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The universe of movie ratings is a complicated and often random thing. How come you can say the s-word an seemingly infinite amount of times and get a PG-13, but slipping in an f-bomb guaranteed an R-rating? However, few things are more complicated and interesting than the relationship between sex, nudity, and R-ratings.
As The Hollywood Reporter‘s Pamela McClintock once explored, the line between a steamy R-rating and a disastrous NC-17 is a fine one. It all comes down to thrust counts, whether or not your main couples are monogamous, and how much nudity you show for how long. If it feels completely subjective and a bit insane that’s because it is. Below are 10 films that were hit with the box office-ruining NC-17 rating for being too sexually provocative. From films so controversial they inspire outrage to this day to surprisingly steamy (and ironic) documentaries, this list and the reasons for these ratings will probably make you blush a bit.
‘Blue Is the Warmest Color’ (2013)
There's a reason why French cinema has earned a reputation for giving moviegoers some of the most the risqué scenes in history. Providing viewers with one of the most explosive sex scenes in recent memory, Blue is the Warmest Color features one of the steamiest moments on Netflix as Emma (Léa Seydoux) and Adele (Adèle Exarchopoulos) explore every single inch of each other's bodies.
Stream Blue is the Warmest Color on Netflix. ©IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Col
Rating: NC-17, Rating accepted
Why was it NC-17: It’s not really a big surprise that this French film got a NC-17 rating. This emotional coming-of-age film features several sex scenes, but it’s the extended scene between Adèle and Emma that probably probably pushed the censors over the edge. Not only is there near-full nudity (a big red flag for censors) and lots of oral sex (another red flag), but the big sex scenes also happen between two women. Historically, same sex scenes are held to a much more intense sexy standard.
‘Y Tu Mama Tambian’ (2001)
Not only was this coming-of-age drama nominated for the Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, but it also delivered one of the most memorable sex scenes in recent memory. Just how hot is Y Tu Mama Tambien? It's been over 15 years and the movie still has the hottest 3-way sex scene in movie history.
Don't believe us? Stream Y Tu Mamá También on Netflix. ©IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Col
Rating: NC-17, Released as NR
Why was it NC-17: This film was released without a rating in the United States because the film’s creators and producers knew if they tried to market it, it would receive an NC-17 rating. Between the movie’s threesome, nudity-filled scenes, and intense drug use, the creators were right. However, the release of Y Tu Mama Tambian prompted Roger Ebert to criticize the MPAA for infantilizing creators’ work.
‘Nymphomaniac Vol. I and Vol. II’ (2013)
Who'd have thought that a film titled Nymphomaniac would appear on this list? Lars von Trier's 2013 European art film about a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac who recounts her erotic experiences is so steamy that it initially received an NC-17 from the Motion Picture Association of America. Also, fun fact: This film features so much sex that it's banned in Turkey. Luckily for you, it's not banned in a little country called Netflix.
Stream Nymphomaniac: Volume 1 on Netflix. ©Magnolia Pictures / Everett Co
Rating: NC-17, Released as NR
Why was it NC-17: Where do you even start with Lars von Trier’s ode to sex addiction? Not only are there multiple full nude scenes but the movie basically embraces group sex. If a movie was designed to soar past the R rating but not be porn, this would be it.
‘Original Sin’ (2001)
Rating: NC-17, Edited for R rating
Why was it NC-17: So far the movies on this list have been steamy, NC-17, and good. Original Sin doesn’t fall into the latter category. Once described as a “disaster of a soft porn movie,” this Angelina Jolie flick. But why did the movie get the NC-17 rating? The answer is perhaps the silliest one yet — too many pelvic thrusts. Turns out that the MPAA does count these things.
‘The Dreamers’ (2003)
Rating: NC-17, Edited for R rating
Why was it NC-17: It all comes down to about two and a half minutes. However, those two minutes make a big difference. The full version of this Bernardo Bertolucci romantic drama features an extended masturbation scene, a full penis shot, a full vagina shot, and a lot more thrusting.
‘La Grande Bouffe’ (1973)
Rating: NC-17, Rating accepted
Why was it NC-17: There are a lot of comedic depictions of sex and over-eating in this Italian-French cult classic. However, what likely stopped this movie about a group of friends eating themselves to death was ‘70s censors. Though they would likely be fine today, the movie’s many sex scenes were just a bit too risque at the time.
‘Showgirls’ (1994)
Rating: NC-17, Rating accepted
Why was it NC-17: This movie about the seedy life of a Las Vegas stripper holds a special place in ratings history. It was the first and only NC-17 film to get a wide release. However, that doesn’t mean that Showgirls is a good movie per se. The erotic drama is consistently listed as one of the worst films ever made. It was likely a few of the sex scenes and Elizabeth Berkley’s full frontal shot that earned the film its historic rating.
‘Last Tango in Paris’ (1972)
Rating: NC-17, Rating accepted
Why was it NC-17: Bernardo Bertolucci’s erotic drama actually earns an especially controversial place on this list. When the film was first released, it was so graphic that it was given an X rating. However, when the anal rape scene was removed, the film was given an NC-17 rating. But the controversy doesn’t stop there. It was recently revealed that the butter scene was filmed without giving Maria Schneider any warning, making a morally gray scene even more disturbing.
‘This Film Is Not Yet Rated’ (2006)
Rating: NC-17, Released as NR
Why was it NC-17: Sometimes the world can be a very funny place. This documentary exploring the complicated ins and outs of the MPAA’s rating system included a lot of footage of NR and NC-17 films. Obviously, the MPAA wasn’t cool with those movies when they were first released and they weren’t cool when they were in documentary form in 2008.
‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’ (2008)
Rating: NC-17, Successfully appealed for R rating
Why was it NC-17: Kevin Smith’s Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks-led sex comedy was originally given a disastrous NC-17 rating. However, after Smith appealed the decision (and Rogen complained a lot), that rating was later changed to R. So what offended the MPAA so much? There was a bit too much thrusting in one scene and the poop scene was a bit much.
