List of NC-17 rated films

This is a list of films rated NC-17 (No One 17 And Under Admitted) by the Motion Picture Association of America's Classification and Rating Administration (CARA). It includes X-rated films reassigned an NC-17 rating, and titles which were originally rated NC-17, but later re-edited for a lower rating. Titles with surrendered ratings, such as Todd Solondz's film Happiness, are usually released unrated to avoid the stigma of NC-17. Some films are released without an MPAA rating because the filmmaker expects an NC-17 (a recent example is Lars von Trier's Antichrist).

Changes in ratings are due to resubmission or appeal by a film's producers. Films receiving an NC-17 are often cut and resubmitted in hopes of earning an R rating, which allows distribution to more outlets than an NC-17 rating. Still, there are some exceptions: for example, in 2004, Fox Searchlight Pictures released The Dreamers with an NC-17 rating; this film grossed $2.5 million in its United States theatrical release, a respectable result for a specialized film with a targeted audience.^[1] The same year, Sony Pictures Classics released Bad Education with an NC-17 rating; it grossed $5.2 million in the United States theatrically, earning back more than its budget of $5 million.^[2] Furthermore, in 2007, Focus Features released Lust, Caution with an NC-17 rating; it grossed $4.6 million in the United States theatrically,^[3] and Focus was very satisfied with the film's theatrical release.^[4]

NC-17 films also tended to make much more money on the home video/DVD market. For example, Showgirls became one of MGM's top 20 all-time bestsellers,^[5] and Lust, Caution has generated more than $18 million from DVD rentals in the United States.^[6]

Occasionally an R-rated film will have footage added to earn an NC-17 rating and its accompanying notoriety. In at least one case, an R-rated film was re-rated NC-17 even though no edits were made: The 1969 Sam Peckinpah film The Wild Bunch, originally rated R, was resubmitted by Warner Bros. in 1993 before an expected rerelease; to their surprise, it was rated NC-17, delaying the rerelease while the decision was appealed.^[7][8]

Some titles include the reasons the rating was given. In 1990, the Classification and Rating Administration began including a brief statement of the reason for a specific film's R rating; several years later it began giving reasons for all film ratings.

Since the NC-17 rating was created in 1990 to replaced the X rating^[9] (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, and Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive were all given X ratings that year), this list does not include X-rated films, unless they were later re-rated NC-17.

Contents
0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

0–9

• 100 Tears, 2007; for extreme horror violence.^[10]
• 1900, 1976, originally rated X; edited version rated R (1977); uncut version rated NC-17 (1990), rating surrendered.^[10]

A

• American Pie, 1999; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, crude sexual dialogue, language and drinking, all involving teens.^[10]
• American Psycho, 2000; edited version rated R for strong violence, sexuality, drug use and language.^[10]
• Angel of Passion, 1991; edited version rated R in 1995 for strong sexuality, and for some language.^[10]
• Arabian Nights (Il fiore delle mille e una notte), 1974; rated X in 1979; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1990.^[10]
• Artemisia, 1998; re-rated R on appeal for strong, graphic sexuality and nudity.^[10]

B

• Back in Action, 1994; edited version rated R for violence, and for language and brief drug use.^[10]
• Bad Education, 2004, for explicit sexual content; edited version ("Special Edition") rated R for strong sexual content throughout, language and some drug use.^[10]
• Bad Lieutenant, 1992, for sexual violence, strong sexual situations and dialogue, graphic drug use; edited version rated R for drug use, language, violence and nudity.^[10]
• Bank Robber, 1993; edited version rated R in 1994 for strong sexuality, a bloody shooting, drug content and language.^[10]
• Basic Instinct, 1992, edited version rated R for strong sexual content and dialogue, nudity, language, and violence.
• Bent, 1997, for a strong scene of graphic sexuality; edited version rated R in 1998 for strong sexuality including explicit sexual dialogue, some brutal violence, language and drug use.^[10]
• Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, 1970, originally rated X; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1990.^[10]
• Bizarre, rated 1991.^[10]
• Black and White, 1999; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, graphic language, some violence and drug use.^[10]
• Bliss, 1997; edited version rated R for graphic sex scenes with strong sex-related dialogue, and for language.^[10]
• Blonde Emmanuelle in 3-D, rated in 1990.^[10]
• BloodRayne, 2005; edited version rated R for strong bloody violence, some sexuality and nudity.^[11][10]
• Blue Valentine, 2010; originally rated NC-17 for a scene of explicit sexual content; successfully appealed to an R-rating for strong graphic sexual content, language, and a beating.
• The Boondock Saints, 1999; edited version rated R for strong violence, language and sexual content.^[10]
• Boxing Helena, 1993; re-rated R on appeal for two scenes of strong sexuality and language.^[10]
• Boys Don't Cry, 1999; edited version rated R for violence including a rape scene, sexuality, language and drug use.^[10]
• Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1992; edited version rated R for sexuality and horror violence.^[10]
• Broken English, 1996, for explicit sexuality; edited version rated R for sexual content, brief drug use and language.

