Rate It X

Opens Friday, November 20, 2026

First released in 1985, RATE IT X stunned audiences and critics alike with its unflinching look at how sexism and sexual exploitation are embedded in American media and culture. Directors Lucy Winer and Paula de Koenigsberg traveled across the United States interviewing men who profited from—and helped perpetuate—stereotyped and sexualized images of women. Advertising executives describe how sex is used to sell product. Hustler magazine’s creator of the notorious “Chester the Molester” cartoon proudly displays drawings depicting a predatory adult man entrapping young girls. A fundamentalist minister tells us that Adam shirked his responsibility by allowing Eve to lead. The flamboyant producer of a popular cable show roams the streets of New York City in a silver lamé jumpsuit, video camera in hand, asking young women, “Would you like to flex into a hallway and pose nude?”


Applauded for its keen humor, RATE IT X is now digitally restored and rereleased, remaining as provocative and relevant as ever. Despite decades of hard-fought victories in the women’s movement, women’s rights continue to face renewed challenges, and many of the cultural attitudes the film exposes remain deeply embedded. At a moment when political battles over sex discrimination and civil liberties intensify, the film’s confrontational lens feels newly urgent. As public demands grow for greater transparency and accountability surrounding the sexual abuse and exploitation of minors, Rate It X stands as a powerful reminder of why exposing these dynamics—and questioning the culture that sustains them—remains essential.

  • Country USA
  • Year 1985
  • Running Time 93 minutes
  • Distributor Kino Lorber
  • Director Paula de Koenigsberg, Lucy Winer
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.