Controversial Movie Moments
The cinema has provided us with more than just entertainment and a way to pass the time. Film allows people to make a statement, impact their culture, and create art. But whenever there’s art there are people who criticize it, and sometimes they have a pretty solid point. Movies have garnered controversy for decades and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of stopping. People have protested, picketed, and boycotted films for many reasons. But were these movies genuinely offensive or was the public overreacting? You’ll have to be the judge of that!
We’re bringing you some of the most controversial movies of all time and the reasons they outraged people.
Basic Instinct
Movie buffs will remember Basic Instinct as a thrilling movie filled with murder, mystery, and romance. People who haven’t seen the film will know it by the infamous scene with Sharon Stone. While being interrogated, Stone’s character uncrosses and recrosses her legs. Nothing wrong with that, only the actress wasn’t wearing underwear when the scene was being shot!
Stone claims she was misled about appearing nude onscreen, claiming the director said it wouldn’t be visible in the final cut. Director Paul Verhoeven tells a different version of events, saying that Stone was fully aware of how the scene would look. This overt display of nudity with questionable consent earned this movie a spot on the controversial list.
The Aristocats
One of Disney’s older animated movies, The Aristocats follows the story of a wealthy cat family as they try to find their way home. Most of this film is centered around cute, animated kitties and upbeat musical numbers. But back in 1970 people’s standards were a little different than they are today. A certain cat probably wouldn’t make it on screen in the 21st century.
Disney even includes a content warning for racist imagery in the film. Additionally, this film isn’t available for viewing on Disney+ Kids. The Walt Disney Company issued the statement “These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now.” Peter Pan and Dumbo are two other films with similar controversies.
The Last Temptation of Christ
Any film that depicts religious figures is bound to be controversial. This Oscar-nominated film is no exception. While the movie includes a disclaimer on the content, saying it’s not based on the Gospels, religious groups were offended nonetheless. Many weren’t fans of the way Jesus was depicted at all, let alone as someone with human flaws. Things in the real world got seriously violent.
Boycotts and picket lines outside Universal Studios were only part of the problem. Director Martin Scorsese actually received death threats and had to employ bodyguards to stay safe. Countries such as Greece, Turkey, and Mexico banned the movie after its release. It continues to be banned in the Philippines and Singapore.
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now explores the human condition while depicting some of the brutal realities of the Vietnam war. Nominated for 8 Oscars and winning 2, it’s considered one of the greatest war films of all time. One might think this film’s controversy arose from its depiction of war and violence, but that’s not the case. Audiences were most offended by the filming of a water buffalo’s slaughter.
Director Francis Ford Coppola said the buffalo was already set to be slaughtered by the natives on location, but nevertheless viewers weren’t pleased. It later came out that the buffalo was provided by the director himself. Does that make the situation better or worse? You’ll have to decide.
Bonnie and Clyde
The duo whose names will go down in history had their legacy solidified in this film. This film made waves with its depiction of murder, violence, and sexuality. Nowadays that doesn’t seem all too bad in a film, especially one about notorious criminals. But back in 1967 people had different sensitivities. The main criticism came from what people viewed as glorifying murder.
At the time, the film’s ending was one of the bloodiest to hit theaters. Despite their violent crimes, we can’t help but sympathize with the good-looking and charismatic protagonists. It broke barriers for other directors to include sexuality and violence in their films more openly. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Brokeback Mountain
This romantic film stars Jake Gyllenhall and Heath Ledger, two young cowboys who end up harboring a secret love affair. The emotional story definitely had audiences in tears by the end of the film, but upon its release in 2005 it was met with some controversy. Nearly every Middle Eastern country released a censored version of this film, and it was outright banned in China.
LGBT representation has made leaps and bounds since the film’s initial release, it’s unclear whether this movie would be seen as revolutionary today. Nevertheless, it will forever be considered a classic that made its mark in cinema history, as well as one of Heath Ledger’s most memorable performances.
