The XRCO Awards are given by the American X-Rated Critics Organization annually to people working in adult entertainment and it is the only adult industry awards show reserved exclusively for industry members.
Once every calendar year, XRCO members are asked to submit their own nominations. Members do not have to vote in every award category, but they are asked only to vote in areas that they feel qualified in. The award ceremony usually takes place during the spring and no later than the first week of April. Some of the works and workers are inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame during the awards.
The XRCO online archive is missing many results prior to 1993 and the site encourages visitors to send in older results. The awards have been called "an X-rated version of the Academy Awards" and "a combination high-school beer bash, Mardi gras and Frederick's of Hollywood lingerie show". They have also been referred to as the "critics' circle awards for porn".
In 2013, the XRCO Awards venue was changed from The Highlands nightclub to Supperclub LA when the former closed. In 2014, the XRCO Awards returned to the former Highlands venue now called OHM. The 2015 XRCO Awards were held at Lure nightclub in Hollywood on April 11. The 2016 XRCO Awards were held at OHM nightclub in Hollywood on June 22.
After the controversy and criticism of the best erotic scene victory for the movie Virginia in 1984 at the Adult Film Association of America (AFAA) awards, the X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO) and its "Heart-On Awards", were founded. Jim Holliday was a founder and previously the honorary historian of the X-Rated Critics Organization. After Holliday's death, the position of XRCO Historian was temporarily filled by XRCO founding member Bill Margold until 2006.
The first XRCO Awards were presented on February 14, 1985, where Ginger Lynn won a "veritable Triple Crown: 'Best Female Performer', 'Video Vixen' and 'Starlet of the Year'". Until 1991, the awards were presented on Valentine's Day each year. The specific award categories at the XRCO Awards have changed over the years.
In March 2015, changes to the award program were announced. Citing the venue and date changes made in 2014, the event organizers announced that the awards show would be recorded and broadcast by the company Vrai Voyeur. Also announced was the debut of a new design for the award handed out to winners. The "iconic wooden heart on trophies" would be retired and be replaced with "something bigger and better than ever".
2016: The Father Figure (Digital Sin/Tabu Tales)2012: This Ain't Ghostbusters XXX (Hustler Video)2012: Spider-Man XXX: A Porn Parody (Vivid Entertainment Group)2016: Batman v. Superman XXX: An Axel Braun Parody (Wicked Pictures)2006: Camp Cuddly Pines Powertool Massacre2010: Big Black Wet Asses (Elegant Angel)2011: Asian Fucking Nation (Darkko Productions/Evil Angel)2012: Lex the Impaler (Jules Jordan Video)2013: Mandingo Massacre (Jules Jordan Video)2015: My First Interracial (Blacked/Jules Jordan)2016: My First Interracial (Blacked/Jules Jordan)Note: A "Best Girl-Girl Release" category was created in 2005. No "Best Girl-Girl Scene" awards have been given out since.
2006: Belladonna's Fucking Girls (Belladonna/Evil Angel)2007: Belladonna: No Warning 2 (Belladonna Productions/Evil Empire)2008: Belladonna's Fucking Girls 4 (Belladonna/Evil Angel)2009: Belladonna’s Girl Train (Belladonna Entertainment)2010: Women Seeking Women (Girlfriends Films)2011: Women Seeking Women (Girlfriends Films)2012: Women Seeking Women (Girlfriends Films)2013: Women Seeking Women (Girlfriends Films)2015: Women Seeking Women (Girlfriends Films)2016: Women Seeking Women (Girlfriends Films)2006: Slut Puppies (Jules Jordan/Evil Angel)2007: Jenna Haze Darkside (Jules Jordan Video)2008: Flesh Hunter 10 (Jules Jordan Video)2009: