The use of profanity in films has often been controversial, but has increased significantly in recent decades.[1][2] The use of the word fuck in film drew particular criticism in 2005. The documentary film Fuck dealt entirely with the phenomenon.[3] The word fuck is thought to be the vulgar term used most in any film.[4]
The Hays Code banned the use of profanity outright.[5] However, the Motion Picture Association established a system of ratings to use as a guide and determine the appropriateness of the film's content in 1968.[6] In 1970, M*A*S*H became the first mainstream American film under the system to use the word fuck.[7]
The Motion Picture Association film rating system assigns a PG-13 rating if the film contains the word used once and 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 the rule. In some cases, filmmakers appealed the rating because their target audience might avoid all R-rated films about profanity. Censors have been more lenient about the word in films that portray historical events. The ratings system is voluntary and there is no legal requirement that filmmakers submit their films to be rated. This list of non-pornographic and English languagefeature films has over 150 counts for the word fuck (or one of its derivatives), ordered by the number of such uses. It does not contain spoken uses of instances that are preceded by "mother".
In terms of individual actors, Bronagh Gallagher and Joe Pesci are tied for using the word fuck.[9] In terms of individual directors, Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee are tied for having the most films on this list with five each.
^Garvin, Glenn (May 27, 2011). "How to hear the F-word 857 times on TV – F**k. 2–4 a.m. Saturday. Documentary Channel". The Miami Herald. Florida. Anybody expecting protective bleeps will suffer lethally seared eardrums within minutes of tuning in; the program shatters all existing records of F-word usage with 857 gloriously stereophonic examples.
^von Tunzelmann, Alex (April 26, 2012). "Summer of Sam is an almost boringly flawless portrait of a real-life monster". The Guardian. The fictional characters go on with their lives, which mainly seem to involve having sex, disco dancing and saying the word fuck. According to a Christian parenting website, which devotes itself to itemising such things, this word is said 435 times in Summer of Sam.
^"Nil by Mouth". Screen It. Archived from the original on December 6, 1998. Retrieved January 4, 2021. At least 428 "f" words
^"State Property". tampabay. Retrieved January 3, 2014. State Property, the 2002 urban gangster flick produced by rapper Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Films, which tops the per-minute use at a glorious 3.65 f-bombs per minute.
^Dow, Bob (February 21, 2008). "Film Sets Record for Most F-words in a Scottish Movie". The Daily Record. Retrieved January 4, 2021. One Day Removals uses the F word more than 320 times, the most ever in a Scottish-made film. Mark Stirton's black comedy beats the current Scottish record holder, Sweet Sixteen by Ken Loach, which uses the F word and variations 313 times. EDIT - This is incorrect, I was a Producer (Kerwin Robertson) on the film and starred in it as the guy that gets a hook through his eye. We have 440 F words in the film, we had to count them all to see if we could get a BBFC rating, which turned out to be mega expensive, so we self rated the film an 18.
^"Twin Town". Screen It. May 29, 1997. Retrieved January 4, 2021. At least 318 "f" words
^"Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017) Movie Script | SS". Springfield! Springfield!. Retrieved June 24, 2024. At least 308 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives. In addition, there are three instances that are preceded by "mother."
^"My Name Is Joe". Screen It. Retrieved January 5, 2021. At least 230 "f" words
^"Gridlock'D". Screen It. Retrieved January 5, 2021. At least 227 "f" words
^"Kid Cannabis (2014) Movie Script | SS". Springfield! Springfield!. Retrieved June 24, 2024. At least 226 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives. In addition, there are five instances that are preceded by "mother."
^"Suicide Kings (1998)". Family Media Guide. May 5, 2007. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2021. F-word (222)
^"Snack Shack (2024)". Springfield Springfield. Retrieved June 20, 2024. 220 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives. In addition, there is an instance preceded by "mother."
^"This Is The End". Kids-In-Mind. Retrieved January 5, 2021. 200 plus F-words and derivatives
^Hoose, Bob (November 18, 2014). "22 Jump Street". Plugged In. Retrieved January 5, 2021. Nearly 200 f-words
^Asay, Paul (February 24, 2020). "Skin". Plugged In. Retrieved January 5, 2021. Nearly 200 f-words
^Unthank, Kennedy (January 26, 2024). "The Underdoggs". Plugged In. Retrieved February 15, 2024. The f-word is used 200 times, including nearly seventy instances which are preceded by "mother."
^"bullet (1996) Movie Script". Springfield! Springfield. Retrieved August 4, 2024. 199 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives. In addition, there are twenty instances that are preceded by "mother."
^"I Got The Hook Up". Screen It. May 21, 1998. Retrieved January 5, 2021. At least 197 "f" words
^"American Honey (2016) Movie Script". Springfield! Springfield!. Retrieved August 4, 2024. 193 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives. In addition, there are ten instances that are preceded by "mother."
^"Overnight (2004)". Family Media Guide. May 6, 2007. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2021. F-word (191)
^"Magnolia (1999)". Family Media Guide. May 5, 2007. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2021. F-word (190)
^"Good Time (2017) Movie Script". Springfield! Springfield!. Retrieved May 22, 2024. About 190 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives; in addition, there are 5 instances that are preceded by "mother."
^{{cite web|url=https:www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk|title=30 Minutes or Less |website=springfield springfield|access-date=18 December 2024|quote=189 uses of the F-word
^"Sausage Party (2016) Movie Script | SS". Springfield! Springfield!. Retrieved December 6, 2023. At least 162 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives; in addition, there are 11 instances that are preceded by "mother."
^"The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) Movie Script". Springfield! Springfield!. Retrieved June 22, 2024. At least 156 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives. In addition, there are three instances that are preceded by mother f-word
^"Ash Wednesday (2002)". Family Media Guide. May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2021. F-word (151)
^"Intermission (2003) Movie Script | SS". Intermission (2003) Movie Script. Retrieved August 4, 2024. At least 151 uses of the "f" word and its derivatives. In addition, there is an instance preceded by "mother".