The NC-17 rating is the most restrictive rating given by the Motion Picture Association film rating system in the United States. NC-17 stands for “No Children Under 17 Admitted”. Films with this rating are considered unsuitable for children under the age of 17.
Origin of the NC-17 Rating
The NC-17 rating was introduced in 1990 to replace the X rating, which had come to be associated with pornographic content. The new rating was intended to signify that a film contained adult content but was not pornographic. It allows children under 17 to be kept out of NC-17 films, while enabling serious filmmakers to include mature content without the stigma of the X rating.
What Type of Content Gets an NC-17 Rating?
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) issues an NC-17 rating when a film contains excessive graphic violence, explicit sex, or graphic nudity. Some specific content that can lead to an NC-17 rating includes:
- Prolonged scenes of graphic sexual activity
- Full-frontal nudity in a sexual context
- Depictions of rape or torture
- Strong, crude language throughout
- Extreme violence or gore
An NC-17 rating does not mean the film is obscene or pornographic. It is simply a warning to parents that the content is only suitable for adult audiences.
NC-17 vs. R Rating
The main difference between an NC-17 and R rating is the age limit imposed. An R rating means children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. NC-17 disallows all children under 17, requiring an adult guardian for all ages.
In general, films that get an R rating contain adult themes, violence, and language, but not to the extreme degrees warranting an NC-17. The MPAA tends to give R ratings for mainstream films with modest amounts of adult content. The NC-17 is reserved for films with gratuitous or explicit sex and violence.
Table Comparing R and NC-17 Ratings
| Rating | Age Restriction | Content |
|---|---|---|
| R | Under 17 require adult guardian | Strong violence, language, or sexuality |
| NC-17 | No one under 17 admitted | Graphic sex and violence |
Impact of an NC-17 Rating
An NC-17 rating often has a negative impact on a film’s commercial success. Many theaters refuse to exhibit NC-17 films, and major media outlets frequently refuse to run advertisements. The stigma of the rating leads to lower box office numbers.
To avoid these obstacles, some filmmakers choose to edit their films to achieve an R rating. Others release their film unrated rather than accept an NC-17. Nonetheless, an uncut version with an NC-17 rating is sometimes released on DVD.
Notable NC-17 Films
Here are some famous films that were originally assigned an NC-17 rating:
- Showgirls (1995)
- Henry & June (1990)
- Bad Lieutenant (1992)
- Crash (1996)
- Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)
While many of these films were edited to receive an R rating, some like Showgirls chose to embrace the stigma and were released in theaters with an NC-17.
Conclusion
The NC-17 rating designates films with gratuitous graphic sex, violence, and language as unsuitable for children under 17. It imposes stricter age limits than an R rating. While the rating aims to help parents, it often hurts a film’s distribution and box office revenue. Nonetheless, it allows filmmakers to release their vision without compromising content to meet a lower rating.