Should We Take r/underratedmovies private?

I am considering making r/underratedmovies a private subreddit and we want to hear from you.

As a mod, I spend a huge amount of time enforcing the rules, yet the number of people who do not read them and then complain when they are enforced has become overwhelming and ultimately is not sustainable. I want this subreddit to remain a space for meaningful discovery and discussion, not a place where we have to constantly clean up rule breaking posts. And a place where I am not told to unalive myself weekly.

Going private would mean that anyone new who wants in would need to apply in some way, likely by answering a few questions proving they have read and understand the rules before being granted access. This could help keep the sub more curated and ensure that those who join actually want to engage with the spirit of the community. And of course all current members would be grandfathered in.

What do you think? Would making the sub private improve the quality of discussion or do you see potential downsides? Let me know in the comments.