Pan
Disney’s Peter Pan is rife with racial insensitivities, something the Walt Disney Company acknowledges to this day. Standards in film have changed drastically since 1953, you’d think moviemakers would tread lightly when making a film based on the original story. This live-action retelling was released in 2015, but it didn’t manage to escape accusations of whitewashing.
Pan includes the Native American character Tiger Lily, however she’s played by an actress of European ancestry, Rooney Mara. Many felt that this was a bad decision, and that a Native American actress should’ve been given the chance to perform. A year after the film’s release, Mara expressed her regret for taking the role, saying, “I really hate, hate, hate that I am on that side of the whitewashing conversation.”
Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell is a science-fiction action flick based on Japanese manga. In this world the boundaries between human and robot are blurred, we follow the journey of a cyborg who’s trying to discover the truth about her past. The film wasn’t exactly a critical success, but the controversy came with the casting of Scarlett Johannson as Major Mira Killian.
Due to its Japanese source material, people argued that the lead role should be played by an Asian American actor. Others argued that race shouldn’t matter because Mira Killian is a cyborg. Japanese-American actors spoke out against this casting choice, while Japanese natives thought it was natural that a white actress would be cast in a Hollywood remake.
Stonewall
Stonewall is a film set in 1969 against the backdrop of the Stonewall riots and gay liberation. A teenager named Danny Winters leaves the home of his homophobic parents and sets out for New York, eventually becoming part of a diverse friend group. Critics of this film accused it of whitewashing, claiming it didn’t accurately represent the racial diversity of the Stonewall riots.
Director Roland Emmerich defended his casting decisions, saying that people were jumping to conclusions about the film’s racial diversity. He went so far as to say the criticism of the film ultimately led to its lack of success at the box office. Both critics and audiences agreed that this wasn’t a good watch.
Twilight
Aside from its reputation as a trite and uninteresting story, Twilight has received a ton of backlash over the course of the films’ releases. It’s hard to figure out where to begin with this infamous vampire love story. The first thing the public took issue with was the romanticization of Edward Cullen stalking and breaking into Bella Swan’s room while she slept.
Others claimed Stephanie Meyer was exploiting the culture of the native Quileute tribe in her stories, as they’re featured in her books and films. One of the final big scandals involved a romantic connection being established between Jacob, an adult character, and Bella’s newborn child. Whew, that was a lot to go through!
Life of Brian
This comedy film stars the incomparable comedy group Monty Python. It follows the story of a man named Brian who is mistakenly confused for a prophet while trying to impress his love interest. Sounds like a pretty wacky story, but religious groups were unamused. Released in 1979, audiences might’ve not been ready for a comical take on a biblical story.
It was accused of blasphemy and picketed by rabbis and nuns alike. The film was banned in both Ireland and Norway. All the fuss around it probably helped boost the film’s visibility, and the creators thought it was all very funny. Surely they expected this response during production, in for a penny in for a pound!
The Dictator
When it comes to Sacha Baron Cohen you’ve got to expect controversy, it’s part of his brand at this point. The Dictator is a political satire that features the actor as a ruthless North African ruler of a fictional country. Eventually, he goes into hiding as a common man in New York, trying to fit in despite his skewed mentality. Some were concerned that the film would promote Islamophobia, despite the character not being explicitly Muslim.
Others felt that Cohen’s satire missed the mark, making a mockery of Arab culture as opposed to dictators and hypocritical politics. Political satires are dangerous territory, audiences are bound to have different takeaways after viewing.
Taken 3
In an interesting twist, this movie was boycotted because of a statement made by the actor instead of the content of the film itself. There isn’t anything particularly remarkable about the third film in the Taken series, however a comment from Liam Neeson on the topic of gun control, calling the gun number of privately owned guns in the US “a disgrace.” This really got people fired up.
PARA USA, the company that provided the firearms in the film, even released a statement saying they regretted their decision! They also wouldn’t provide products for future Liam Neeson films and urged others to do the same. This film made significantly less than its predecessors, it’s unclear whether the controversy played a part in that.
