TL;DR
- Nine LGBTQ+ films rated NC-17
- Films include ‘Blue Is the Warmest Color’
- NC-17 rating often limits distribution
- Filmmakers face tough choices
- Explore where to watch these films
When it comes to LGBTQ+ cinema, the MPAA has a notorious reputation for slapping queer films with the dreaded NC-17 rating, while their heterosexual counterparts often escape this fate. It’s a double standard that has plagued our community for decades, and it’s high time we shine a light on these films that dared to push boundaries.
Receiving an NC-17 rating is like getting a commercial kiss of death; it can make it nearly impossible to distribute or screen the film. Filmmakers often find themselves at a crossroads: compromise their artistic vision or risk fading into obscurity. This isn’t a new phenomenon. In fact, the very first film to ever receive the NC-17 rating was the queer classic Henry & June back in 1990. Since then, many films that depict LGBTQ+ sexuality have faced the same fate.
Some filmmakers have opted to release their films unrated, like Shortbus or Y Tu Mamá También, to avoid the NC-17 stigma, while others had to make painful cuts to secure an R rating, such as Boys Don’t Cry and But I’m a Cheerleader. But some brave souls have forged ahead, embracing the NC-17 label. Here are nine LGBTQ+ films that were released with this rating, along with where you can watch them.
The most recent film to earn an NC-17 is Passages, directed by Ira Sachs. It follows a gay German filmmaker named Tomas (played by Franz Rogowski), whose marriage to Martin (Ben Whishaw) starts to crumble when he embarks on a sexual relationship with a young woman, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos. The film received its rating for explicit sexual content, featuring both straight and gay scenes.
Then there’s the iconic Pedro Almodóvar, known for his daring storytelling. His film Bad Education initially received an NC-17 rating for explicit sexual content and mature themes involving abuse. The film dives into the life of a filmmaker (Fele Martínez) whose past catches up with him when his former lover Ignacio (Gael García Bernal) reappears with a screenplay based on their tumultuous history.
Another notable entry is Blue Is the Warmest Color, which sparked mixed feelings among sapphics due to its explicit and prolonged sex scenes. This film chronicles the romantic awakening of a French student, Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos), as she falls for a blue-haired artist named Emma (Léa Seydoux). It’s become a camp queer classic, despite the controversy.
And who could forget Showgirls? This 1990s gem follows aspiring Vegas showgirl Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) navigating the cutthroat world of show business. Rated NC-17 for strong sexual content and nudity, it’s a wild ride that has garnered a cult following.
Sean Mathias’s Bent tells a heartbreaking story of a gay man arrested and sent to a concentration camp during WWII, where he finds love with a fellow prisoner. This film received the NC-17 rating not just for its sexual situations, but also for its graphic violence and disturbing historical content.
Let’s not overlook Female Trouble by John Waters, which was initially released with an X rating in 1974, only to be reclassified as NC-17 for its explicit content and transgressive humor. Starring Divine, this film follows a teen delinquent turned homicidal criminal.
And if you’re looking for something truly outrageous, check out Pink Flamingos, another John Waters classic that was originally rated X before being reclassified. This film is notorious for its extreme sexual content and shocking acts of performance art, featuring Divine as the self-proclaimed “filthiest person alive.”
Lastly, Trois, directed by Rob Hardy, follows a businessman entangled in a dangerous ménage à trois. This film was rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content and nudity.
These films not only challenge societal norms but also highlight the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ representation in cinema. So grab your popcorn and get ready to explore these daring films that broke the mold and made history!