Top 10 R-Rated Movies Made by Disney

One consistent theme throughout this list will be how the Disney Corporation has historically circumvented associating its brand with R-rated fare via the establishment of sub-corporations. Specifically, television and film arms such as Hollywood Pictures enabled The House of Mouse to retain financial windfalls from adult entertainment, while still keeping the Disney brand squeaky-clean. “The Rock” was one such picture, an early effort from director Michael Bay that combined his stylish creative past in music video and commercial production with slam-bang action cinema. It totally works, too, thanks to a cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Michael Biehn, Ed Harris and Sir Sean Connery.

This 1995 directorial effort from the Hughes Brothers was co-produced by Disney-owned Hollywood Pictures, and was also distributed via the Mouse’s own Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. The film itself is a violent-yet-compelling tale of a disenfranchised Vietnam veteran whose financial and familial struggles push him to the breaking point. The robbery scene that occurs at the climax of “Dead Presidents” is expertly executed, and is a striking visual example of how it succeeds at combining character study with intense action. Who knew that the folks at Disney had it in them to distribute this kind of movie?

It would be easy, on the surface at least, to label 1997’s “Starship Troopers” as simply another alien-focused action film. Yet director Paul Verhoeven’s adaptation of the 1959 novel subverts expectations, thanks to a smart screenplay by Edward Neumeier. The satire levels are on full blast here, as Neumeier’s script pokes holes in fascist and authoritarian ideologies, while also never forgetting to be entertaining-as-heck. Oh, and “Starship Troopers” is unrepentantly violent, to boot, echoing Neumeier and Verhoeven’s past with “RoboCop,” while leaning into the horrors of warfare. It’s wild to think about how this film was co-produced by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures!

Isn’t it crazy how certain films progress from the screenwriting stage to the finished product? The original idea for 1990’s “Pretty Woman” had screenwriter J. F. Lawton envisioning a dark and comparatively gritty tale of a Los Angeles sex worker. Fast-forward to the film’s eventual production under director Garry Marshall, and you have one of the most successful romantic comedies of the nineties. “Pretty Woman” was a star-making turn for Julia Roberts, thanks to the lightened tone between her and co-star Richard Gere. Still, the fact that this film centered around sex work in the first place necessitated that Disney co-produce via Touchstone Pictures, rather than its home brand.

Edward Norton can always be relied upon when it comes to delivering a compelling, even mesmerizing screen presence. Director Spike Lee pulled what’s arguably one of the actor’s best performances for “25th Hour,” a film detailing a man’s final days of freedom, after being arrested and convicted on drug offenses. Norton takes some of the best words from David Benioff’s screenplay and makes them his own, especially with that monologue. Plus, “25th Hour” was also notable for its post-9/11 NYC setting. The film was co-produced between Lee’s own 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks and Touchstone Pictures (among others), and was distributed via Buena Vista.

Who said that R-rated fare needed to be nasty or violent to achieve the rating? “The Joy Luck Club” was lauded by many critics as one of the best films of the year back in 1993. That said, its dramatic tone and adult themes were never going to go the route of PG or PG-13 ratings. This was cinema for adults, with overarching themes of family, history, romance and loss. Thus, an R rating was absolutely necessary, in order to properly tell its story. “The Joy Luck Club” was distributed by Disney via Buena Vista, and produced solely under the creative arm of Hollywood Pictures.

There are a lot of great movies by which to remember the enduring legacy of Robin Williams. This hit from 1987 has perhaps been forgotten by some over the years, which makes now the perfect time for some reinvestigation. “Good Morning, Vietnam'' was loosely based upon the life of a real person, former Air Force sergeant and DJ Adrian Cronauer. Williams’ performance clearly helped audiences connect with the story. However, both the language at play, as well as the wartime setting, made it virtually impossible for “Good Morning, Vietnam” to pass ratings boards with anything less than an “R.” Disney co-produced this venture through Touchstone Pictures.

Jack Black was still rising in the comedy ranks when he co-starred with John Cusack in this comedy gem from 2000. “High Fidelity” was adapted from a 1995 novel, and it honestly earns its “R” rating primarily due to its language. The film isn’t super violent or too sexually explicit, but is instead a fun character piece about a music-obsessive, his love-life and his career running a record store. Black steals a lot of scenes in “High Fidelity,” but…yeah, there’s also a lot of cursing to be found here. So Disney was never going to slap Cinderella’s castle on this bad boy. Instead, the film was co-funded by Touchstone and distributed by, you guessed it, Buena Vista.

There’s admittedly a surface-level whimsy to 1994’s “Ed Wood.” So perhaps, in an alternate universe, it could have been released under the Disney name proper. But Wood himself worked within the exploitation movie industry. That, combined with the difficulties he and his peers faced, meant that this dramatized biopic required a layer of distance from the House of Mouse. Enter Disney’s ever-reliable Touchstone-Buena Vista tag team, and you have a recipe for director Tim Burton to work his magic. “Ed Wood” is an incredibly heartfelt work, and practically leaps from the screen with sincerity, warmth and humor.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Oliver Stone’s Dramatic Presidential Biopic

Earned Disney Its Very First MPAA R Rating

Language Earned This Lovable Flick an R-Rating

Intense Drama & Language Meant the Disney Name Was a No-Go

A High-Intensity Espionage Action Flick from Director Tony Scott

Here’s a question: is 1993’s “Tombstone” the best modern western ever made? This epic flick from director George P. Cosmatos and screenwriter Kevin Jarre certainly possesses a tendency to top lists of that type. It’s no wonder, considering its stellar ensemble cast, startling violence, and endlessly quotable dialogue. There’s a style at play here that’s slick, perhaps less stodgy than westerns of old, making it a perfect entry point for younger viewers to appreciate the genre. Make no mistake, however, the action here is intense, and not for the faint of heart. This essentially means that Disney needed to co-produce this thing under Hollywood Pictures, while also handling the North and South American distribution via Buena Vista.