10 Movies That Would've Been Perfect With an R-Rating

1 week ago 10

Movie

John Leguizamo as Violator, laughing maniacally in Spawn

An R-rating isn’t a guaranteed kiss of death to box office sales. Movies like Deadpool still found a mainstream audience even though a portion of fans would need to wait a few more years before watching it. (Or wait 30 days for it to stream on their phones at school.)

In certain cases, an R-rating allows for more adult content, better contextualizing the story into a grounded and more believable piece of fiction. From questionable comic book adaptations to movie studios editing a near-finished film, these are some of the movies that would have benefited from an R-rating.

10 'Venom' (2018)

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

When brash journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) breaks into a top-secret lab to crack a story, he becomes the involuntary host to an alien lifeform in the Marvel adaptation, Venom. Eddie doesn’t have a long time to adjust to his new friend and the powers that come with it before the lap attempts to retrieve the alien by deadly force. Eddie will need to work with the alien to become the alter ego Venom if he hopes to save the day.

There’s some conventional wisdom at play to target a comic book movie to a wider audience with a PG-13 rating, but Venom plays to an older fanbase. Deadpool had previously been released to strong ticket sales, so there was an example of a mature film doing good numbers without the need to soften a character like Venom who won’t benefit from it. The Venom trilogy did well enough, but there wasn’t a reason for Sony to handcuff themselves with restrictions no one asked for.

Your changes have been saved

Venom

A failed reporter is bonded to an alien entity, one of many symbiotes who have invaded Earth. But the being takes a liking to Earth and decides to protect it.

Release Date October 5, 2018

Runtime 112 Minutes

Writers Scott Rosenberg , Jeff Pinkner

Studio(s) Columbia Pictures , Marvel Entertainment , Arad Productions

Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing

Franchise(s) Marvel

9 'Split' (2016)

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

James McAvoy sitting in a basement with a menacing sense of childlike wonder upon his face in 'Split'

James McAvoy added another impressive performance to his resume when he starred as the villain in the suspenseful Split. After a man with various split personalities (McAvoy) kidnaps three high school girls, they must work together before they die at the hands of the ominously named personality, The Beast. Split would serve as an unexpected sequel to the 2000 film, Unbreakable and be a modest success at the box office.

Up until director M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, the only R-rated movie in his filmography was The Happening. While the R-rating was wasted on the Mark Wahlberg-starring film about scary plants, it could have been better put to use in a film that delivered tension thanks to McAvoy’s skills. Split was one of the better outings from Shyamalan, but an R-rating for Split could have allowed the filmmaker to lean into a more graphic display of the beast's powers.

Your changes have been saved

Split

Release Date January 19, 2017

Cast James McAvoy , Anya Taylor-Joy , Betty Buckley , Haley Lu Richardson , Jessica Sula , Izzie Coffey , Brad William Henke , Sebastian Arcelus , Neal Huff , Ukee Washington , Robert Michael Kelly , M. Night Shyamalan , Rosemary Howard , Lyne Renee , Peter Patrikios , Kash Goins , Roy James Wilson , Christopher Lee Philips , Julie Potter , Nakia Dillard , Robin Rieger , Emlyn McFarland , Dann Fink , Bruce Winant , Bruce Willis

Runtime 117 minutes

Character(s) Kevin Wendell Crumb , Casey Cooke , Karen Fletcher , Claire Benoit , Marcia , Five-Year-Old Casey , Uncle John , Casey's Father , Mr. Benoit , News Anchor , Joe , Jai, Hooters Lover , Kevin's Mother , Academic Moderator , Taxi driver , Flower Kiosk Worker , Security Guy with Dog , Older Worker , Paramedic , Police Officer #2 , Television Reporter , Diner Waitress , Game Show Contestant (voice) , Game Show Host (Voice) , David Dunn (uncredited)

Producers Jason Blum , Kevin Scott Frakes , Marc Bienstock , Steven Schneider , Ashwin Rajan

8 'World War Z' (2013)

Directed by Marc Forster

Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, surrounded by survivors, in World War Z

World War Z was a little late to the zombie craze that had crept into every aspect of pop culture, but it brought the idea to a global scale. The horror/thriller follows Brad Pitt as former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane during his dangerous journey to find a cure for the zombie plague. World War Z would show how different countries fell to the overwhelming threat of the undead, using a Hollywood budget to tell an epic version of the zombie story.

World War Z experienced a few production obstacles on the way to a final cut, needing to reshoot portions of the film to reshape the tone. These changes would be a contributing factor to a PG-13 version that would cut away from acts of violence or avoid letting the camera get too close to attacks. Unfortunately, it’s going to be hard to relay the stakes of the carnage without letting the audience see it, and the softened rating hurt the impact of the film for many viewers.

