An “R” rating for a movie can suggest a variety of possibilities to a filmgoer. It can mean graphic violence, explicit sex scenes, harsh language…. It can also imply artistic freedom that may not have been possible with a softer rating.
To determine the best R-rated movies of the 21st century, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of early May 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 100,000 audience votes on IMDb, and ruled out documentaries. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
Of the 50 films on our list, 42 have a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer critics’ score of 90% or higher, and 19 movies have scored 90% or above from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes – although audiences have proved to be a tougher crowd, as 38 movies have lower scores from them than from the critics. (Here’s a list of movies with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.)
Click here for a ranking of the best R-rated movies of the 21st century
Thirty-three motion pictures on our list have been nominated for Academy Awards. Two did especially well at Oscar time – “Slumdog Millionaire,” about a young Mumbai man reflecting on his life after he is accused of cheating on a quiz show, which won eight gold statues in 2009; and the multiverse adventure comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which was the big winner this year, taking home seven Academy Awards. (These are the best R-rated movies of all time.)
Five directors are represented with two movies on this list: Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, Ron Howard, Darren Aronofsky, and Martin Scorsese. Richard Linklater tops them all with three: “Before Midnight,” “Before Sunset,” and “Boyhood.”
50. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (795,904 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (328,609 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (138 reviews)
> Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
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49. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (158,118 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (341,132 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (204 reviews)
> Directed by: Clint Eastwood
48. Mystic River (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (436,927 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (203,679 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (206 reviews)
> Directed by: Clint Eastwood
47. Her (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (567,662 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (101,810 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: Spike Jonze
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46. 50/50 (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (332,708 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (86,894 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (200 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Levine
45. Lost in Translation (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (432,805 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (337,639 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (232 reviews)
> Directed by: Sofia Coppola
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44. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (132,732 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (228,109 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (190 reviews)
> Directed by: Stephen Chow
43. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (530,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (55,854 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (280 reviews)
> Directed by: Mel Gibson
42. Moon (2009)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (345,533 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (100,903 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (194 reviews)
> Directed by: Duncan Jones
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41. Boyhood (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (344,547 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (89,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (327 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Linklater
40. Frost/Nixon (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (109,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (109,887 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (259 reviews)
> Directed by: Ron Howard
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39. The Fighter (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (371,534 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (121,585 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (254 reviews)
> Directed by: David O. Russell
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38. Marriage Story (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (272,813 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (184 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (391 reviews)
> Directed by: Noah Baumbach
37. Rush (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (482,996 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (79,330 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Ron Howard
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36. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (466,095 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (23,211 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (409 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin McDonagh
35. The Irishman (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (392,363 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (1,057 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (453 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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34. Nightcrawler (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (495,525 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86,557 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (274 reviews)
> Directed by: Dan Gilroy
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33. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (436,874 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (2,500 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (392 reviews)
> Directed by: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
32. Before Midnight (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (148,768 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (37,550 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (206 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Linklater
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31. Call Me by Your Name (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (236,339 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (16,258 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (363 reviews)
> Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
30. Hell or High Water (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (214,372 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (40,252 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: David Mackenzie
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29. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (745,547 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (97,896 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (310 reviews)
> Directed by: Wes Anderson
28. There Will Be Blood (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (544,988 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (255,474 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (243 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
27. 1917 (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (595,898 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (30,525 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (458 reviews)
> Directed by: Sam Mendes
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26. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (454,829 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (427,295 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (218 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
25. The Big Sick (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (137,232 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (32,924 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (303 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Showalter
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24. Almost Famous (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (279,276 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (325,177 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (174 reviews)
> Directed by: Cameron Crowe
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23. No Country for Old Men (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (900,943 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (399,547 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (288 reviews)
> Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
22. Get Out (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (530,461 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (76,158 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (397 reviews)
> Directed by: Jordan Peele
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21. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1,333,240 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (776,325 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (332 reviews)
> Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
20. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (818,017 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (1,155,878 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (289 reviews)
> Directed by: Danny Boyle & Loveleen Tandan
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19. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (492,320 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (92,983 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (264 reviews)
> Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée
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18. Argo (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (617,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (208,987 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (359 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Affleck
17. Django Unchained (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,427,183 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (429,752 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (291 reviews)
> Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
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16. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (530,779 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (498,702 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (213 reviews)
> Directed by: Edgar Wright
15. Logan (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (688,052 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (93,272 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (423 reviews)
> Directed by: James Mangold
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14. Sound of Metal (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (105,218 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (2,076 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (274 reviews)
> Directed by: Darius Marder
13. The Wrestler (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (296,807 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (140,629 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (233 reviews)
> Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
12. The King’s Speech (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (683,883 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (144,700 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (298 reviews)
> Directed by: Tom Hooper
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11. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (704,537 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (140,524 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (373 reviews)
> Directed by: Steve McQueen
10. Wild Tales (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (196,455 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (10,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (157 reviews)
> Directed by: Damián Szifron
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9. Room (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (392,959 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (49,823 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (317 reviews)
> Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
8. Before Sunset (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (248,039 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (71,186 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (177 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Linklater
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (948,653 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (571,910 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (250 reviews)
> Directed by: Michel Gondry
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6. The Departed (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,241,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (738,191 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (283 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
5. Spotlight (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (473,059 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (70,627 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (375 reviews)
> Directed by: Tom McCarthy
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4. Memento (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,169,429 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (381,352 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (181 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
3. Whiplash (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (763,755 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (70,602 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (297 reviews)
> Directed by: Damien Chazelle
2. Parasite (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (810,722 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (5,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (475 reviews)
> Directed by: Bong Joon Ho
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1. The Pianist (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (836,046 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (253,429 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (184 reviews)
> Directed by: Roman Polanski
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