The use of profanity in films has often been controversial, but has increased significantly in recent years.[1][2] The use of the word fuck in film draws particular criticism in 2005. The documentary Fuck dealt entirely with this phenomenon.[3] The word fuck is thought to be the vulgar term used most in American film.[4]
The 1927 Motion Picture Production Code, better known as the "Hays Code", banned the use of profanity outright.[5] It was not until 1968 that the Motion Picture Association of America established a system of ratings to use as a guide to determine the appropriateness of the film's content.[6] In 1970, M*A*S*H became the first American film to use the word fuck.[7]
The MPAA rating system typically assigns a PG-13 rating if a film contains the word used once not in the context of sex.[8] The R rating is normally required if the film contains more than one utterance or if the word is used in a sexual context. However, there are exceptions to this rule. In some cases, filmmakers appealed the rating because their target audience might avoid an R-rated film. Censors have been more lenient about the word in films that portray historical events.[8] The ratings system is voluntary; there is no legal requirement that filmmakers submit their movies to be rated.[6]
This is a list of non-pornographic, English-language feature films containing at least 150 spoken uses of the word fuck (or one of its derivatives), ordered by the number of such uses.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources. |
Film | Year | Count | Running time (minutes) |
Rate (per minute) |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Swearnet: The Movie | 2014 | 935[a] | 112 | 8.35 | [9] |
Fuck (documentary) | 2005 | 857[b] | 93 | 9.21 | [10][11] |
The Wolf of Wall Street | 2013 | 569[c] | 180 | 3.16 | [12][13] |
Uncut Gems | 2019 | 560 | 135 | 4.15 | [14][15] |
Christmas Bloody Christmas | 2022 | 487 | 87 | 5.60 | [16] |
Summer of Sam | 1999 | 435 | 142 | 3.06 | [17] |
Nil by Mouth | 1997 | 428 | 128 | 3.34 | [18] |
Casino | 1995 | 422 | 178 | 2.37 | [19] |
The Outpost | 2019 | 401 | 123 | 3.26 | [1] |
Straight Outta Compton | 2015 | 392 | 167 | 2.35 | [20] |
Alpha Dog | 2006 | 367 | 117 | 3.14 | [21] |
Starred Up | 2013 | 337 | 106 | 3.18 | [22] |
End of Watch | 2012 | 326 | 109 | 2.99 | [23] |
State Property | 2002 | 321 | 88 | 3.65 | [24] |
One Day Removals | 2008 | 320 | 85 | 3.76 | [25] |
Twin Town | 1997 | 318 | 99 | 3.21 | [26] |
Running Scared | 2006 | 315 | 122 | 2.58 | [27] |
Sweet Sixteen | 2002 | 313 | 106 | 2.95 | [25] |
Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat | 2002 | 311 | 113 | 2.75 | [28] |
Menace II Society | 1993 | 305 | 97 | 3.11 | [29] |
Goodfellas | 1990 | 300 | 146 | 2.05 | [30] |
Narc | 2002 | 297 | 105 | 2.83 | [31] |
Harsh Times | 2006 | 296 | 116 | 2.55 | [32] |
Another Day in Paradise | 1998 | 291 | 101 | 2.88 | [33] |
Made | 2001 | 291 | 94 | 3.09 | [34] |
Pride and Glory | 2008 | 291 | 130 | 2.24 | [35] |
Malcolm & Marie | 2021 | 289 | 106 | 2.73 | [36] |
Goat | 2016 | 289 | 96 | 3.01 | [37] |
Wheelman | 2017 | 286 | 82 | 3.49 | [38] |
Small Engine Repair | 2021 | 281 | 103 | 2.73 | [39] |
The Big Lebowski | 1998 | 281 | 117 | 2.40 | [40][41] |
Dirty | 2005 | 280 | 97 | 2.89 | [42] |
Jarhead | 2005 | 278 | 123 | 2.26 | [43] |
Cherry | 2021 | 276 | 140 | 1.97 | [44] |