Jesus Christ Superstar
This movie was originally a live musical. Many successful stage plays receive film adaptations, and this one was no exception. Jesus himself is the star of this rock opera, and while it’s considered a cult classic it didn’t have a flawless reception when it first came out. Telling the story of Jesus Christ is controversial in and of itself, but The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith came forward with concerns of the movie increasing antisemitism.
They believed the movie was especially dangerous as it targeted youth with its younger style and songs. In Northern Ireland, the movie was picketed for blasphemy. They felt “superstar” was a degrading way to refer to Jesus.
Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino is known for creating shocking films that play with touchy subject material. Django Unchained tells the story of a runaway slave who seeks to reunite with his wife who was taken away from him. Using a real and painful history was going to be tricky, and the film hit a nerve with many. Director Spike Lee said, “All I’m going to say is that it’s disrespectful to my ancestors. That’s just me.”
Some criticized the excessive violence and use of racial slurs, while others said it was important the film included an accurate portrayal of the time. Critics drew comparisons to Tarantino’s other film Inglorious Basterds, saying that racial slurs were far less prevalent in his film about the Holocaust.
The Producers
The Producers is one of Mel Brooks’ finest works. The bizarre story surrounds a scamming theater producer looking to make the most offensive production in history. The topic they end up choosing? Nazi Germany. From the get-go this film was destined for controversy, something Mel Brooks is familiar with. The Producers was banned in Germany for ten years after its release!
The use of swastikas and the depiction of Hitler was a little too much for some audiences. Satire isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and many were unhappy with what they perceived as turning a serious topic into a joke. Despite the backlash, the film has a cult status that continues to this day.
Mother!
Director Darren Aronofsky is no stranger when it comes to disturbing films. Mother!, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, is no exception. This film will take you on an uncomfortable journey that ends up being downright disturbing. Lawrence had to take a break from acting just to recover from filming this one. Where was the controversy? Well, audiences felt the movie ventured into obscene territory.
The plot doesn’t hold back when it comes to violence and disturbing imagery. The religious undertones didn’t help much either. Audiences didn’t manage to connect with the film, resulting in it being somewhat of a critical failure. However, there are still people who enjoyed this movie and its disturbing journey. Are you one of them?
50 Shades of Grey
This film was based on the titillating novel of the same name. This movie wasn’t destined for critical acclaim, considering it was based on the Twilight series. Nevertheless, people flocked to theaters to see this one. The fantasy of being whisked away by a mysterious and rich stranger might seem appealing, but plenty of women had criticism for the themes in this film.
Many claimed that the relationship between the main characters was toxic. The movie was also criticized for its depiction of BDSM, which was said to encourage unsafe and abusive practices. Audiences didn’t have kind words for Christian Grey, to say the least. This movie definitely made an impact, though it wasn’t a particularly positive one.
Battlefield Earth
Battlefield Earth was a 2000 film produced by John Travolta, based on a science fiction novel by L. Ron Hubbard. If that name sounds familiar to you it might be because he’s the guy who founded Scientology. It should come as no surprise that Travolta, one of the most famous members of the religion, wanted to make this film. But it wasn’t well received.
People suspected this movie was made to try and get people interested in Scientology. Though the Church of Scientology denied these claims, the film still has a reputation surrounding it. It was also a huge box-office bomb. If it set out to convert people it didn’t do a very good job!
Dogma
A religious satire that depicts angels, prophets, and God? Dogma was destined for controversy no matter how sensitive they tried to be. This Kevin Smith comedy film stars some acting giants as they set out on an entertaining biblical journey. With crunchy comedian George Carlin playing a Cardinal, it’s no wonder the Catholic church branded this movie as blasphemous.
But the film’s most controversial aspect is its depiction of God…as Alanis Morisette! Depicting God as a human is a big move in and of itself, choosing a famous singer is even bolder. Dogma still managed to make a big splash upon release, despite all those who refused to watch.
