A more restricted movie rating doesn't necessarily indicate gratuitous violence and nudity. It can often be a way for directors to include more mature themes or richness to the content of the film -- without having to worry about censorship.
In fact, in the past 10 years, nine out of 10 Academy Award winners for best picture have been rated R. The other has been rated PG-13. But which restricted movies are the cream of the crop?
Using data from Gracenote, Graphiq site PrettyFamous ranked the top 10 R-rated movies by historical U.S. box office earnings, not adjusted for inflation.
#10. 300
U.S. box office: $210,593,000 Release year: 2007 Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
#9. Saving Private Ryan
U.S. box office: $216,119,000 Release year: 1998 Genre: War, Historical Drama
#8. Ted
U.S. box office: $218,629,000 Release year: 2012 Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
#7. The Exorcist
U.S. box office: $232,906,000 Release year: 1973 Genre: Horror
#6. The Hangover Part II
U.S. box office: $254,456,000 Release year: 2011 Genre: Comedy
#5. The Hangover
U.S. box office: $277,313,000 Release year: 2009 Genre: Comedy
An uptight and by-the-book cop tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.
In a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order: Max, a man of action and of few words, and Furiosa, a woman of action who is looking to make it back to her childhood homeland.
Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult (IMDB)
After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform.
Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.
Stars: George Clooney, Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie (IMDB)
In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his estranged daughter.
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Daddario and Carla Gugino (IMDB)
Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.
Stars: Chris Pratt, Judy Greer and Ty Simpkins (IMDB)
After finding himself in a new time-line, Kyle Reese teams up with John Connor's mother Sarah and an aging terminator to try and stop the one thing that the future fears, "Judgement Day".
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke and Jai Courtney (IMDB)
Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.
Stars: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin and Sandra Bullock (IMDB)
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly and Hayley Atwell (IMDB)
The story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny -- to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller and Jimmy Vee (IMDB)
Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.
Stars: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg (IMDB)
Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
Stars: Miles Teller, Kate Mara and Michael B. Jordan (IMDB)
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