Bully | 2001 | 274 | 114 | 2.40 | [45] |
State Property 2 | 2005 | 271 | 94 | 2.88 | [46] |
Brooklyn's Finest | 2010 | 270 | 132 | 2.04 | [47] |
Reservoir Dogs | 1992 | 269 | 99 | 2.72 | [48] |
Pulp Fiction | 1994 | 265 | 154 | 1.72 | [49] |
I'm Still Here | 2010 | 250 | 106 | 2.35 | [50] |
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | 2001 | 248 | 104 | 2.38 | [51] |
Do the Right Thing | 1989 | 240 | 120 | 2.00 | [52] |
Free Fire | 2016 | 240 | 90 | 2.67 | [53] |
The Boondock Saints | 1999 | 239 | 108 | 2.21 | [54] |
The Departed | 2006 | 237 | 151 | 1.57 | [55] |
Empire | 2002 | 236 | 90 | 2.62 | [56] |
Black Mass | 2015 | 234 | 123 | 1.90 | [57] |
True Romance | 1993 | 234 | 118 | 1.98 | [58] |
State of Grace | 1990 | 234 | 134 | 1.74 | [59] |
Resolution | 2012 | 231 | 93 | 2.48 | [60] |
Goon | 2011 | 231 | 92 | 2.51 | [61] |
Infamous | 2020 | 230 | 100 | 2.30 | [62] |
My Name Is Joe | 1998 | 230 | 105 | 2.19 | [63] |
Gridlock'd | 1997 | 227 | 91 | 2.49 | [64] |
The Devil's Rejects | 2005 | 224 | 109 | 2.06 | [65] |
Eddie Murphy Raw | 1987 | 223 | 90 | 2.48 | [66] |
Suicide Kings | 1997 | 222 | 106 | 2.09 | [67] |
Zack and Miri Make a Porno | 2008 | 219 | 102 | 2.15 | [68] |
30 Minutes or Less | 2011 | 218 | 83 | 2.63 | [69] |
Red Rocket | 2021 | 218 | 130 | 1.68 | [70] |
Black and White | 1999 | 215 | 98 | 2.19 | [71] |
American History X | 1998 | 214 | 119 | 1.80 | [72] |
The Original Kings of Comedy | 2000 | 213 | 115 | 1.85 | [73] |
Hot Tub Time Machine | 2010 | 212 | 99 | 2.14 | [74] |
All Eyez on Me | 2017 | 210 | 140 | 1.50 | [75] |
Layer Cake | 2004 | 210 | 105 | 2.00 | [76] |
Monument Ave. | 1998 | 210 | 93 | 2.26 | [77] |
Scarface | 1983 | 207 | 170 | 1.22 | [78] |
Spun | 2002 | 203 | 101 | 2.01 | [79] |
Fair Play | 2023 | 201 | 113 | 1.78 | [80] |
8 Mile | 2002 | 200 | 110 | 1.82 | [81] |
22 Jump Street | 2014 | 200 | 112 | 1.78 | [82] |
A Bronx Tale | 1993 | 200 | 120 | 1.67 | [83] |
Dysfunktional Family | 2003 | 200 | 89 | 2.24 | [84] |
The Underdoggs | 2024 | 200 | 96 | 2.07 | [85] |
Foolish | 1999 | 200 | 97 | 2.06 | [86] |
Skin | 2019 | 200 | 110 | 1.82 | [87] |
This Is the End | 2013 | 200 | 107 | 1.87 | [88] |
I Got the Hook-Up | 1998 | 197 | 93 | 2.12 | [89] |
Born on the Fourth of July | 1989 | 196 | 145 | 1.35 | [90] |
Sabotage | 2014 | 196 | 109 | 1.80 | [91] |
Bodies Bodies Bodies | 2022 | 194 | 95 | 2.04 | [92] |
Killing Them Softly | 2012 | 193 | 97 | 1.99 | [93] |
Next Day Air | 2009 | 193 | 84 | 2.30 | [94] |
Overnight | 2003 | 191 | 82 | 2.33 | [95] |
Magnolia | 1999 | 190 | 188 | 1.01 | [96] |
Ten Benny[d] | 1996 | 190 | 108 | 1.76 | [97] |
Monster | 2003 | 187 | 109 | 1.71 | [98] |
Belly | 1998 | 186 | 92 | 2.02 | [99] |
Hustle & Flow | 2005 | 186 | 116 | 1.60 | [100] |
Clockers | 1995 | 185 | 128 | 1.44 | [101] |
Get Rich or Die Tryin' | 2005 | 185 | 117 | 1.58 | [102] |
The Wall | 2017 | 185 | 88 | 2.10 | [103] |
Bad Santa 2 | 2016 | 180 | 92 | 1.96 | [104] |
Strays | 2023 | 180 | 93 | 1.95 | [105] |
Chopper | 2000 | 179 | 94 | 1.90 | [106] |
Bodied | 2017 | 179 | 121 | 1.47 | [107] |
Flawless | 1999 | 178 | 112 | 1.59 | [108] |
Silk Road | 2021 | 177 | 112 | 1.58 | [109] |
Slam | 1998 | 176 | 100 | 1.76 | [110] |
Superbad | 2007 | 176 | 113 | 1.56 | [111] |
Pineapple Express | 2008 | 175 | 112 | 1.56 | [112] |
Trainspotting | 1996 | 175 | 95 | 1.84 | [113] |
