Netflix's Marilyn Monroe Biopic 'Blonde' Earns NC-17 Rating
The Andrew Dominik-directed flick is the first movie Netflix has produced to receive the rare rating.
Netflix's upcoming film Blonde has become the first movie produced by the streaming giant to receive an NC-17 rating, indicating that it's going to be a raunchy ride.
NC-17 ratings are exceedingly rare and generally only given to films with excess amounts of nudity or graphic sex. Netflix has streamed controversial NC-17 movies in the past, such as Blue is the Warmest Color and 365 Days, but this marks the first time the company has produced a flick that has resulted in the extreme rating.
In the case of Blonde, though, the NC-17 is not entirely surprising. After all, the film gives us a look at the life of beloved actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, who was well-known for pushing boundaries during the 1950s and 1960s. Though it's being touted as a "biopic", it's actually based on the Joyce Carol Oates novel by the same name, which the author has made clear is simply a work of fiction.
In an interview with Screen Daily earlier this year, director Andrew Dominik called the film "demanding."
"If the audience doesn’t like it, that’s the fucking audience’s problem," he said. "It’s not running for public office. It’s an NC-17 movie about Marilyn Monroe, it’s kind of what you want, right? I want to go and see the NC-17 version of the Marilyn Monroe story.”
Blonde stars Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, with costars like Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, and Bobby Cannavale rounding out the cast.
Netflix hasn't revealed a release date for Blonde, but the film is slated for sometime in 2022. In the meantime, check out what's new on the service in April.
Image Credit: Sunset Boulevard / Getty Images
Billy Givens is a freelance writer at IGN.