Aladdin
This Disney movie blends aspects from various cultures and takes place in a fictional land. The 90s film garnered criticism for its depiction of the Arab world. The Anti-Arab Defamation Committee claimed the protagonists were given anglicized appearances and accents. But one complaint was big enough for Disney to change one of the song’s lyrics.
The opening song “Arabian Nights” originally contained a line that said, “where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face”. After numerous complaints, this was changed in the film’s VHS release to “Where it’s flat and immense and the heat is intense.” While the original is still seen as racially insensitive, many consider it a Disney classic.
Black Swan
This horror-thriller won Natalie Portman an Oscar for her chilling performance as a ballerina obsessed with perfection. Director Darren Aronofsky didn’t disappoint with the disturbing imagery and mental breakdown of the protagonist. The controversy surrounding this film has less to do with its content and more with the people who helped create it.
Costume designers claimed they weren’t getting credited for their work. Dancer Sarah Lane, Portman’s dance double, said she didn’t get the credit she deserved for her work. The level of contribution she gave to the dance scenes is disputed, however, the director and costar Mila Kunis sided with the leading actress. Is this a case of Hollywood bias or someone claiming they contributed more than they actually did?
Aloha
This romantic comedy stars heartthrob Bradley Cooper and takes place in, you guessed it, Hawaii. He’s a military contractor who reunites with a former lover, unfortunately she’s married and unavailable. Emma Stone plays the spunky guide who he ends up catching feelings for. Sounds like a pretty uncontroversial plot, right? It turns out Emma Stone’s casting was the main point of contention.
The Media Action Network for Asian Americans felt that casting a white woman to play a Chinese/Hawaiian character was wrong. Director Cameron Crowe apologized, saying it was a misguided decision for a character who’s meant to be proud and open about her heritage. Stone says she regrets being cast, however she also claimed that the character wasn’t supposed to look like her background.
The Interview
Seth Rogen wrote, directed, and starred in this black comedy centered around former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. As you can imagine, making a film about a dictator is sure to get someone’s underpants in a knot. While the response to this film was lukewarm at best, the North Korean government met it with threats.
They demanded the film not be released or they’d take action against the United States. The film was delayed and edited to make it more palatable to North Korea, but not before they were hacked by a group with ties to the country. Many major theaters opted out of showing the film for fear of terrorist attacks.
Harry Potter
The Harry Potter franchise is a cultural landmark that won’t soon leave public consciousness. This fantasy story spawned eight films featuring our bespectacled protagonists. While it was mostly received with praise, it certainly wasn’t without its ardent opponents. There’s a lot of religious debate over the films’ source material, some claiming it references the occult or Satanism.
There have even been requests to ban the books from schools. Evangelical groups claim these stories are dangerous for children and forbade their kids from taking part in the phenomenon. In addition to the religious aspect, some people have claimed the depiction of goblins in the movies are too similar to antisemitic Jewish stereotypes.
The Wolf of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street attempts to tell the real-life story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort. Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this film was destined for success. Did anyone see these controversies coming? For starters, it passed the Guinness World Record for swearing. But that doesn’t even scratch the surface. PETA and Friends of Animals both criticized the film’s use of animal actors, particularly the chimp.
People also decried the film’s subject matter, claiming that it glorified greedy, apathetic, and psychopathic behaviors. Jordan Belfort himself commented on the film, saying its portrayal of his drug use was accurate though the depiction of his crimes was not.
Trainspotting
Trainspotting is a black-comedy drama about a heroin addict trying to get clean and improve his life. There’s a lot of disturbing plotlines and imagery along the way, as one might expect from a film with a serious subject matter. The film caused controversy in the UK, Australia, and the United States. Critics and audiences weren’t sure if it was promoting drug use or decrying it.
Producer Andrew Macdonald said it was critical to show the reason people take drugs and the fun they get out of it, as well as showing the horrific downsides. The opening monologue begging the audience to “choose life” seems to imply the film is anti-drug, but ultimately it’s up to the viewers to decide.
