NC-17

American  

[en-see-sev-uhn-teen] / ˈɛnˈsiˌsɛv ənˈtin /

abbreviation

1. Trademark. no children 17 and under: a rating assigned to a movie by the MPA advising that persons under the age of 18 will not be admitted to a theater showing the film.

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Etymology

Origin of NC-17

An American designation established as a replacement for the rating designation X ³ ( def. 8 ) in 1990

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

NC-17

But the movie was mired in controversy, from its NC-17 rating to the hostile reviews and cratering at the box office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2025

The arthouse distributor MUBI, which acquired “Passages” after its acclaimed premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, rejected the NC-17 label and is instead releasing “Passages” as “unrated.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 1, 2023

Earlier this year, Brandon Cronenberg’s “Infinity Pool” received an NC-17 but was recut for an R rating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2023

Since NC-17 replaced X in 1990, only 92 movies have ended up with the rating out of thousands, according to the M.P.A.’s online database.

From New York Times ● Jan. 27, 2023

The ratings — G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17 — have remained unchanged since 1990.

From New York Times ● Jan. 27, 2023