C

• The Canterbury Tales (I Racconti di Canterbury), 1972, originally rated X in 1979; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1991.^[10]
• Centerspread, 1981 (rated 1990).^[10]
• Clerks, 1994; re-rated R on appeal for extensive use of extremely explicit sex-related dialogue.^[10]
• Color of Night, 1994; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, violence and language.^[10]
• Cliffhanger, 1993; edited version rated R for violence and language. ^[12][10]
• The Cooler, 2003; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, violence, language and some drug use.^[10]
• Comfortably Numb, 1995, for scenes of graphic drug use and some explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Crash, 1996, for numerous explicit sex scenes; edited version rated R for accident gore, some graphic language and aberrant sexual content.^[10]

D

• Damage, 1992; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, and for language.^[10]
• Dangerous Game, 1993; edited version rated R for pervasively strong language, explicit sexuality, and drug use.^[10]
• Dark Obsession (Diamond Skulls), 1989 (rated 1991); edited version rated R for strong sensuality and for language.^[10]
• Dead and Breakfast, 2005; edited version rated R for strong horror violence/gore and language.^[10]
• Dead Presidents, 1995; edited version rated R for strong graphic violence, language, a sex scene and some drug use.^[10]
• Delta of Venus, 1995; originally rated R in 1994 for strong erotic content; edited version rated NC-17 in 1995 for explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Descent, 2007; for a brutal rape;^[10] edited version rated R.
• Desperado, 1995; edited version rated R for strong bloody violence, a strong sex sequence and language.^[13][10]
• The Devil's Rejects, 2005; edited version rated R for sadistic violence, strong sexual content, language, and drug use.
• Dice Rules, 1991.^[10]
• A Dirty Shame, 2004, for pervasive sexual content; "neuter" (edited) version rated R for pervasive, strong, crude sexual content, including fetishes.
• The Doors , 1991, for Nudity, Language.
• The Dreamers, 2003 (rated 2004), for explicit sexual content; edited version rated R for strong sexual content and graphic nudity, language and some drug use.^[10]
• The Dreamlife of Angels, 1999; edited version rated R for some strong sexuality.^[10]

E

• Easier with Practice, 2010, for a sequence of explicit sexual dialogue.
• Easyriders Video Magazine No. 13 (video release), rated 1992 for pervasive sexuality and graphic sexual dialogue.^[10]
• Emmanuelle: The Joys of a Woman, 1975, originally rated X in 1976; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1991.^[10]
• Erotic Nights, 1991; edited version rated R for sensuality and sex-related dialogue.^[10]
• Erotique, 1994; rated R in 1998 for strong sexuality, sex-related dialogue and some language.^[10]
• The Evil Dead, 1981 (rated 1994), was originally rated X, for substantial graphic horror violence and gore. Rating surrendered^[10]
• Extreme Justice, 1993; re-rated R on appeal for strong graphic violence, language, and for a scene of sexuality.^[10]
• Eyes Wide Shut, 1999; edited version rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some drug-related material.^[10]

F

• Fantasy, 1991; edited version rated R in 1992 for strong sensuality and language.^[10]
• Fantasies, 1989 (rated 1991).^[10]
• Female Trouble, 1974; originally X rated NC-17 1991 re-rating NC-17 for explicit sexuality and nudity
• Freddy Got Fingered, 2001; edited version rated R for crude sexual and bizarre humor, and for strong language.^[10]
• Freeway, 1996; edited version rated R for strong lurid violence and sexual dialogue, some sexual situations, drug content and language.^[10]
• Frontier(s), 2007, for extreme sadistic graphic violence and gore.
• Fire on the Amazon, 1993, edited version rated R for strong language, areas of strong violence and a scene of strong sexuality^[10]

G

• Games of Love, rated 1991.^[10]
• The Getaway, 1994; edited version rated R for violence, sexuality and language.^[14][10]
• Gettin' Even, 2005, for explicit sexual content including pervasive nudity.^[10]
• Glam, 2001 (rated 1998), for a scene of explicit sexuality and some sexual dialogue.^[10]
• The Godfather: Part III, 1990; edited version rated R for violence and language.^[15][10]
• La Grande Bouffe, 1973, originally rated X; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1998 for some explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Grindhouse, 2007; edited version rated R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity and drug use.
• Gummo, 1997; edited version rated R for pervasive depiction of anti-social behavior of juveniles, including violence, substance abuse, sexuality and language.^[10]
• Gutterballs, 2009; rating surrendered.

