The NC-17 rating is the highest rating in the Motion Picture Association (MPA) film rating system used for films distributed in the United States. It replaced the X rating in 1990 as the X rating was not trademarked by the MPA and had been co-opted by the pornography industry. The NC-17 rating originally stood for "No Children Under 17 Admitted" to combat the misconception that the rating indicated a film was pornographic. In 1996, the MPA reworded the NC-17 rating to "No One 17 and Under Admitted", effectively raising the minimum age for admission from 17 to 18.
Films with an NC-17 rating are not suitable for children or teenagers under 17 years old. The rating is assigned to films that the MPA deems to contain explicit, sexual, or violent content that is not suitable for younger audiences. The rating is often considered a "kiss of death" for films, as it can deter audiences and stir up negative connotations. However, to many cinephiles, the NC-17 rating is a point of interest and even a badge of honor, as it is incredibly rare for mainstream movies to receive this rating.
