Raising NC-17 meaning: what the NC-17 movie rating means for parents
NC-17 meaning: NC-17 means "No One 17 and Under Admitted." According to the Motion Picture Association, it's for films that most parents would consider "patently too adult" for their children 17 and under, and no children are admitted, even with a parent. The MPA says NC-17 doesn't mean "obscene" or "pornographic"; it signals content for adults only.
NC-17 at a glance
| Official meaning | NC-17 – Adults Only: "No One 17 and Under Admitted" source |
|---|---|
| MPA definition | Content most parents would consider "patently too adult" for their children 17 and under source |
| Can be based on | Violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse, or other elements |
| Next rating down | R (under 17 requires a parent or adult guardian) |
Checked October 2026. Official wording from the rating board; rules can differ by country.
What does NC-17 mean?
Short answer: No one 17 and under admitted.
NC-17 is the highest of the five US movie ratings: G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. According to the MPA, it can be based on "violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong."
What age is NC-17?
Short answer: 18 and up. No one 17 or under is admitted, with or without a parent.
What's the difference between NC-17 and R?
Short answer: With R, a parent can bring a child; with NC-17, no one 17 or under is admitted.
R means "under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian." See Rated R explained.
Does NC-17 mean obscene?
Short answer: No. The MPA says NC-17 "does not mean 'obscene' or 'pornographic' in the common or legal meaning of those words, and should not be construed as a negative judgment in any sense."
Who decides, and is it the law?
CARA, the Motion Picture Association's rating board, decides, and no, it isn't a law: the system is voluntary. Theaters that are members of Cinema United enforce the ratings at their box offices.
FAQ
What does NC-17 stand for?
No One 17 and Under Admitted.
Can a parent take a 16-year-old to an NC-17 movie?
No. Unlike R, NC-17 admits no one 17 or under, even with a parent.
Is NC-17 the same as X?
NC-17 replaced the X rating, which the MPA now lists as obsolete. The MPA says NC-17 isn't a judgment that a film is obscene.
What can a movie get NC-17 for?
Violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse, or other content most parents would consider too strong, according to the MPA.
More age ratings explained
Rated R
Under 17 requires a parent or adult guardian. What that means and how theaters enforce it.
TV-MA
Mature audience only: what the TV-MA rating means and who decides it.
PG-13
Parents strongly cautioned: what PG-13 means, and that it has no age limit.
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