Your changes have been saved

World War Z

Based on the novel by Max Brooks, World War Z tells the story of a world ravaged by a zombie virus. Former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) braves the apocalypse in search of a cure. He is tasked with finding the point of origin of the virus in order to synthesize a vaccine, reluctantly doing so in exchange for his family's safety. His search takes him around the world, where he witnesses all the devastation of the apocalypse.

Release Date June 21, 2013

Director Marc Foster

Runtime 1h 56m

Writers Matthew Michael Carnahan , Drew Goddard , Damon Lindelof

Budget 190 million

Studio(s) Paramount Pictures

Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures

Franchise(s) World War Z

7 'Kangaroo Jack' (2003)

Directed by David McNally

Charlie (Jerry O'Connell) and Louis (Anthony Anderson) pose with a kangaroo in Kangaroo Jack

When two friends, Charlie (Jerry O’Connell) and Louis (Anthony Anderson), are sent to deliver a package for the mob in Australia, they inadvertently leave $50,000 in cash on a kangaroo that escapes. With dire consequences if the money isn’t returned, the two men must catch up to the kangaroo at all costs. Because there was clearly a different standard for entertainment in 2003, Kangaroo Jack would be the number-one movie in America the week it came out.

A poor test screening of the film caused producer Jerry Bruckheimer to pivot and re-edit the film into a kids' movie titled Kangaroo Jack.

Originally, Kangaroo Jack was titled Down and Under and was an R-rated buddy comedy that featured gratuitous profanity and adult-oriented comedy. A poor test screening of the film caused producer Jerry Bruckheimer to pivot and re-edit the film into a kids' movie titled Kangaroo Jack. Maybe an R-rating wouldn’t have made Kangaroo Jack a classic piece of cinema, but at least it would have been the movie everyone involved agreed to make.

RENT ON APPLE TV+

6 'Mortal Kombat' (1995)

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

The heroes of Mortal Kombat posing and looking at the camera

The arcade smash hit Mortal Kombat was given the big-screen treatment during the height of the video game’s popularity. The martial arts adventure told the story of an ancient fighting tournament that determined the fate of the mortal realm. Three unlikely contestants, Lui Kang (Robin Shou), Sonya Blade (Bridgette Wilson), and Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby), must rise to the challenge and defeat the evil Shang Tsung to save the world.

It was surprising that Mortal Kombat went with a PG-13 rating considering the source material was a game where you could rip someone’s heart out if you pressed buttons in the right order. The appeal in this case is specifically the violence, and it’s questionable if the game had been as popular without characters spraying blood after receiving an uppercut. The 2021 reboot of the same name would correct the mistake of the prior film by choosing an R-rating and the violence that went with it, but it inversely missed some of the levity that makes fans think of the original film fondly.

Your changes have been saved

Mortal Kombat

1995's Mortal Kombat is the first attempt to translate the famous MK video game franchise to the big screen. It features Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage receiving help from Lord Raiden in order to defeat Shang Tsung and stop Outworld from defeating Earthrealm one final time. After a controversial sequel, the 2021 reboot started its story from scratch.

Release Date August 18, 1995

Cast Robin Shou , Christopher Lambert

Runtime 101minutes

Character(s) Johnny Cage , Liu Kang , Lord Raiden , Sonya Blade , Shang Tsung , Princess Kitana , Kano , Scorpion , Scorpion (voice) , Sub-Zero , Reptile , Jax Briggs , Chan , Grandfather , Art Lean , Master Boyd , Director , Assistant Director , Chief Priest , Guest Fighter (uncredited) , Outworld Warrior (uncredited) , Fighting Monk , Goro (voice) , Goro (uncredited)

Producers Lawrence Kasanoff , Robert Engelman

Budget $20 million

Studio(s) New Line Cinema

Distributor(s) New Line Cinema

Sequel(s) Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

5 'Borderlands' (2024)

Directed by Eli Roth

Another movie that makes a case for video games being unadaptable for film, Borderlands is a big-budget reimagining of the popular video game franchise. The film follows the world-weary Lilith (Cate Blanchett) as she takes a job to rescue a girl named Tina (Ariana Greenblatt) from the dangerous planet of Pandora. In a world of double-crosses and big guns, Lilith will need to rely on mercenary Roland (Kevin Hart) and mother Patricia Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis) to survive another day.

There’s a world where the silly humor that the game is known for became the focus of the movie, and there was a strong action comedy to be made. Instead, Borderlands was reportedly designed to be an R-rated film that would later be cut into a tamer PG-13 that fans of the game were not interested in seeing. It’s impossible to say an R-rating would have made Borderlands perfect, but with it currently sitting at a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 10%, it couldn’t have hurt either.

Your changes have been saved

A feature film based on the popular video game set on the abandoned fictional planet of Pandora where people search for a mysterious relic.

