Amazon Prime is Streaming the Rare, X-rated Cut of ‘RoboCop’!

by **WyldeMan** 10/3/2018, 7:42 am

Paul Verhoeven‘s RoboCop nearly scarred me when it was released in 1987. While pegged as a sci-fi actioneer, the film is secretly a dystopian nightmare that’s nothing short of brutal. The scene in which Paul McCrane‘s character crashes into a vat of toxic waste and melts haunted me until my early teens. It’s an ultraviolent movie that was originally blasted with an X-rating by the MPAA.

Explains Wiki:

“To appease the requirements of the ratings board, Verhoeven reduced the blood and gore in the most violent scenes in the movie, including ED-209’s shooting of Kinney in the boardroom (read about the making of this scene here), Bobby being shot in the leg, the Boddicker gang’s execution of Murphy with shotguns, and the final battle with Boddicker (in which RoboCop stabs him in the neck with his neural spike and Boddicker’s blood spatters onto RoboCop’s chest). Verhoeven also added humorous commercials throughout the news broadcasts to lighten the mood and distract from the violent aspects of the movie (most of the commercials satirize various aspects of the American consumer culture, such as the commercial for the 6000 SUX sedan). “

The X-rated cut is pretty rare, although it was included on the Criterion Collection LaserDisc and DVD of the film (both out of print), the 2005 trilogy box set, and the 2007 anniversary edition, as well as the 2014 Blu-ray 4K master edition.

Now, the 103-minute X-rated cut is streaming for free on Amazon Prime. While it’s not listed as such, it’s been confirmed by this reddit user who spot checked all the deleted scenes. In fact, I started watching it as I’m writing this piece and boy is it violent!

It’s unclear if this is an error or not, so I would suggest watching it as soon as you possibly can in case it’s replaced with the MPAA-approved R-rated version (which is still amazing).

by Tyger 10/3/2018, 9:15 pm

It’s so rare, it’s on the easiest copy of the movie to get. I have that 4K remastered blu-ray.

by **WyldeMan** 10/3/2018, 9:45 pm

Tyger wrote:It’s so rare, it’s on the easiest copy of the movie to get. I have that 4K remastered blu-ray.

4K, just another physical media that will quickly replaced by streaming in the next few years.

by **joey con carne** 10/4/2018, 5:02 am

What is the difference between X-rated and NC-17? Or did the latter come into existence sometime later?

I did not know an X-rated cut existed. I will need to cheggitout and buy that for a dollar, etc., etc.

by **WyldeMan** 10/4/2018, 6:55 am

joey con carne wrote:What is the difference between X-rated and NC-17? Or did the latter come into existence sometime later?

Originally an X rating meant that directors were allowed to skip the MPAA review process and make the film exactly how they wanted without any scrutiny or demands from the MPAA panel. However the X rating would later became synonymous with porn so the MPAA created the NC-17 rating which they claimed was the same as an X but for a film to be given the NC-17 rating, that film must be submitted to the MPAA panel for review like every other movie. Basically an X rating was once a license for Director's Cuts then porn ruined it for film fans and now we only have a bullshit NC-17 rating to placate us like we're children but it's basically a Hard R meaning, meaning three more seconds to a very tame sex scene or an extra 20 minutes of graphic violence.

by **joey con carne** 10/4/2018, 10:19 am

Is it possible to release a film in theaters without going through the MPAA? That is, having a movie released in theaters and it will say "This film is not rated by the MPAA."

by **WyldeMan** 10/4/2018, 10:29 am

joey con carne wrote:Is it possible to release a film in theaters without going through the MPAA? That is, having a movie released in theaters and it will say "This film is not rated by the MPAA."

Sure you can skip the MPAA but long ago they worked out a deal with virtually all major theater chains that if you do not submit, you will not get any screens or a couple dozen at best. However, in the age of streaming this could all change since the MPAA and theater chains are basically becoming irrelevant and we could see some rating changes again one day.

Films used to win Academy awards with an X rating, just check out the Awards for Midnight Cowboy and Clockwork Orange to see what I'm talking about. The last major film to use the X rating was Brando's Last Tango in Paris, which just like the other films I mentioned, also won Academy Awards.

by Tyger 10/4/2018, 12:18 pm

The MPAA is a fucking joke and I hate how much power they have.

I do like when things backfire for them though.

by **WyldeMan** 10/4/2018, 1:58 pm

Tyger wrote:The MPAA is a fucking joke and I hate how much power they have.

I do like when things backfire for them though.

The MPAA has never seemed more irrelevant than at this point in the game with streaming apps basically rendering movie theaters and the long standing deal they have with the MPAA, obsolete.

by **joey con carne** 10/4/2018, 7:20 pm

So how do I view this X-rated cut? All the ones I see on Amarzon Prime indicate it is rated R. Are these the rated X version?

Edit: My bad. I see the main post stating this 103-minute version is it. Whoopee

by **WyldeMan** 10/4/2018, 7:40 pm

joey con carne wrote:So how do I view this X-rated cut? All the ones I see on Amarzon Prime indicate it is rated R. Are these the rated X version?

Is it listed at 102 minutes or the super awesome 103 minute cut? The OP article says it isn't listed as X but it's that cut if you see 103 minutes. I seem to recall there also being a few 90 minute something cuts out there too.

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