25 Best Movies Rated NC-17 Ever Made

Truly excellent adult films demonstrate that groundbreaking movies often challenge what’s considered acceptable. When the movie rating system began in 1968, the ‘X’ rating was created for films too intense for an ‘R’ rating, effectively prohibiting anyone under 17 from seeing them.

The NC-17 rating was introduced in 1990, and while it’s often controversial, many highly acclaimed films have earned this designation. Movies receive an NC-17 rating for intense content like explicit violence, sexual activity, or strong language, and several well-known films fit these criteria.

As a film buff, I’ve always been fascinated by movies that really push boundaries. You’ve got everything from heart-wrenching, realistic romances like Blue Valentine to incredibly gritty and violent films like Bad Lieutenant. Whether those films deserved their X or NC-17 ratings is always a discussion, but one thing’s for sure: they’re all amazing pieces of filmmaking.

Showgirls (1995)

When talking about the NC-17 rating, the film Showgirls always comes up. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, it’s unique because it was the first—and so far only—NC-17 movie to be released in a large number of theaters across the United States.

I remember when ‘Showgirls’ came out – everyone seemed to trash it! It followed this girl, Nomi, who moved to Vegas hoping to become a showgirl, and it was super controversial. The ratings board really came down on it for being so explicit with nudity and sex, and honestly, critics hated it, calling it cheesy and over the top. But you know what’s funny? Whenever it was on TV, I couldn’t help but get sucked in. So many people I knew felt the same way – it was a train wreck you couldn’t look away from!

Over time, people’s opinions of Showgirls have completely changed. What was once seen as a flop is now celebrated as a smart and critical look at American business and how the entertainment world can exploit people. It’s become a much-loved cult classic.

Requiem For A Dream (2000)

Darren Aronofsky’s film, Requiem for a Dream, is a powerful and disturbing portrayal of how addiction can ruin lives. The movie stars Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, and Ellen Burstyn, and tells the story of four people in Brooklyn whose lives fall apart as they struggle with serious drug abuse.

The movie received an NC-17 rating mainly because of a particularly intense and upsetting scene featuring Connelly’s character near the end. Some viewers were so disturbed they actually walked out during that part of the film, but we won’t reveal any details.

Aronofsky protested the rating, explaining that the scene was crucial for emphasizing the film’s anti-drug theme, but the ratings board didn’t change its decision. Rather than edit the movie, Artisan Entertainment decided to release it without a rating. The result is still a deeply disturbing and memorable example of psychological filmmaking.

Kids (1995)

Released in the 1990s, Kids was a controversial film written by Harmony Korine and directed by photographer Larry Clark. It realistically portrayed the lives of New York City teenagers, showing their risky behaviors, drug use, and unsafe sexual activity. The film didn’t avoid difficult topics, and its depiction of youth culture was particularly striking given the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis.

The film received an NC-17 rating due to its explicit content involving underage sexuality and drug use. To avoid this restrictive rating and ensure wider release, Disney—then the owner of Miramax—created a new distribution company specifically to release the film without a rating. Still debated today, the movie remains a landmark achievement in independent cinema.

Last Tango In Paris (1972)

The year Marlon Brando won an Oscar for playing Vito Corleone in The Godfather, he also starred in a film with an X-rating. But this wasn’t your typical adult film – it was directed by the acclaimed Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci.

The film Last Tango in Paris earned its X rating due to its explicit and disturbing depiction of sexual violence, including rape and assault. It tells the story of an American man grieving his wife’s death who begins a complex relationship with a young woman in Paris.

The film’s controversial rape scene heavily influenced its rating and caused significant discussion when it was released. Actress Maria Schneider, who was only twenty years old during filming – while Marlon Brando was forty-eight – later revealed the scene deeply traumatized her for many years (according to the New Yorker).

Henry & June (1990)

The movie Henry & June is notable for being the first film ever given an NC-17 rating, which it received in 1990. It’s based on Anaïs Nin’s book detailing her relationships with Henry Miller and his wife, June. The controversial rating was due to the film’s depiction of sexual activity, including a threesome and swinging lifestyles among the characters.