Release Date August 9, 2024

Runtime 102 Minutes

Main Genre Sci-Fi

Studio

Studio(s) Arad Productions , Picturestart

Distributor(s) Lionsgate

4 'King Arthur' (2004)

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

Guinevere (Keira Knightley) looks longingly at King Arthur (Clive Owen) in a field of grass in 'King Arthur'

The tale of King Arthur and his quest for glory was told yet again in 2004, but this time under the helm of Training Day director Antoine Fuqua. Fuqua’s vision was to make a more realistic depiction of the classic tales of knights and kings with Clive Owen as King Arthur, Ioan Gruffudd as his knight Lancelot, and Keira Knightley as Guinevere.

In another case of a studio altering the original intent, Fuqua has expressed frustration with Disney after the release of King Arthur. A push for a summer release from the planned fall window caused producer Jerry Bruckheimer to edit the planned R-rated film into a more audience-pleasing PG-13. Fuqua was quoted in Variety regarding the film: “Did I get to make the movie I wanted? No and no,” he continued, “I started out making the movie I wanted, but that was before they (Disney) started to police me.” Fuqua is a talented director, so it’s unfortunate his vision for King Arthur’s story could never materialize.

Your changes have been saved

King Arthur

Arthur is a reluctant leader who wants to return to Rome and live in peace. However, he sets out on a rescue mission alongside the Knights of the Round Table when the Saxon army is about to attack.

Release Date July 7, 2004

Runtime 126 Minutes

3 'Alien vs. Predator' (2004)

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

Alexa standing in front of a predator and looking to her righr in Alien vs. Predator

Two of the most famous movie monsters finally face off in the sci-fi horror flick Alien vs. Predator. A group of scientists are lured into a trap that makes them crossfire in the ultimate training test for the intergalactic Predators while they hunt the deadly Xenomorphs. With a low chance of survival, the remaining humans will have to hope the Predators can be their salvation to safety.

There’s no logical reason to soften either the Aliens or the Predators, with every installment of each franchise being rated R. The age group the studio was looking to gain will most likely have less familiarity with the franchise, so, in turn, less interest. The majority of people excited about watching Alien vs. Predator were at the legal drinking age, and seeing a PG-13 on the poster made more than a few hold off on buying a ticket. While Alien vs. Predator made enough money to warrant a sequel, an R-rating would have been able to properly allow the two alien threats a battle to be remembered.

Your changes have been saved

Alien Vs Predator

Release Date August 13, 2004

Director Paul W.S. Anderson

Runtime 101 minutes

Writers Paul W.S. Anderson

Budget $60 million

Studio(s) 20th Century

Distributor(s) 20th Century

Prequel(s) Alien: Covenant, Aliens, Prometheus, Alien Resurrection, Predator 2, Alien 3

2 'Live Free or Die Hard' (2007)

Directed by Len Wiseman

Matt Farrell and John Maclaine hiding behind a wall in Live Free or Die Hard

It’s the classic tale of analog over digital when supercop John McClane (Bruce Willis) faces a new uphill battle in Live Free or Die Hard. The fourth installment of the popular action series would see McClane take on ex-government analyst turned terrorist Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) as he seeks to unleash a crippling computer virus onto the world. To stop him, McClane teams up with computer hacker Matthew Farrell (Justin Long) to do all the computer stuff while he busts some heads.

Inexplicably, the fourth film of a previously R-rated series was edited for a PG-13 release, a move that bothered long-time fans when it was announced. Live Free or Die Hard still managed to include copious violence, but language, such as the famous quote McClane says in every installment, would need to be worked around to secure the PG-13 rating. When the series returned for a fifth outing, A Good Day to Die Hard, the Willis action vehicle would return to an R-rating.

Your changes have been saved

Live Free or Die Hard

Release Date June 27, 2007

Runtime 129 Minutes

Writers Mark Bomback , David Marconi

Budget $110 Minutes

Studio(s) Cheyenne Enterprises , Dune Entertainment , Ingenious Film Partners

Distributor(s) 20th Century

Prequel(s) Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, Die Hard

Franchise(s) Die Hard

1 'Spawn' (1997)

Directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé

Spawn looking menacing in the 1997 movie Spawn

When U.S. Marine Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is murdered during a covert operation, he’s manipulated into becoming a soldier of hell in Spawn. Based on the comic book series by creator Todd McFarlane, the movie would see Simmons appear on Earth five years later in a world he didn’t recognize while facing off against the demonic clown Violator (John Leguizamo).

The source material is so uncompromisingly mature and dark that eschewing a little violence doesn’t make the story of a demon soldier from hell more palatable to children. It’s not clear if this was a studio not understanding the property they were developing or cold feet about a big budget for a niche character, but Spawn failed to please anyone as the end result. An HBO cartoon of the same name chose to lean into the R-rated spirit of the comic books and was much better received by fans.