Movies are a great entertainment, but not every movie is suitable for all ages.
When a movie is rated “R”, it means one under 17-years-old is not admitted without an accompanying parent or guardian.
Despite cultural standards have changed over time, and so have movie ratings, a rated “R” qualification is given to a movie for frequent use of nudity for sexual porpoises, strong language, violence, and drug abuse.
According to Box Office Mojo, these are the top-grossing rated R movies of all-time:
- “The Passion of the Christ”, released February 25th, 2004, collected a total of $370,782,939 in Lifetime Total Gross.
- “Deadpool”, starring Ryan Reynolds as a smart-mouth Marvel superhero, round up a total of $363,070,709 in Lifetime Total Gross, after enjoying a record-breaking opening weekend of $132 million USD.
- “American Sniper” by Clint Eastwood and Andy Muschietti´s “It” come in at 3rd and 4rd place, with $350,125,372 and $327,481,748, respectively.
- “The Matrix Reloaded”, a film by the Wachowski sisters, released 2003, sits at number 5 with $281.576,461 in Lifetime Total Gross.
- “The Hangover” parts 1 and 2, “Beverly Hills Cop”, “The Exorcist” and “Logan”, the last film where Hugh Jackman starred as Marvel´s Wolverine, complete the top-ten rated R movies of all-time.
The beginning of movie rating
According to a James Rocchi article in ThoughtCo., in the early 1900s, Chicago and New York City both gave police the authority to determine what could and could not be shown, making cities the first to attempt to censor a movie, not the film industry.
The article continues to explain that by today’s standards, the occasional glimpse of a bare leg or a suggestive word seems tame, but in throughout the 1920s such behavior was considered scandalous.
Films like “The Wild Party” (1929) with Clara Bow and “She Done Him Wrong” (1933) with Mae West titillated viewers and infuriated social conservatives and religious leaders.
Click here to explore the complete list of top grossing rated R movies.