The London premiere of "Emmanuelle" was significant not only because of the film's explicit content but also because it marked a turning point in British film censorship. The film was initially granted an X-rating by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which effectively restricted its exhibition to adult cinemas. However, the film's popularity and cultural significance soon led to a re-evaluation of its rating, and in 1977, the BBFC revised its guidelines, allowing the film to be shown in more mainstream cinemas.

The 1970s was a decade of great social and cultural change in London, marked by a growing liberalization of attitudes towards sex and relationships. It was against this backdrop that the French film series "Emmanuelle" became a cultural phenomenon in London, captivating audiences and sparking controversy in equal measure.

However, not everyone was pleased with the film's success. Some critics accused the film of being exploitative and degrading to women, while others saw it as a symbol of the permissive society that was seen as threatening traditional British values.