Anaïs is happily married to Ian, but she finds herself drawn to the free-spirited novelist Henry Miller and his wife, June. This leads to an affair with Henry, and Anaïs also develops a connection with June.

The film received an NC-17 rating due to its sexual content, which goes beyond what’s typically allowed in R-rated movies, though it doesn’t contain pornography. Specifically, a postcard featuring imagery from the film The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife shown at the beginning, and scenes from Le Bal des Beaux, contributed to this higher rating.

Inside Deep Throat (2005)

The documentary Inside Deep Throat is a notable example of a film receiving an NC-17 rating. It explores the history of pornography and the impact of the famous film Deep Throat on American culture. Because the documentary deals with adult content, it was quickly given the NC-17 designation.

This documentary includes footage from the film itself, as well as interviews with key people involved – including director Gerald Damiano and actors Harry Reems and Linda Lovelace. It also features perspectives from well-known figures like Gore Vidal, Larry Flynt, Hugh Hefner, John Waters, and more.

The film earned its rating largely because of clips taken from the original movie. It was the first Universal Studios release to receive that rating since the film Henry & June.

Pink Flamingos (1972)

Directed by John Waters, Pink Flamingos is a famously shocking film that became a cult classic through late-night screenings. Starring the unforgettable drag queen Divine, the movie centers around a competition between criminals to be crowned the ‘filthiest people alive.’

When the movie first came out, it didn’t receive a rating. However, for its 25th anniversary re-release in 1997, the MPAA gave it an NC-17 rating.

Despite real animal abuse concerns, negative publicity, and a famously shocking scene with dog waste, the film’s low rating actually became a symbol of John Waters’ bold, unconventional filmmaking.

Bad Education (2004)

Pedro Almodóvar, a highly respected Spanish filmmaker, has had four of his movies receive an NC-17 rating – the most restrictive rating given to films. These films are Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Bad Education, Law of Desire, and Matador.

Among these movies, Bad Education stands out as the strongest. Gael García Bernal delivers a compelling performance as Ángel Andrade, and notably also portrays Zahara, a transgender drag queen character within the film’s narrative.

I was really fascinated by this film, but it initially received an NC-17 rating due to a specific scene early on – it depicted a gay act of oral sex. The director, Almodóvar, tried to get it re-rated to an R, hoping to reach a wider audience, but the rating stuck, and ultimately, the movie was released in theaters with that NC-17 designation.

The Dreamers (2003)

Bernardo Bertolucci returns to this list, demonstrating his continued fascination with youth, rebellion, and sexuality even years after his controversial film, Last Tango in Paris. The Dreamers is set during the 1968 student protests in Paris and centers on an American student abroad (Michael Pitt) who develops a close and passionate relationship with a free-spirited French brother and sister (Louis Garrel and Eva Green, in her first film role).

The film received an NC-17 rating due to explicit sexual content and nudity. The story centers around three characters who become isolated in a large apartment and engage in competitive movie trivia, which frequently leads to sexual challenges.

Instead of cutting anything to get a more mainstream rating, the studio actually released the film with its original NC-17 designation. And honestly? It was the right call. What we got was this incredibly dreamy and captivating movie – a real love letter to filmmaking itself, but also about growing up and losing that youthful naiveté. For me, it’s easily one of the most visually stunning films from the 2000s; everything just looks incredible.

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970)

Though written by famous film critic Roger Ebert, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is particularly notable as a film directed by Russ Meyer. Meyer was a well-known director who often included nudity and sexual content in his work, using it to satirize traditional American values.

This movie playfully copied the style of Valley of the Dolls, a film that wasn’t well-received by critics but still made a lot of money. This movie had a similar start, but over time, it gained a dedicated and enthusiastic fanbase as a cult classic.

True to form for a Russ Meyer film, it initially received an X rating from the MPAA, later changed to NC-17 in 1990. Ironically, when Meyer found out about the X rating, he jokingly suggested adding even more nudity and sex, but the film was ultimately released as originally made.

2026-06-17 15:18