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In an effort to earn a PG-13 rating and rake in larger box office returns, director McG rocked perverts the world over with the announcement that he had removed Moon Bloodgood’s topless scene from Terminator: Salvation. Once a very vocal supporter of the chesty inclusion, he backpedaled, citing that it felt “gratuitous” and he “didn’t want to convolute the story or the characters.” It was a normal day like any other when I heard the sad news. But once I caught wind I just sat down on the sidewalk and began to weep whilst a city full of heartless boob-haters rushed to and fro all around me.

But it taught me to appreciate the great nudity that did survive the editing room. Below are ten topless scenes that have had a great impact on us all, as a people.

ERIKA ELENIAK in UNDER SIEGE

Playboy Playmate and Baywatch star Erika Eleniak showed a ton of range as a stripper held hostage on a commandeered battleship in 1992’s Under Siege. I mean, she actually had to act like she was attracted to Steven Seagal. Nowadays you need computer graphics to pull that off.

PATSY KENSIT in LETHAL WEAPON 2

There is no argument that Lethal Weapon 2 has earned its place in the pantheon of awesome action films. The action sequences are inventive, the villains are vicious, and Mel’s craziness was considered charming at the time; so charming in fact that his Martin Riggs is able to bed the sexy South African Rika van den Haas. This onscreen tryst introduced Patsy Kensit to American audiences and young adult males to a tingling in their pants. [Editor's Note: Our apologies for the gratuitous Gibson nipples]

KATIE HOLMES in THE GIFT

Before Tom Cruise, Scientology, and Suri, Katie Holmes was regarded as attractive. She was also regarded as a marketable casting choice. Sadly those days are gone, but thankfully she was able to appear in 2000’s The Gift, where she gave us the greatest gift of all… nipples.

HALLE BERRY in SWORDFISH

Audiences were shocked when respected actress Halle Berry went topless in the action-dud Swordfish. I’ve got to admit that the scene is pretty gratuitous and out-of-place. She’s literally reading a book topless. The book might as well be upside down or titled, Hey! Look At My Funbags!!

RHONA MITRA in HOLLOW MAN

What would you do with the power of invisibility? In Hollow Man, Kevin Bacon uses his newfound ability to spy on his attractive neighbor, played by Rhona Mitra. Sounds like a plan to me. If I were invisible I’d essentially live in girls locker rooms. And when that got old, I guess I’d use my power for the greater good or something.

DENISE RICHARDS in WILD THINGS

In an effort to shed her girl next door image, Party Of Five’s Neve Campbell participated in this film’s infamous party of three. Though, she declined to disrobe affording Denise Richards the chance to break them out in this breakout role.

LYCIA NAFF in TOTAL RECALL

Unless you’re discussing The Godfather Trilogy, three is normally better than two, as illustrated in the classic scene from Total Recall where Arnold encounters a woman with three breasts, played convincingly by Lycia Naff, with some help from the makeup department.  Fun fact: Lycia Naff later went on to be a journalist, and her celebrity coverage for People Magazine resulted in Denise Richards labeling her a c-word in public.  It's a small world amongst topless on-camera personalities after all.

On another side note of terrific import, have you ever noticed that McG resembles Kuato?  It’s in the eyes. 

JOYCE HYSER in JUST ONE OF THE GUYS

1985’s Just One of the Guys tells the story of a female high school student who masquerades as a boy in order to win a prestigious journalism internship. Her plan works too well when she falls for a classmate. Toward the end of the film actress Joyce Hyser exposes herself to her crush in an effort to prove that she isn’t actually Ralph Macchio. And the world has been waxing off ever since.

AMY SMART in ROAD TRIP

Amy Smart surprised the world by shedding her top in the college comedy Road Trip. Director Todd Phillips convinced her to do so by promising that the scene would rival Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Sadly it did not propel her career into the stratosphere and now she’s still taking her shirt off in movies like Mirrors and Crank 2. Did I say sadly? Ignore me.  

PHOEBE CATES in FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH

The removal of Phoebe Cates’s red bikini top is arguably the most famous moment in film. Go ahead and ask Leonard Maltin. He won’t argue. The iconic scene ranked Number One on a list of the top 100 nude scenes compiled by MrSkin and has been referenced and parodied time and time again in film, television, and music. In fact, many video store owners have claimed that VHS copies of Fast Times At Ridgemont High have tracking errors during the reveal due to excessive pausing and rewinding. Way to go, Maltin. You ruined those tapes for the rest of us.

Can you think of any others that should have made the list? Get it off your chest in the ‘Comments’ section.

-- MATT SEARS

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