Underrated and R-Rated: Must-See Films You Haven’t Watched Yet

“Deadpool & Wolverine” recently beat out “Joker” as the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever made . The Disney/Marvel collaboration made over $1 billion in domestic and international ticket sales. However, we aren’t here today to talk about wildly successful blockbuster hits. Today we are interested in some of the best R-rated movies ever made that flew under the radar. The next time you’re scrolling for a new show to watch, you may want to check out one of these well-made, yet not as well-known, R-rated movies.

To determine the best R-rated movies you’ve never seen, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies 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 March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only R-rated movies with between 10,000 and 50,000 votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb. ( Discover additional best R-rated movies by reading “13 of the Best Cult Classics of the ’70s.” )

49. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Courtesy of Turtle Releasing

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (47,165 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (24,708 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (44 reviews)
• Directed by: John Carpenter

48. Body Heat (1981)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (33,308 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (10,489 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (42 reviews)
• Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan

47. All That Jazz (1979)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (29,819 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (11,783 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (44 reviews)
• Directed by: Bob Fosse

46. Sin Nombre (2009)

Courtesy of Focus Features

• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (33,615 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (21,325 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (120 reviews)
• Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga

45. Lenny (1974)

Courtesy of United Artists

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (16,470 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (6,556 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (26 reviews)
• Directed by: Bob Fosse

44. Mystery Train (1989)

Courtesy of Orion Classics

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (27,056 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (10,591 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (35 reviews)
• Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

43. Vera Drake (2004)

Courtesy of Fine Line Features

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (26,307 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (11,647 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (162 reviews)
• Directed by: Mike Leigh

42. The Tenant (1976)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (42,042 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (11,360 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (32 reviews)
• Directed by: Roman Polanski

41. The Joy Luck Club (1993)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (15,952 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (27,720 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (84 reviews)
• Directed by: Wayne Wang

40. Big Night (1996)

Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company

• IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (18,990 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (8,199 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (56 reviews)
• Directed by: Campbell Scott & Stanley Tucci

39. Nashville (1975)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (25,206 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (10,108 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (70 reviews)
• Directed by: Robert Altman

37. Diva (1982)

Courtesy of United Artists Classics

• IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (13,938 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (6,447 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (56 reviews)
• Directed by: Jean-Jacques Beineix

36. Seconds (1966)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (18,912 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (4,496 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (35 reviews)
• Directed by: John Frankenheimer

35. The Verdict (1982)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (38,047 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (10,404 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (34 reviews)
• Directed by: Sidney Lumet

34. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)

Courtesy of Miramax

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (37,974 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (17,034 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (58 reviews)
• Directed by: Woody Allen

33. American Splendor (2003)

Courtesy of HBO Films

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (48,914 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (44,582 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (187 reviews)
• Directed by: Robert Pulcini

31. Ordinary People (1980)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (49,514 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (23,252 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (55 reviews)
• Directed by: Robert Redford

30. Richard III (1995)

Courtesy of United Artists

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (14,342 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (7,022 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (50 reviews)
• Directed by: Richard Loncraine

29. Husbands and Wives (1992)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (28,553 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (14,177 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (42 reviews)
• Directed by: Woody Allen

28. The Commitments (1991)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (34,153 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (28,407 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (45 reviews)
• Directed by: Alan Parker

27. Fresh (1994)

Courtesy of Miramax

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (12,788 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (8,058 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (40 reviews)
• Directed by: Boaz Yakin

26. Smoke (1995)

Courtesy of Miramax

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (35,265 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (10,576 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (29 reviews)
• Directed by: Wayne Wang

25. Monsoon Wedding (2001)

Courtesy of Focus Features

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (25,333 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (27,606 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (126 reviews)
• Directed by: Mira Nair

22. The Castle (1999)

Courtesy of Miramax

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (16,962 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (14,641 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (39 reviews)
• Directed by: Rob Sitch

21. Waiting for Guffman (1996)

Courtesy of Castle Rock Entertainment

• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (28,141 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (41,610 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (55 reviews)
• Directed by: Christopher Guest

20. The Long Goodbye (1973)

Courtesy of United Artists

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (28,665 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (10,334 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (47 reviews)
• Directed by: Robert Altman

19. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)

Courtesy of Avenue Pictures Productions

• IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (37,868 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (22,934 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (28 reviews)
• Directed by: Gus Van Sant

18. The Magdalene Sisters (2003)

Courtesy of Miramax

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (27,940 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (13,370 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (150 reviews)
• Directed by: Peter Mullan

17. Maria Full of Grace (2004)

Randall Michelson Archive / Contributor / Getty Images

• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (34,635 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (39,744 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (146 reviews)
• Directed by: Joshua Marston

16. You Can Count on Me (2000)

Courtesy of Paramount Classics

• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (29,204 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (10,674 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (105 reviews)
• Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan

15. Down by Law (1986)

Courtesy of Island Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (49,905 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (22,383 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (31 reviews)
• Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

14. Belle de Jour (1968)

Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (46,995 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (4,210 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (59 reviews)
• Directed by: Luis Buñuel

13. Stranger Than Paradise (1984)

Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company

• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (36,300 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (15,648 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (26 reviews)
• Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

12. The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

Courtesy of Fine Line Features

• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (36,111 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (11,680 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (60 reviews)
• Directed by: Atom Egoyan

11. The Wedding Banquet (1993)

Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (14,831 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (1,685 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (28 reviews)
• Directed by: Ang Lee

10. Short Cuts (1993)

Courtesy of Fine Line Features

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (43,712 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (22,738 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (58 reviews)
• Directed by: Robert Altman

9. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

• IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (10,517 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (3,235 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (28 reviews)
• Directed by: Paul Schrader

8. Europa Europa (1991)

Courtesy of Orion Classics

• IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (17,028 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (6,942 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (21 reviews)
• Directed by: Agnieszka Holland

7. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Courtesy of Fine Line Features

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (34,486 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (49,745 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (117 reviews)
• Directed by: John Cameron Mitchell

5. A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

Courtesy of Faces International

• IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (23,726 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (8,243 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (31 reviews)
• Directed by: John Cassavetes

4. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Courtesy of United Artists

• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (28,840 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (9,478 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (42 reviews)
• Directed by: Joseph Sargent

3. Once Were Warriors (1995)

Courtesy of Fine Line Features

• IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (35,833 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (29,728 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (46 reviews)
• Directed by: Lee Tamahori

2. Secrets & Lies (1996)

Courtesy of October Films

• IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (45,526 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (11,346 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (45 reviews)
• Directed by: Mike Leigh

1. The Last Picture Show (1971)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

• IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (45,056 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (14,197 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (58 reviews)
• Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich

The post Underrated and R-Rated: Must-See Films You Haven’t Watched Yet appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .