more than 100 movies and television productions.

He described her as 'the most fantastic actor I've ever worked with, on a level that I did not know existed,' with her humbly sharing that she was 'grateful,' adding: 'Each time something like this happens to me I still feel a little bit surprised.'

Controversial: Paul's new film is an erotic thriller that follows a woman (Isabelle) who embarks on a dangerous game with her attacker after being violently raped

Proud: The director called Isabelle 'the most fantastic actor I've ever worked with, on a level that I did not know existed'

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