Editing Adult film (section)

== History ==
=== The Underground Era (1900–1968) ===
For much of the early 20th century, adult films existed as "stag films"—short, silent, black-and-white 16mm reels shown in private men's clubs or "smokers." These films were strictly illegal and carried no credits or production information.

=== The Golden Age and "Porno Chic" (1969–1984) ===
Following the sexual revolution and key legal victories, the industry moved into mainstream theaters. This era, known as the '''[[Golden Age of Porn]]''', saw films like ''[[Deep Throat (film)|Deep Throat]]'' and ''[[Behind the Green Door]]'' become box-office sensations.
* '''Key Figure:''' [[Gerard Damiano]] (Director)
* '''Key Star:''' [[Marilyn Chambers]]

=== The Video Revolution (1980s–1990s) ===
The introduction of the [[VHS]] and Betamax formats shifted the industry from theaters to the home. This led to a massive increase in production volume but a decrease in technical quality as 35mm film was replaced by cheaper magnetic tape. This era also saw the rise of the [[Meese Commission]], which led to increased federal oversight.

=== The Digital and Internet Era (2000s–Present) ===
The rise of high-speed internet and tube sites transformed the industry into a primarily digital medium. 
* '''Independent Platforms:''' Modern stars like [[Riley Reid]] and [[Lana Rhoades]] moved away from traditional studios to manage their own brands through subscription-based platforms.
* '''Technical Innovation:''' The industry has historically been an early adopter of new tech, including e-commerce payment systems, streaming video codecs, and [[Virtual Reality]] (VR).