The 15 Best NC-17 and Unrated Movies (2023)

NC-17 films have long fascinated film fans. As early as 1990, the MPAA (The Motion Picture Association of America) replaced the X rating with NC-17 because X had become synonymous with pornography. Unfortunately, even after the move to NC-17, the stigma of rating lingered, making these films almost impossible to get into theaters.

TIED TOGETHER:15 Movies That Were Originally NC-17

Numerous high-profile films such asamerican psycho,Seen,boys don't cry, andGoodfellasall had to alter or edit scenes to change their NC-17 rating to an R. However, some films threw caution to the wind, defying censorship and refusing to make edits. These films were released with an NC-17 rating or as unrated.

Updated December 5, 2021 by Keith Langston:Thankfully, many moviegoers have become more open and tolerant of NC-17 and unrated films in recent years, and the two ratings are no longer the "kiss of death" they were in previous decades.

Blue is the warmest color (2013)

• Available on AMC+

This French drama was actually based on a graphic novel of the same name and featured stunning performances by Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos, who play two women who fall in love. The film earned its NC-17 rating for its uncompromising portrayal of sex, although that wasn't the cause of most controversy.

According to reports from publications as recordedGeier, working conditions with director Abdellatif Kechiche were extremely poor, leading to massive tensions on the set. In the end, the film received positive critical reviews and awards, but failed to win over much of the LGBTQ+ community due to concerns centered around authenticity.

Kinder (1995)

Larry Clark struck a chord with critics, censors and parent groups in the '90s thanks to a string of highly controversial films, includingKinder,a story about several New York teenagers who dabbled in everything from drugs to unsafe sex.

The content is extremely hard to stomach, leading to a tragic final act.Kinderis a film that tries to sound the alarm about the dangers of an aimless, wasted youth at a time when many young people felt morally helpless.

Showgirls (1995)

Showgirlsshould doSaved by the bellStar Elizabeth Berkley a real actress. It was her chance to show that she had grown up and could star in some dark drama. To date,Showgirlsis the only NC-17 film to be widely released in theaters. The film focuses on Nomi, a young woman who travels to Las Vegas with dreams of becoming a showgirl.

The film is full of subterfuge, assault, extortion and even murder.Showgirlsreceived a lot of negative press prior to release due to its nudity and violence. Despite being a box office bomb, the film continued to be popular at video rental stores and became one of MGM's highest-grossing films in the rental market.

The Human Centipede (2009)

• Available on AMC+

2009The Human Centipede is graphic and highly controversial. A mad German surgeon decides to create a human centipede by stitching three humans together. The film, of course, would never hear anything good from the MPAA, so IFC released it as an Unrated. The film opened at midnight in select theaters around the world and was only open to viewers over the age of 18.

As word spread of the "grossest movie ever made," viewers began queuing in droves. It has become one of the only true "midnight movies" of modern times and has become a cultural phenomenon, leading to numerous parodies including aSud ParkConsequence. It has also pushed the boundaries of freedom of expression and what counts as a "movie". It's a grotesque but important piece of film history.

Bent (1997)

• Available on Tubi

This little-known film about the Holocaust revolves around two gay men who fall in love after being sent to a concentration camp. The cast of the film is superb, with Clive Owen, Ian McKellen, Jude Law, Mick Jagger and Rachel Weisz to name a few.

Despite the graphic Holocaust content, the MPAA cites "a strong scene of graphic sexuality" for its NC-17 rating. The MPAA has long been known to rate sexual content harsher than violence.

This movie is not yet rated (2006)

This film has not yet been ratedis a documentary about how absurd the MPAA's rating system is. The film's research found that the MPAA rated scenes involving homosexual intimacy much harsher, dealt harsher with depictions of female climax, and even gave harsher ratings to films featuring pubic hair.

TIED TOGETHER:The 10 best documentaries of the decade

The film interviews numerous filmmakers who had to fight against the MPAA, such as Matt Stone, John Waters and Kevin Smith. Ironically, since the film features clips from NC-17 films to prove its point, the MPAA also gave the documentary an NC-17 rating.

The Aristocrats (2005)

• Available on Pluto TV, Tubi, Vudu, Crackle, Fubo TV and Prime Video

The 2005 documentaryThe Aristocratsinterviewed many of entertainment's top comedians, all of whom share their versions and experiences of "the dirtiest joke in the world." The joke in question is an intentionally gross and disturbing story of a family auditioning for a nightclub performance. In the joke, comedians try to be as crude and taboo as possible when describing what the family is doing on stage in their show.

Comedians like Whoopi Goldberg, Lisa Lampanelli, Andy Dick, Lewis Black, Bob Sagat, and more all tell their versions of the joke, which involves murder, turds, and more. Of course, to avoid an NC-17 rating, the film had to be released as an unrated version.

