- This article is about the obsolete MPAA rating. For the obsolete BBFC certificate, see X (BBFC). For other uses, see X (disambiguation).
X MPAA 1968
X is a rating that was formerly used in the United States by the MPAA to signify adult material. It was replaced by the NC-17 rating in 1990. This is because, after the rating system took effect, the pornography industry (whose films are not rated by the MPAA) started using X-rated branding without permission to indicate pornographic, adult material. Eventually, the MPAA's X rating was equated with non-MPAA rated pornography in the public's mind. This caused most video stores to refuse to stock X-rated material. Some studios were even forcing directors to make cuts in their films in order to ensure an R rating. To counter this situation, the NC-17 rating was created, and copyrighted, in 1990 by the MPAA, to prevent the pornography home video industry from using the rating.
As also, it was the rarest rating used in the United States right now.
List[]
As of May 11, 2025, there are 27,000+ X rated titles, most of which are self-applied, according to IMDb. (list)
Trivia[]
- The Groove Tube is rated R; however, in some areas it was screened with a self-applied X rating.
- Contrary to popular belief, Midnight Cowboy was always rated R; however, United Artists insisted on releasing it with a self-applied X rating at first, only accepting the R rating after its commercial success and subsequent Academy Award win for Best Picture.
| Motion Picture Association film rating system |
|---|
     Formerly used ratings: M | GP | X |