H

• Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, 1995; edited version rated R for strong horror violence, and some sexuality.
• Happiness, 1999 (rating surrendered).^[10]
• Hard to Die, 1990; edited version rated R.
• Hard Target, 1993; edited version rated R for a great amount of strong violence, and for language.^[10] About 20 minutes of violence was cut by the studio to receive an R rating.
• Hatchet, 2007, for extreme violence and gore; edited version rated R for strong bloody horror violence, sexual content, nudity and language.^[10]
• Hostel Part II, 2007, re-rated R on appeal for sadistic scenes of torture and bloody violence, terror, nudity, sexual content, language and some drug content.
• Hell's Belles, 1997, for pervasive sexuality and nudity.^[10]
• Henry & June, 1990 (first title to be rated NC-17).^[10]
• High Tension (Haute tension), 2003, for strong graphic violence; edited version rated R in 2005 for graphic bloody killings, terror, sexual content and language.^[10]
• The Hills Have Eyes, 2006, edited version rated R for strong gruesome violence and terror throughout, and for language.^[10][16]
• The Hottest Bid, 1995, for strong graphic sexuality.^[10]
• House of 1000 Corpses, 2003; edited version rated R for strong sadistic violence/gore, sexuality and language.

I

• Ice Cold in Phoenix, 2004; later rated R for strong sexuality, brutal violence and language.^[10]
• In the Cold of the Night, 1990; edited version rated R.^[10]
• In the Realm of the Senses (Ai no corrida), 1976 (rated 1991).^[10]
• Inserts, 1975, originally rated X; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1996 for explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Inside Deep Throat, 2005, for explicit sexual content; edited version rated R for strong sexuality including graphic images, nudity and dialogue.^[10]
• Intent to Kill, 1993 (rated 1992), for extreme violence.^[10]

J

• Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, 1993; edited version rated R for strong violence and gore, and for sexuality and language.
• Jason X, 2002; edited version rated R for strong horror violence, language and some sexuality.
• Jason's Lyric, 1994; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, violence, and profanity.^[10]
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, 2001; edited version rated R for nonstop crude and sexual humor, pervasive strong language and drug content.^[10]

K

• Kalifornia, 1993; edited version rated R for strong violence, sexuality and language.^[10]
• Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, 1996; Rated R for strong erotic sequences, nudity and some violence.^[10]
• Kids, 1995 (rating surrendered).^[10]
• Kika, 1993 (rated 1994, rating surrendered).^[10]
• Kill Bill: Vol. 1, 2003; edited version rated R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content.^[17][10]
• Killing Me Softly, 2000; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, some violence and language.
• Killing Zoe, 1994; edited version rated R for strong violence and language, plentiful drug use and a sex scene.^[10]
• Kill Kill Faster Faster, 2008; edited version rated R for strong sexuality and language.^[10]

L

• Law Abiding Citizen, 2009; re-rated R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language. ^[18]
• L.I.E., 2001 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R in 2002 for strong sexual content involving teens, language and brief violence.^[10]
• Last Tango in Paris (Ultimo tango a Parigi), 1972, originally rated X in 1973; edited version rated R in 1981; edited version rated X in 1982; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1997 for some explicit sexual content.
• La ley del deseo, (Law of Desire), 1987 (rated 2005), for a scene of explicit sexual content.^[10]
• Leonora, 1991; edited version rated R in 1992 for sensuality, nudity and language.^[10]
• Love and Human Remains, 1995; edited version rated R for strong sexual content, language, violence and some drug use.^[10]
• The Lover, 1992, re-rated R on appeal for graphic and explicit sexuality.^[10]
• The Loves of Lady Chatterly, 1992, for scenes of explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Lust, Caution, 2007, for some explicit sexuality; edited version rated R for strong sexual content and a scene of brutal violence.^[10]

