NC-17 is a rating category given to certain movies by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). It stands for “No One 17 and Under Admitted” and is a warning to parents that the content of the movie is not suitable for children under 17 years of age. This rating category was introduced in 1990 as a replacement for the X rating, which was typically associated with pornography and had a negative connotation in the industry.
The NC-17 rating is given to movies that contain explicit sexual content, graphic violence, or other adult themes that are deemed inappropriate for younger audiences. Unlike the X rating, which was often seen as a badge of honor for filmmakers who wanted to push the boundaries of what was acceptable in cinema, the NC-17 rating is often seen as a mark of shame, as it can limit a film’s audience and commercial prospects.
To understand the NC-17 rating more fully, it’s important to understand the rating system as a whole. The MPAA is responsible for rating movies in the United States based on their content, and it has five main categories: G (General Audiences), PG (Parental Guidance Suggested), PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned), R (Restricted), and NC-17. Each rating is designed to provide information to parents and other viewers about the suitability of the movie for different age groups.
The G rating is intended for movies that are suitable for all audiences, while the PG rating suggests that parental guidance may be necessary for younger viewers. The PG-13 rating indicates that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13, while the R rating is intended to alert parents that the movie contains adult themes and may not be suitable for children under 17. Finally, the NC-17 rating is reserved for movies that contain explicit sexual content or other material that is considered too adult for younger viewers.
The NC-17 rating is typically reserved for movies that contain scenes of graphic sex or violence that go beyond what is typically seen in R-rated movies. However, the rating is not just about the content of the movie; it is also about the context in which that content is presented. For example, a movie that contains a few brief scenes of explicit sex may still receive an R rating if those scenes are presented in a way that is not intended to arouse the viewer. Conversely, a movie that contains only mild sexual content may still receive an NC-17 rating if that content is presented in a way that is intended to be titillating or arousing.
One of the challenges of the NC-17 rating is that it can limit a film’s audience and commercial prospects. Many theaters will not show NC-17 rated movies, and some major retailers will not carry DVDs or Blu-rays of NC-17 movies. This can make it difficult for filmmakers who want to explore adult themes in their work to get their movies seen by a wide audience.
Despite these challenges, some filmmakers and studios have embraced the NC-17 rating as a way to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in cinema. For example, the movie “Blue is the Warmest Color,” which won the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, received an NC-17 rating in the United States due to its explicit sexual content. However, the director of the film, Abdellatif Kechiche, refused to make any cuts to the movie, and the film was released with the NC-17 rating intact.
Overall, the NC-17 rating is an important tool for the MPAA to provide information to parents and other viewers about the suitability of movies for different age groups. While it can limit a film’s audience and commercial prospects, it also allows filmmakers to explore adult themes and push the boundaries of what is acceptable in cinema.