Sometimes, family-friendly films just don’t cut it, especially when you’re in the mood for something edgier or more intense. Whether you’re planning a movie night with friends or getting ready for a solo binge, R-rated movies bring the grit and the thrills that G-rated flicks just don’t have.
From bold new releases like Anora to timeless masterpieces like The Godfather, this list rounds up the best R-rated movies currently streaming on platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and Max. These 10 picks deliver the kind of exhilarating viewing experience you can only get with the most daring cinematic works.
Need more recommendations? We also have guides to the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, and the best movies on Max.
Anora (2024)
Director Sean Baker plunges viewers into the gritty streets of Brooklyn, where the 23-year-old sex worker Ani (Mikey Madison) does what she can to make a living. Her predictable routine takes an unexpected turn when she meets Ivan “Vanya” Zakharov (Mark Eidelshteyn), who turns out to be the pampered son of a Russian oligarch. Vanya is immediately smitten by Ani, so much so that their whirlwind romance leads to a spontaneous marriage in Las Vegas. However, their impromptu union sends shockwaves through Vanya’s rich family, prompting his father to send a trio of henchmen, one of whom is the stoic and later-important Igor (Yura Borisov), to annul the marriage by any means necessary.
Anora took the world by storm with its bold story, breakneck pacing, and mesmerizing cinematography, with every frame showcasing the filmmaker’s now recognizable trademarks (seen in previous works like Tangerine and The Florida Project). Part rom-com, part intense drama, the 2024 film soars thanks to a tour de force performance by Mikey Madison as the tenacious protagonist. This would earn her the Oscar for Best Actress, which is just one of five awards the film would win at the 97th Academy Awards.
Anora is streaming on Hulu.
Civil War (2024)
Civil War depicts a chilling yet familiar dystopian future where the United States is torn apart by internal conflict, with an authoritarian federal government clashing against secessionist factions led by Texas and California. Here, seasoned war photographer Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) and her journalist colleague Joel (Wagner Moura) receive a critical tip that leads to their journey from New York City to Washington, D.C., where they hope to secure an interview with the president before the capital falls. Their already dangerous plan is further complicated by the addition of Jessie Cullen (Cailee Spaeny), a young and ambitious photojournalist eager to prove herself, and Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson), their veteran mentor.
Directed by Alex Garland, known for other thought-provoking works like Ex Machina and Men, Civil War is unflinching in its portrayal of societal collapse. Kirsten Dunst delivers a compelling performance as Lee, whose role as a hardened observer mirrors the very desensitization to violence that Garland critiques. And the violence is brutal, with many sequences in the film being visceral and disorienting as its characters are thrown into the chaos of war. Civil War challenges audiences to think about the fine line between observer and participant in a conflict, especially when it hits home.
Civil War is streaming on Max.
Sicario (2015)
In one of the best crime movies of the 2010s, Emily Blunt stars as Kate Macer, initially an idealistic FBI agent who finds herself thrown into the world of international drug cartels. After she’s recruited by a mysterious government task force led by the cryptic Matt Graver (Josh Brolin), Kate becomes part of a covert mission aimed at destabilizing a powerful Mexican cartel. As part of the mission, she also works with Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), whose complicated past and questionable methods prompt Kate to ask difficult questions about the true intent of their operation. As they cross one moral line after another, she’s left grappling with the consequences of a war where right and wrong no longer seem to matter.
Before director Denis Villeneuve amazed audiences with the Dune movies, he was already making crime classics like Sicario. The tense film immerses viewers in the chaos and corruption around the drug war, propelled by its protagonist’s arc as her black-and-white worldview crumbles when she realizes the complex truth around shadow warfare. With almost unbearable tension and jaw-dropping moments set against haunting backdrops of border towns and unforgiving deserts, Sicario remains a masterclass in crafting a taut crime thriller.
Sicario is streaming on Netflix.
Nosferatu (2024)
In Robert Eggers’ 2024 reimagining of Nosferatu, the story begins as real estate agent Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) travels to the Carpathian Mountains to secure a property deal with Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), an infamously mysterious figure. Upon arrival, Hutter finds a decaying castle and a host who is even stranger than he expected. Hutter soon discovers Orlok’s true nature as a grotesque vampire intent on spreading his curse. Simultaneously, in their German hometown, Hutter’s wife, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), experiences disturbing visions, sensing impending doom.
Eggers’ gothic horror film is a worthy remake of the classic movie Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), itself an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel. Both repulsive and mesmerizing, Nosferatu masterfully achieves a delicate balancing act that pays off in a way few modern horror films dare to attempt. The critically acclaimed work lures viewers in with a dark gothic elegance before sinking its fangs into more genuinely frightening moments. Skarsgård’s Orlok oozes malevolence, made convincing by the actor’s performance and the impeccable prosthetics. Depp is also fantastic as Ellen, whose intense descent into the supernatural anchors the entire film.
Nosferatu is streaming on Peacock.
