In　this　paper,　correspondence　between　the　degree　of　video　motion　and　the　motion　reference　ratio　(MRR)　of　macroblock　(MB)　has　been　studied　firstly.　An　efficient　hierarchical　perceptual　encryption　algorithm　for　H.264　bitstream　is　proposed　based　on　MRR.　First,　at　frame　layer,　frames　to　be　encrypted　are　selected　dynamically　according　to　the　degree　of　motion.　Then,　at　MB　layer,　MBs　to　be　encrypted　are　selected　based　on　their　MRRs.　And　finally,　at　bitstream　layer,　the　most　significant　bits　for　reconstructed　video　quality　are　encrypted　on　the　basis　of　the　bit-sensitivity　of　H.264　bitstream.　Furthermore,　MB　layer　has　a　quality　control　factor　to　control　the　number　of　encrypted　MBs,　thus　a　fine-grained　visual　quality　control　can　be　achieved.　Experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　algorithm　can　provide　sufficient　security,　and　achieve　wide-range　quality　control　with　low　computational　complexity.　Furthermore,　it　has　no　impact　on　the　compression　ratio　and　can　maintain　the　format-compliance.　©　2013　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.