Alexis Texas Is Buttwoman (Elegant Angel)2010: Big Wet Asses 15 (Elegant Angel)2011: Tori Black Is Pretty Filthy 2 (Elegant Angel)2012: Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2 (Elegant Angel)2013: Asa Akira Is Insatiable 3 (Elegant Angel Productions)2015: V for Vicki (Jonni Darkko/Evil Angel)2016: Angela 2 (AGW Entertainment/Girlfriends Films) and Anikka's Anal Sluts (BAM Visions/Evil Angel)2016: Tanya Tate1993: Sodomania1994: Sodomania2007: (Fashionistas Safado: The Challenge)GiannaJenna HazeRocco2008:James DeenJoanna Angel2009:James DeenJoanna Angel2006: Pov Pervert 5 (Red Light District)2007: Jack's POV 5 (Digital Playground)2008: inTERActive (Teravision/Hustler)2009: Tunnel Vision 3 (Jules Jordan Productions)2010: (tie) POV Jugg Fuckers 2 (Darkko Productions/Evil Angel) and POV Pervert 11 (Mike John Productions/Jules Jordan Video)2011: POV Pervert (Mike John Productions/Jules Jordan Video)2012: POV Pervert (Mike John Productions/Jules Jordan Video)2013: POV Pervert (Mike John/Jules Jordan)2015: POV Pervert (Mike John/Jules Jordan)2016: Lex's Point of View (Evil Angel)2006: Pirates (Digital Playground/Adam & Eve)2007: Curse Eternal (Wicked Pictures)2008: Babysitters (Digital Playground)2009: Cheerleaders (Digital Playground)2010: Flight Attendants (X-Play/Adam & Eve Pictures)2011: Pornstar Superheroes (Elegant Angel)2012: Lost and Found (New Sensations)2013: Wasteland (Elegant Angel Productions)2015: Second Chances (New Sensations)2016: Being Riley (Tushy/Jules Jordan Video)Before the 2006 awards, separate categories existed for film, video and DVD.
2006: Pirates (Digital Playground/Adam & Eve)2007: Corruption (Sex Z Pictures)2008: Upload (Sex Z Pictures)2009: (tie) Fallen (Wicked Pictures) and Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge (Digital Playground)2010: 2040 (Wicked Pictures)2011: Speed (Wicked Pictures)2012: Portrait of a Call Girl (Elegant Angel)2013: Voracious: The First Season (John Stagliano/Evil Angel)2015: Wetwork (Vivid)2016: Wanted (Wicked Pictures/Adam & Eve)2001: Dream Quest2002: Dark Angels: Special Edition2003: Euphoria2004: The Fashionistas (Evil Angel)2005: Millionaire (Private U.S.A./Pure Play Media)1984: Every Woman Has A Fantasy1985: Taboo American Style1988: Deep Throat II (Michael Evans)1996: Joey Silvera's Butt Row1984: Joey Silvera (Public Affairs)1985: Joey Silvera (She's So Fine)1984: Sharon Kane (Throat: 12 Years After)1985: Kimberly Carson (Girls On Fire)1995: The Voyeur2009: Angelina Valentine1984: (Insatiable II)Jamie GillisMarilyn Chambers1985: (Nasty)Gayle SterlingJamie GillisLynx Canon2007: Janine2008: Kylie Ireland2009: Julia Ann2010: Lisa Ann2011: Julia Ann2012: India Summer2013: Veronica Avluv2014: Francesca Le2015: India Summer2016: Kendra Lust2007: Corruption (Sex Z Pictures)2008: Upload (Sex Z Pictures)2009: Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge (Digital Playground)2010: 2040 (Wicked Pictures)2011: Speed (Wicked Pictures)1984: (Succulent)Little Oral AnnieRon Jeremy1985: (Love Bites)Amber LynnPeter NorthRick Savage2003: Catalina2004: Julie Night2005: Ariana Jollee2006: Ariana Jollee2007: Hillary Scott2008: Annette Schwarz2009: Bobbi Starr2010: Bobbi Starr2011: Kristina Rose2012: Asa Akira2013: Brooklyn Lee2014: Bonnie Rotten2015: Adriana Chechik2016: Adriana Chechik2001: Allysin Chaynes2002: Aurora Snow2003: Ashley Blue2004: Cytherea2005: Teagan Presley2006: Kinzie Kenner2007: Mia Rose2008: Bree Olson2009: Tori Black2010: Lexi Belle2011: Tara Lynn Foxx2012: Allie Haze2013: Lily Carter2014: Mia Malkova2015: August Ames1993: Sean Michaels1994: Alex Sanders1995: T. T. Boy1993: Nympho Zombie Coeds1994: Gum-Me-Bare1995: World's Biggest gang bang1996: Frankenpenis1997: 87 And Still Bangin'1999: World's Biggest Anal Gangbang2000: The Vomitorium2001: Watch Me Camp Bitch!2002: Fossil Fuckers2003: You're Never Too Old to Gangbang