M

• Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence, 1993; edited version rated R for strong violence, and for language and some drug content.^[10]
• Marie and Jack: A Hardcore Love Story, 2002 (rated 2007), for explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Ma mère, 2004 (rated 2005), for strong and aberrant sexual content; edited version rated R for strong aberrant sexuality, some language and violent images.^[10]
• Man Bites Dog (C'est arrivé près de chez vous), 1992 (rated 1993) for strong graphic violence.^[10]
• Matador, 1986 (rated 2005) for aberrant sexuality including violence.^[10]
• Mercy, 1999, originally rated R; edited version rated NC-17 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R for language, drug use, and perverse sexual behavior including violence and nudity.^[10]
• Midnight Cowboy, 1969, rated X upon theatrical release before re-rating it to an R rating in 1971.
• Midnight Woman, 1990.^[10]
• Modern Love, rated 1991.^[10]
• Monster's Ball, edited version rated R for strong sexual content, language and violence.
• Myriam, rated 1991.^[10]
• Mysterious Skin, 2004^[19] (rating surrendered).

N

• Nothin' Goes Right, 1988, originally rated X in 1989; rating symbol changed to NC-17 in 1991.^[10]
• Natural Born Killers, 1994; edited version rated R for extreme violence and graphic carnage, for shocking images, and for strong language and sexuality.
• The Night Buffalo, 2009, for some graphic sexuality.

O

• Orgazmo, 1997 (rated 1998), for explicit sexual content and dialogue.^[10]
• Original Sin, 2001, edited version rated R for strong sexual content and some violence.

P

• Peepshow, rated 1990.^[10]
• Paris, France, 1994
• Phantasm III, 1993; edited version rated R for violence and gore, and for language and sexuality.^[10]
• Pink Flamingos, 1972, 1997 re-release rated NC-17 for a wide range of perversions in explicit detail.^[10]
• Play Thing, rated 1990.^[10]
• Poison, 1991, originally rated NC-17 for explicit sexuality; edited version rated R for sensuality, strong language, and sexual violence.
• Predator 2, 1990, originally rated NC-17 for strong graphic violence and gore; edited version rated R for strong violence and language, and for sexuality and drug content. ^[20][10]
• Pulp Fiction, 1994, edited version rated R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality. ^[21][10]

R

• Radio Active, rated 1990.^[10]
• Rated X, 2000 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R for strong sexuality and nudity, drug use, language and some violence.^[10]
• Razor Blade Smile, 1999, for extreme horror violence/gore and sexuality; edited version rated R for horror violence and gore, sexuality, language and some drug content.^[10]
• Requiem for a Dream, 2000 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R in 2001 for intense depiction of drug addiction, graphic sexuality, strong language and some graphic violence.^[10]
• Romance, 1999, for explicit sexual content.
• Romantic Memoirs (Baksmälla), 1973, rated 1990.^[10]
• Romper Stomper, 1993; edited version rated R in 1994 for brutality and violence, sexuality and language.^[10]
• The Rules of Attraction, 2002; edited version rated R for strong sexual content, drug use, language and violent images.^[10]