Mysterious Skin (2004)

• Available from Strand Releasing

Based on the 1995 novel of the same name,Mysterious Skin stars Joseph Gordon-Levittas Neil, a teenage rent boy in Kansas. Neil eventually moves to New York City where he discovers a much darker world of prostitution involving drugs, HIV and abuse. Simultaneous action follows Neil's friend Brian. Brian is convinced he remembers being abducted by aliens.

As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Neil's troubles and Brian's false memory of the kidnapping both date back to a summer when they were kids. The film is heartbreaking, powerful, terrifying, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance is easily the best of his career.

The Dreamers (2003)

The dreamerfollows the story of an American college student in Paris during the 1968 student riots. At a protest, he meets a brother and sister and discovers that they love movies as much as he does. A strange, erotic love triangle soon develops between the three.

Although the film is in English, it is a modern example of European erotic art house, a genre that has been around for decades and includes films likeThe beast,Emmanuelle, andSalò, just to name a few. The film was a box office success (by NC-17 film standards) and was one of the first starring roles for actress Eva Green.

Shame (2011)

• Available on Prime Video

In 2011,Shamehas helped reshape the way audiences view NC-17 films. The film starred Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan as two gambling siblings, Brandon and Sissy Sullivan, who both have unhealthy sexual addictions.

The film was raw and disturbing, but ultimately melancholy and heartfelt. Both Fassbender and Mulligan managed to play their characters perfectly and create a story that was both compelling and deeply flawed.Shamewon a plethora of awards and was placed on over 20 top 10 lists in 2011.

Kurbus (2006)

After the success ofHedwig and the bad customs, created by filmmaker John Cameron Mitchellminibus, a film about a Brooklyn sex club inspired by New York's real underground sex parties. The film combines comedy, drama and eroticism. It follows an ensemble cast that explores their reasons for going to the club and the people they are outside of the club.

The film gained a lot of attention because it was shot entirely with real intercourse. CorrespondingRaffinerie29, the film's star, Sook-Yin Lee, almost got fired from her job at the CBC because it was up to celebrities like Yoko Ono, Julianne Moore andfamous filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, came to her defense. The film premiered in Cannes and was shown in various cities across America as an unrated version, where admission was restricted to over 18s.

Bad Lieutenant (1992)

• Available on Tubi

Bad lieutenantis one of the few NC-17 films that got its rating almost entirely from pervasive violence and drug use. The film was twice banned in Ireland, first during its theatrical release and later with the DVD release, and an R-rated edit was developed specifically for distributors.

TIED TOGETHER:10 Crime Masterpieces You've Probably Never Seen

It is seen as a history of Catholicism that both embraces and challenges the religion's themes of sin and redemption, and good and evil. Despite being rated NC-17, the film screened at Cannes and received critical acclaim. To this day, it's considered one of Harvey Keitel's greatest roles.

The Bad Dead (1981)

• Available on HBO Max

The bad deathwas originally rated X for its massive amount of gore, although these days the cheesy effects make the film seem more of a cheesy comedy than horror. When the MPAA changed the X rating to NC-17 in the 1990s,The bad deathwas struck with the dreaded rating.

Thankfully, being an NC-17 film never hurtThe bad death(probably due to the fact that it had been released years earlier). It is consistently hailed as one of the greatest horror films ever made as wellOne of Sam Raimi's best films, and citing filmmakers like Eli RothThe bad deathas her inspiration for entering the horror genre.

A Dirty Disgrace (2004)

• Available on Prime Video

A filthy shamewas the NC-17 film that sparked a debate about what constituted "offensive" and helped inspire the creation ofThis film has not yet been rated. The film focuses on Sylvia, who becomes a sex addict after hitting her head. She soon meets a group of people each with their own unique sexual obsessions.

The film is a slapstick comedy and doesn't actually contain a single explicit sex scene. Regardless, the MPAA awarded him an NC-17 solely for his constant references to sex. In reality, the film is a raunchy comedy that satirizes our perceived norms of intimacy and fetishes. It's hilarious, funny and, like everything in John Waters, outrageous.

Pink Flamingos (1972)

WhenPink Flamingoswas first published in 1972, afterDie Washington PostVariety called it "one of the most hideous, stupid, and repulsive films ever made." The film launched John Waters' career and earned him the honorary title of The Prince of Puke.Pink Flamingosfollows two feuding groups as they both compete for the title of Filthiest Person Alive.

It starred the legendary drag queen Divine, who even ate real dog poop on screen in the film. The film also included kidnapping, rape, murder, necrophilia, infantilism, human trafficking and more. For decades, well into the new millennium,Pink FlamingosConsidered the sexiest film of all time. It also led to a wholeSeries of lewd and hilarious films that John Waterswould become known.

NEXT: