Movies in the 1960s marked a major turning point in cinematic history, as traditional picture formulas were sidelined in favor of more daring storytelling, social and political commentary, and innovation. This decade saw the old Hollywood Production Code replaced by the MPAA rating system in 1968, which created the R rating. This new system allowed filmmakers more freedom to explore adult themes such as sexuality, violence, and political unrest. Influential films of this notable decade pushed boundaries and reflected the era’s shifting attitudes. Directors took on controversial subjects tied to the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and drug usage, helping to build a more realistic (and provocative) style of filmmaking.
To compile our list of the best R-rated movies from the ’60s, 24/7 Tempo consulted IMDB, choosing films that had a 7 or higher rating. Cast credits are from IMDB.
Here is the list of the best R-rated movies of the 1960s.
25. Death Rides a Horse (1967)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7 out of 10
- Starring: Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Mario Brega
24. Spring Night, Summer Night (1967)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.1 out of 10
- Starring: Larue Hall, Ted Heimerdinger, Marjorie Johnson
22. The Boston Strangler (1968)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.1 out of 10
- Starring: Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy
21. Easy Rider (1969)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.2 out of 10
- Starring: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson
20. Medium Cool (1969)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.2 out of 10
- Starring: Robert Forster, Verna Bloom, Peter Bonerz
19. Mirage (1965)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.2 out of 10
- Starring: Adriana Ugarte, Chino DarÃn, Javier Gutiérrez
18. Faces (1968)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.4 out of 10
- Starring: John Marley, Gena Rowlands, Lynn Carlin
17. The Damned (1969)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.4 out of 10
- Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Ingrid Thulin, Helmut Griem
16. If…. (1968)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.4 out of 10
- Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Wood, Richard Warwick
15. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.5 out of 10
- Starring: Albert Finney, Shirley Anne Field, Rachel Roberts
14. Belle de Jour (1967)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.6 out of 10
- Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel, Michel Piccoli
13. Seconds (1966)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.6 out of 10
- Starring: Rock Hudson, Frank Campanella, John Randolph
12. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.7 out of 10
- Starring: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard
11. Tystnaden (The Silence) (1963)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.7 out of 10
- Starring: Ingrid Thulin, Gunnel Lindblom, Birger Malmsten
10. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.8 out of 10
- Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles
9. In Cold Blood (1967)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.9 out of 10
- Starring: Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe
8. The Wild Bunch (1969)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.9 out of 10
- Starring: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan
7. A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
- Avg. IMDb rating 7.9 out of 10
- Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volontè, Marianne Koch
6. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
- Avg. IMDb rating 8 out of 10
- Starring: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon
5. Skammen (Shame) (1968)
- Avg. IMDb rating 8 out of 10
- Starring: Liv Ullmann, Max von Sydow, Sigge Fürst
4. Andrei Rublev (1966)
- Avg. IMDb rating 8.1 out of 10
- Starring: Anatoliy Solonitsyn, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolay Grinko
3. For a Few Dollars More (1965)
- Avg. IMDb rating 8.2 out of 10
- Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volontè
2. Psycho (1960)
- Avg. IMDb rating 8.5 out of 10
- Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
- Avg. IMDb rating 8.8 out of 10
- Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.