S

• Santa Sangre, 1989, originally rated R in 1990 for bizarre, graphic violence and sensuality, and for drug content; rated NC-17 in 1991 for several scenes of extremely explicit violence (rating surrendered).^[10]
• Saw, 2004, for strong graphic violence; edited version rated R for strong grisly violence and language.^[10] Following the Sundance Film Festival it was edited for an R rating for wide theatrical release. The R-rated version of the film is 8 seconds shorter than the NC-17-rated version.
• Saw II, 2005; re-rated R on appeal for grisly violence and gore, terror, language and drug content. Saw II was the only film in the Saw series to win an R rating on appeal.
• Saw III, 2006; edited version rated R for strong grisly violence and gore, sequences of terror and torture, nudity and language.^[22][10]
• Saw 3D, 2010; had to be edited six times for a R rating to be approved.
• Scary Movie 2, 2001; edited version rated R for strong sexual and gross humor, graphic language and some drug content.
• Scream, 1996; the original director's cut was rated NC-17; about 20 seconds of gore was cut to receive an R rating.
• The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet, 1970 (rated 1990).^[10]
• Secretaries, 2006, for pervasive graphic sexuality and nudity.^[10]
• Seduced: Pretty When You Cry, 2001; edited version rated R for strong perverse sexuality, drug use, language and violence.^[10]
• The Seduction of Angela, 1991; edited version rated R in 1992 for sensuality, nudity and some sex-related dialogue.^[10]
• A Serbian Film, 2010 (rated 2011); for extreme aberrant sexual and violent content including explicit dialogue.^[10] Heavily edited version.^[23]
• The Shadowed Mind, rated 1991.^[10]
• Shame, 2011; for some explicit sexual content.^[10]
• Showgirls, 1995, for nudity and erotic sexuality throughout, and for some graphic language and sexual violence; edited version rated R for strong sexuality and nudity, language, a rape scene and drug use.^[10] A preview of the film called Showgirls: Sneak Preview was also rated NC-17 for strong sexual images.^[10]
• Sliver, 1993; edited version rated R for strong sexuality, and for language and violence.^[10]
• Softly from Paris: Series I, rated 1990.^[10]
• Softly from Paris: Series II, rated 1990.^[10]
• Softly from Paris: Series III, rated 1990.^[10]
• Softly from Paris: Series IV, rated 1990.^[10]
• Softly from Paris: Series V, rated 1990.^[10]
• South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, 1999; edited version rated R for pervasive vulgar language and crude sexual humor, and for some violent images.^[10]
• Spirit of the Night, 1994; edited version rated R in 1996 for strong sexuality and some language.^[10]
• Stone Cold, 1991; edited version rated R for strong violence and language, and for sensuality.^[10]
• The Story of O (Histoire d'O), 1975, originally rated X; re-rated NC-17 in 2002 for sexual content.^[10]
• Summer of Sam, 1999, edited down to an R rating.^[24]

T

• Team America: World Police, 2004, edited version rated R for graphic crude and sexual humor, violent images and strong language, all involving puppets.^[10]
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, 2006; edited version rated R for strong horror violence/gore, language, and some sexual content.^[10]
• Teenage Bonnie and Klepto Clyde, 1993, rated R on appeal for strong graphic violence, strong language and sexuality.^[10]
• This Film Is Not Yet Rated, 2005 (rating surrendered), for some explicit sexual content.^[10]
• Thomas in Love (Thomas est amoureux), 2000, rated 2001 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R in 2002 for strong sexuality and language.^[10]
• Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (¡Átame!), 1990, originally rated X; re-rated NC-17 (rating surrendered).^[10]
• Tokyo Decadence (Topâzu), 1992 (rated 1993) for strong, explicit, sado-masochistic sexuality.^[10]
• Tower of Terror, 1992, for extreme horror violence.^[10]
• Train, 2008; edited version rated R for strong grisly bloody violence, disturbing images, sexual content and language.^[10]
• Trois, 2000, originally rated R for strong sexuality, language and some violence; edited version rated NC-17 for some explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Tropic of Cancer, 1970, originally rated X; re-rated NC-17 in 1992 for strong language and sex-related dialogue.^[10]
• True Romance, 1993; edited version rated R for strong violence and language, and for sexuality and drug use.^[25][10]
• Two Girls and a Guy, 1997; edited version rated R for a strong sex scene, strong language and sexual dialogue, and for a violent images; edited version rated NC-17 for a scene of explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Twogether, 1993; edited version rated R for strong sexuality and language.^[10]

U

• The Ugly, 1998 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R for gruesome, gory murders, language and a scene of sexuality.^[10]

W

• Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes, 2003, originally rated R for strong sexual content, language, drug use and some violent images; edited video version rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content.^[10]
• When Night is Falling, 1995 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R in 1996 for strong sexuality and some language.^[10]
• Where the Truth Lies, 2005 (rating surrendered), for some explicit sexuality.^[10]
• Whipped, 2000; edited version rated R for strong sexual content and language.^[10]
• Whore, 1990; edited version rated R for strong sexual situations and dialogue, and for some violence.^[10]
• Wide Sargasso Sea, 1993 (rated 1992); edited version rated R in 1993 for strong sexuality.^[10]
• The Wild Bunch, 1969, originally rated R; re-rated NC-17 in 1993, but reverted to R on appeal.^[7]
• WVAG in New York City, 2001, for graphic sexuality (short film).^[10]

Y

• You So Crazy, 1994; released unrated by Samuel Goldwyn Co.^[26]

Z

• Zack and Miri Make a Porno, 2008; rated R for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language; three versions were originally rated NC-17 for some graphic sexuality; the first two were edited voluntarily, and the last was successfully appealed.^[10]
• Zandalee, rated 1990 and 1991 (rating surrendered); edited version rated R for strong sensuality, sexual dialogue, and language.^[10]

See also

• List of Hong Kong Category III films

References