Blue Valentine: Oral Sex–Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams (Overturned, Released with R Rating)

Derek Cianfrance’s relationship drama Blue Valentine earned an NC-17 rating due to one scene in which Ryan Gosling’s character performs oral sex on Michelle Williams’ character.

The MPA defined the scene as “explicit sexual content,” handing down a NC-17 rating, but distributor The Weinstein Company aggressively pushed back against the decision.

Blue Valentine
Theatrical release poster

Cianfrance and his actors told Weinstein: “We don’t want to cut the movie. We want to leave it the way it is.’”

Although Weinstein was known to cut his movies, he agreed not to touch Blue Valentine and appealed the ratings board.

Blue Valentine was eventually released with an R-rating — with its oral sex scene intact.

Made on a low budget if 1 million, Blue Valentine was popular at the box-office, further expanding the fan base of Ryan Goslinf.