The Top 12 NC-17 Films Ranked by Domestic Box Office Revenue

      Here are the top 12 NC-17 films of all time, ordered by domestic box office earnings.

      The NC-17 rating was introduced to acknowledge that many films with explicit adult content also possess artistic value.

      However, this rating still carries a stigma in certain circles, as evidenced by the fact that no NC-17 film has ever surpassed $37 million at the U.S. box office.

      ### A Brief Overview of NC-17 Movies

      The first film to receive an “X” rating was Brian DePalma’s 1968 work Greetings, featuring a young Robert De Niro, which was considered too explicit for an R rating. A year later, United Artists released Midnight Cowboy with an X rating to avoid conflict with the Motion Picture Association. The film went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture, arguably gaining additional attention due to its controversial rating.

      For a period, films with an X rating could still earn respect, but soon the rating became synonymous with adult content alone, damaging its reputation and reducing a film’s chances of reaching a broad audience.

      At the end of the '80s and the beginning of the '90s, a time marked by groundbreaking films like Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, the Motion Picture Association determined that a new rating was necessary, one that wouldn’t carry the negative connotations of the X rating.

      Thus, the NC-17 rating was established. This new rating indicated that a film was suitable for mainstream distribution, but strictly off-limits to those under 17. Unlike R-rated films, which allowed minors if accompanied by an adult, NC-17 films were exclusively for adults.

      However, the NC-17 rating has not guaranteed success at the box office, as illustrated by this list of the highest-grossing NC-17 films of all time.

      ### The Dreamers (2003)

      This film tells the story of an American university student (Michael Pitt) in Paris who becomes entangled in a love triangle with an unusual brother-sister duo. It makes numerous references to French New Wave cinema and features explicit content, but is primarily recognized as Eva Green's breakout role. She expressed shock upon seeing a rough cut of the film, stating it felt like she was wearing a costume during filming.

      Released uncut in the U.S. with an NC-17 rating, it had a limited release in 116 theaters, earning $2.5 million domestically and $24 million worldwide.

      ### Crash (1996)

      David Cronenberg is known for breaking boundaries, exemplified by the cult classic Crash, which should not be confused with the Best Picture winner of the same name. Starring James Spader, this film, based on a J.G. Ballard novel, follows a film producer who joins a group of symphorophiliacs after surviving a car accident. With its graphic approach to the subject, it earned a Special Jury Prize at Cannes and grossed $2.6 million overall.

      ### Happiness (1998)

      Directed by Todd Solondz, this painfully tough film served as a follow-up to his comparatively mild Welcome to the Dollhouse. It features the disturbing storyline of a largely unrepentant child predator, played by Dylan Baker, and the impact of his actions on his son. The film made just under $3 million in total.

      ### Shame (2011)

      Directed by Steve McQueen, this profound film stars Michael Fassbender as a sex addict and Carey Mulligan as his sister, whom he attempts to keep unaware of his addiction. The intimate tone is unyielding and unsettling. Shame earned $19 million and is notable as the latest film on this list, highlighting tendencies among filmmakers to avoid releasing NC-17 films today.

      ### Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)

      This film, which exemplifies the kind of material that led to the NC-17 rating, is the first of two Pedro Almodóvar entries on this list. It tells the story of Ricky (Antonio Banderas), a former mental patient who kidnaps adult actress Marina (Victoria Abril). The Spanish film grossed just over $4 million.

      ### Lust, Caution (2007)

      An erotic spy thriller from Ang Lee, based on a novella by Eileen Chang, this co-production involving China, the U.S., Hong Kong, and Taiwan is the highest-grossing NC-17 film globally, with a total of $67,091,915. However, only $4.6 million came from the U.S., affecting its ranking here. The film features a distinguished cast, including Tony Leung and Tang Wei. Lee received a Freedom of Expression Award for releasing the film uncut in the U.S.

      ### Bad Education (2004)

      The second Almodóvar film on this list, this Spanish neo-noir stars Gael García Bernal, Ángel Andrade, and Zahara in