Whiplash (2014)
An essential film about an artist’s obsession, Whiplash follows Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a young jazz drummer who enrolls at the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory. Eager to carve out a legacy, he believes he has found the way to make his mark when he meets Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a teacher with notoriously brutal methods that push students beyond their limits. Fletcher’s philosophy is simple: greatness is forged in fire, and he’s more than willing to wield the torch. As Andrew endures humiliating verbal lashings and physically grueling practice sessions, his desire to impress turns into an obsession, eroding his personal relationships and bringing him closer to self-destruction.
Directed by Damien Chazelle, Whiplash is a taut and heart-pounding film that mimics the intense story with its own relentless pace. J.K. Simmons delivers a ferocious performance that makes Fletcher one of the most controversial figures in the genre. Teller, in turn, gives a career-defining performance, portraying Andrew’s journey towards becoming a near-mad virtuoso with the passion it requires. The 2014 film — and its explosive conclusion — leaves audiences questioning: Does true excellence require pain or is Fletcher’s philosophy a warped illusion?
Whiplash is streaming on Netflix.
The Substance (2024)
Now a Best Picture nominee, The Substance is a chilling body horror film that plunges viewers into the skin-crawling world of aging washed-up actress Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore). After being fired by her producer, the 50-year-old celebrity tries a revolutionary product called “The Substance” to create a younger, flawless version of herself (played by Qualley). What begins as a seemingly perfect solution to her problem morphs into a nightmare as her younger version upsets the balance and takes up more time in the real world.
Director Coralie Fargeat expertly criticizes the toxic commodification of beauty with a genuinely grotesque yet often hilarious satirical story. Numerous scenes in The Substance offer visceral, almost Cronenbergian body horror, which escalates as its protagonist sacrifices more of herself for fame and youth. Moore is outstanding as the fading actress, with her career-defining performance rightly earning her an Oscar nomination and Golden Globe for Best Actress.
The Substance is streaming on Mubi.
Gladiator (2000)
Before watching Paul Mescal dominate the Colosseum in Gladiator II, fans should revisit (or see for the first time) Russell Crowe’s iconic performance in Gladiator. One of Ridley Scott’s best films, this historical epic takes viewers to the twilight of the Roman Empire, where Maximus (Crowe), a revered general, is betrayed when Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) names him as his successor over Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). The jealous Commodus seizes the throne, orders Maximus’s execution, and has his family killed. Left for dead, Maximus becomes a gladiator in Rome, where his combat skills make him a legend, leading to a final showdown with Commodus.
Gladiator captures the grandeur and brutality of Ancient Rome with a deeply moving tale of revenge. It’s impossible not to root for Maximus as he wins one fight after another, with Crowe’s legendary performance imbuing the character with both limitless courage and heartbreaking vulnerability. Paired with impressive set pieces and practical effects, Gladiator is just as exciting today as it was over two decades ago.
Gladiator is streaming on Paramount+.
Parasite (2019)
Parasite is a film that needs no introduction. The award-winning social thriller became a global phenomenon when it first premiered in 2019, rightly turning director Bong Joon-ho into a household name. It has a deceptively simple premise: the impoverished Kim family, who live in a basement, get an upgrade when they scheme to infiltrate the wealthy Park family’s home by posing as skilled workers. While they enjoy their time in the luxurious house, they make a dark discovery that changes everything.
Parasite has become synonymous with its mid-point plot twist, which sees the film take a disturbing turn. This revelation, along with the movie’s meticulous cinematography and symbolism, is all clever and hard-hitting commentary on capitalism and class divides. Smart, darkly funny, and deeply unsettling, Parasite is the quintessential eat-the-rich movie that should be considered necessary viewing for any cinephile.
Parasite is streaming on Netflix.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Already being called director Christopher Nolan’s best movie, Oppenheimer is an epic biographical thriller that dramatizes the life of the “father of the atomic bomb,” J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oscar winner Cillian Murphy stars as the theoretical physicist in the film, which chronicles his experiences in universities before being recruited to lead the Manhattan Project. It also depicts his downfall after World War II, with a 1954 security hearing condemning his part in the creation of nuclear weapons.
Oppenheimer quickly gained critical acclaim for its unique portrayal of the complicated historical figure’s story, with Murphy infusing his character with both brilliance and imperfections. Aside from the protagonist’s gory visions of his creation’s victims, Oppenheimer earned its R-rating for its straightforward portrayals of sex and nudity. A scene with Florence Pugh’s Jean Tatlock has even been censored using a CGI black dress in the Middle East and India, with the latter also censoring any scenes that show characters smoking.
Oppenheimer is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The Godfather (1972)
Director Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a legendary mob drama that’s often called the best crime movie ever made. Based on Mario Puzo’s eponymous 1969 novel, the sweeping epic chronicles the Corleone crime family’s rise to power in post-World War II America. The story specifically follows Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his reluctant son, Michael (Al Pacino), who is drawn into the world of organized crime after his father is nearly assassinated.
The first in the award-winning trilogy sees Michael experience brutality and betrayal as he learns more about the family business. Its R rating was unavoidable, as the glimpse into the inner workings of the mafia comes with shootings, murders, physical fights, and more kinds of gore and violence. Despite premiering over half a century ago, The Godfather has lost none of its impact and is still celebrated for the way it set a new standard for the gangster genre and cinema as a whole.
The Godfather is streaming on Paramount+.
