Shubhabrata Dutta
An NC-17 rating means that anyone below the age of 17 is not allowed to watch a film. However, some of the most iconic films in cinematic history have been given the NC-17 rating. This rating isn’t just about the sexual content but also focuses on the violence and other factors in the film, measuring its overall suitability for a young audience. The movies directly released on Netflix aren’t rated by the MPAA (the rating agency for theatrical movies). So, when making this list of the boldest movies on Netflix, we decided to take the liberty of rating the unrated movies ourselves and presenting you with the only movies that fall in the NC-17 category.
5. Swearnet (2014)
Directed by Warren P. Sonoda, this is a Canadian dark comedy. It follows Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay, and Robb Wells, who are all stars of the mockumentary series ‘Trailer Park Boys’ that shows the exploits of three guys, Ricky (Robb Wells), Julian (John Paul Tremblay), and Bubbles (Mike Smith), as they try to avoid the police while earning money through small crimes. The movie shows the three actors, portraying fictional versions of themselves, opting to create their own uncensored network on the internet after facing censorship in their post- ‘Trailer Park Boys’ lives. What they undergo for it and as a result of it is what we see in this movie. You can stream ‘Swearnet’ here.
4. Point Blank (2019)
Frank Grillo and Anthony Mackie star in this buddy action film as a hardened criminal and an ER nurse, respectively, who have to battle against some deadly forces to protect both their families from being killed. Abe (Grillo) takes along the calm and composed Paul (Mackie) on a ride of a lifetime with danger lurking at every corner. The film clocks in at a modest 87 minutes, but it sometimes feels unnecessarily dragging despite the short runtime. The story does begin with a lot of promise, but it somehow loses its grip on the audience along the way. The main issue with ‘Point Blank’ is its pretty run-of-the-mill storyline, which has nothing new or exciting to offer. The characters also could have been more well-developed than what screenwriter Adam G. Simon manages to pull off. You can check out the film here.
3. 365 Days Series (2020)
Directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes, ‘365 Days’ is an unabashedly raunchy Polish erotic thriller that deals with controversial concepts like dubious consent, sadomasochism, and sexual violence. The film’s primary male character, Don Massimo Torricelli (Michele Morrone), becomes the head of a Sicilian crime family following the murder of his father. He has been obsessed with Polish executive Laura Biel (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) since he saw her for the first time at a beach five years earlier. After Laura quarrels with her boyfriend, her path crosses with Massimo, and he abducts her. He takes her to his villa, explaining that he will keep her captive for the next 365 days until she develops genuine feelings for him. What follows is a war of dominance between the two headstrong characters. Feel free to check out the movies here.
2. Amar (2017)
Spanish filmmaker Esteban Crespo made his cinematic debut with this invigorating and sexy romance drama. The story had been stuck in his mind for a considerable period. In 2005, Crespo made a short film with the same script but with different actors. The big-screen rendition stars María Pedraza and Pol Monen as Laura and Carlos, two young people who explore every nook and cranny of their sexuality with each other.
The film’s first half resonates with such thumping optimism that the darkness and separation that almost inevitably arrive don’t feel as oppressive as they should be. Cinematographer Ángel Amorós’ camerawork depicts the intimacy between the two protagonists in minute detail, but it doesn’t feel either obtrusive or voyeuristic even for a minute. At its core, ‘Amar’ is a celebration of adulting, the brief period in our lives when we try to find our true selves through the maze of teen contradictions. You may watch the film here.
1. Blonde (2022)
Based on Joyce Carol Oates’s novel of the same name, ‘Blonde‘ follows a fictionalized version of Marilyn Monroe’s life. The movie follows a young Norma Jeane who discovers her love for acting and transforms into the Marilyn Monroe that the world loves and admires. Behind all the glitz and glamor, however, Marilyn leads a troubled life, suffering sexual and physical abuse, heartbreaks, and numerous abortions, among other things. Director Andrew Dominik doesn’t shy away from getting up close to the tragedies in Marliyn’s life, and quite a few times, the audience is forced to look away from the screen. It is stuff like this that got the movie its NC-17 rating and made it one of the most controversial releases of the year. You can watch the movie here.