Poetic Justice | 1993 | 175 | 109 | 1.60 | [114] |
Project X | 2012 | 175 | 88 | 1.99 | [115] |
Human Traffic | 1999 | 174 | 99 | 1.76 | [116] |
Bad Santa | 2003 | 173 | 91 | 1.90 | [117] |
Tigerland | 2000 | 173 | 101 | 1.71 | [118] |
Old Dads | 2023 | 173 | 104 | 1.66 | [119] |
Donnie Brasco | 1997 | 172 | 127 | 1.35 | [120] |
Coffee & Kareem | 2020 | 171 | 88 | 1.94 | [121] |
Mid90s | 2018 | 171 | 85 | 2.01 | [122] |
Backstage | 2000 | 170 | 86 | 1.98 | [123] |
Dolemite Is My Name | 2019 | 169 | 118 | 1.43 | [124] |
Grindhouse | 2007 | 169 | 191 | 0.88 | [125] |
The Commitments | 1991 | 169 | 118 | 1.43 | [126] |
Four Rooms | 1995 | 168 | 98 | 1.71 | [127] |
Contraband | 2012 | 167 | 111 | 1.50 | [128] |
Death of a Dynasty | 2003 | 167 | 92 | 1.81 | [129] |
War Dogs | 2016 | 166 | 114 | 1.45 | [130] |
Studio 666 | 2022 | 165 | 106 | 1.44 | [131] |
Babylon | 2022 | 165 | 188 | 0.88 | [132] |
District 9 | 2009 | 165 | 112 | 1.47 | [133] |
Gang Related | 1997 | 165 | 110 | 1.50 | [134] |
Killerman | 2019 | 165 | 112 | 1.51 | [125] |
Wrath of Man | 2021 | 165 | 119 | 1.38 | [135] |
Boogie Nights | 1997 | 164 | 155 | 1.06 | [136] |
Crank: High Voltage | 2009 | 164 | 96 | 1.71 | [137] |
Blood In Blood Out[e] | 1993 | 163 | 190 | 0.86 | [138] |
The 51st State[f] | 2001 | 163 | 92 | 1.96 | [139] |
21 & Over | 2013 | 162 | 93 | 1.74 | [140] |
Sausage Party | 2016 | 162 | 89 | 1.82 | [141] |
Everybody Wants Some!! | 2016 | 161 | 116 | 1.39 | [142] |
The Grey | 2012 | 161 | 117 | 1.38 | [143] |
Lone Survivor | 2013 | 161 | 121 | 1.33 | [144] |
Abigail | 2024 | 160 | 109 | 1.47 | [145] |
Dirty Grandpa | 2016 | 160 | 102 | 1.57 | [146] |
Good Time | 2017 | 160 | 101 | 1.58 | [147] |
Assassination Nation | 2018 | 160 | 108 | 1.51 | [148] |
Sorry to Bother You | 2018 | 160 | 112 | 1.43 | [149] |
Platoon | 1986 | 159 | 120 | 1.32 | [150] |
Snatch | 2000 | 159 | 102 | 1.56 | [151] |
The Heat | 2013 | 158 | 117 | 1.35 | [152] |
Blue Collar | 1978 | 158 | 114 | 1.39 | [153] |
Colors | 1988 | 157 | 120 | 1.30 | [154] |
Dead Presidents | 1995 | 157 | 119 | 1.31 | [155] |
Copshop | 2021 | 157 | 107 | 1.46 | [156] |
Magic Mike | 2012 | 156 | 110 | 1.42 | [157] |
That's My Boy | 2012 | 156 | 114 | 1.37 | [158] |
Intermission | 2003 | 155 | 102 | 1.52 | [159] |
Legend | 2015 | 155 | 131 | 1.18 | [160] |
The Town | 2010 | 155 | 124 | 1.25 | [161] |
The Blair Witch Project | 1999 | 154 | 81 | 1.90 | [162] |
Funny People | 2009 | 154 | 146 | 1.05 | [163] |
Good Will Hunting | 1997 | 154 | 126 | 1.22 | [164] |
Notorious | 2009 | 154 | 123 | 1.25 | [165] |
Bad Boys II | 2003 | 153 | 147 | 1.04 | [166] |
Boiler Room | 2000 | 153 | 120 | 1.27 | [167] |
All About the Benjamins | 2002 | 151 | 98 | 1.54 | [168] |
Ash Wednesday | 2002 | 151 | 99 | 1.52 | [169] |
In the Name of the Father | 1993 | 151 | 133 | 1.13 | [170] |
Smokin' Stogies | 2001 | 151 | 98 | 1.54 | [171] |
Soul Men | 2008 | 151 | 100 | 1.51 | [172] |
All Day and a Night | 2020 | 150 | 121 | 1.24 | [173] |
American Honey | 2016 | 150 | 163 | 0.92 | [174] |
Clerks II | 2006 | 150 | 97 | 1.55 | [175] |
Hoffa | 1992 | 150 | 140 | 1.07 | [176] |
The Place Beyond the Pines | 2012 | 150 | 140 | 1.07 | [177] |
Patriots Day | 2016 | 150 | 133 | 1.15 | [178] |
The Fighter | 2010 | 150 | 116 | 1.09 | [179] |
The Night Before | 2015 | 150 | 101 | 1.49 | [180] |