The Prince of Egypt
This Dreamworks production is a must-see for everyone, religious or not. The musical numbers and animation are both fantastic. But despite its family-friendly nature, this film was hit with censorship from several countries. The biggest issue was the movie’s depiction of Moses, considered a prophet in Islam. The religion forbids visual depictions like these, and as a result was a ban in all state Islam countries, including Egypt.
Dreamworks took great care to create this film as non-offensively as possible. They didn’t want the movie to be seen as a religious film. For a film based on biblical subject matter, we think they did a pretty good job.
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Generally speaking, live-action Disney films aren’t well-received by the public. Sure people flock to see them in theaters, but the fans see them for the blatant cash grab that they are. This movie had two controversies that are vastly different from one another. The first was LeFou being the first gay character in a Disney movie. A brief moment of two men dancing was enough to get this film a 16+ rating in certain countries.
The other issue was Disney’s backfired attempt to turn Belle into a feminist icon. There were accusations of her having Stockholm syndrome. Various individuals came out on either side of the debate, some saying that Belle didn’t exhibit behaviors of Stockholm Syndrome and others claiming the Beast was abusive to her on multiple occasions without ever apologizing.
Seems like Disney should stop redoing the classics!
Joker
The Joker has been portrayed in countless pieces of media over the years. He’s undoubtedly one of the most famous villains from the DC franchise. One of the more recent films spotlighting this baddie was Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix. In a sea of comic book films, this one managed to stand out and was highly successful at the box office. But that didn’t shield it from criticism.
Some spoke out against the films claiming it glorified psychopathic and violent behaviors. People feared that audience members might try to imitate the behaviors of this anti-hero. However, it seems these fears were unfounded as no violent crimes were connected with this film.
The Breakfast Club
This 80s coming-of-age film is a favorite in many people’s eyes. However, certain aspects of the film have come into question as the times change. While people praise the realistic depiction of teens trying to figure themselves out, they aren’t crazy about the relationship between John Bender and Claire Standish. Many say the behavior Bender exhibits is outright sexual harassment.
Not to mention the harsh and berating way he talks to her. As a result, audiences weren’t pleased when the two got together at the end of the film. While it was relatively well-received in its time, viewers of today question whether this is the type of romance people should look up to.
Nina
Nina is a biographical film that centers around the life of singer and activist Nina Simone. Making a movie about someone else’s life can be tricky, especially if the subject is no longer around to approve it or give feedback. Unfortunately for director Cynthia Mort, it didn’t get the response she was hoping for. Simone’s family completely disapproved of the film.
Audiences also disapproved of casting Zoe Saldana as Simone, and objected to her use of skin darkening makeup and prosthetic nose. Saldana herself regrets taking on the part and wishes that a different actress had stepped up to portray the music legend. The film currently holds a 2% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, seems like it wasn’t a hit with anyone.
Hostel
It’s not uncommon for horror films to garner criticism, after all, they’re depicting unsettling scenes that are meant to disturb audiences. However, certain movies push the envelope more than others. Hostel is a gore-fest directed by Eli Roth, following the story of three tourists who fall into a deadly trap while passing through Slovakia. They’re captured and tortured, it’s all pretty graphic.
The movie was criticized for its over-indulgence in gratuitous gore and violence. Slovakian officials were angered by the depiction of their country, claiming the film would deter tourists from visiting due to its portrayal in the film. The director countered this argument by saying that people still visit Texas even after the release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Do you think a horror film has the ability to prevent tourism?
The Phantom Menace
You might think the controversy surrounding this film would be staining the Star Wars franchise. While the film is hailed as the worst of the prequels, audiences had another issue with it. Jar Jar Binks is often named as the worst character in the Star Wars universe, but it wasn’t just his bumbling antics that had people upset. People claimed the character’s Caribbean accent turned him into a racist stereotype.
Another alien, Watto, was criticized for portraying antisemitic tropes. The character is a greedy slave master with a large, hooked nose. The design for these aliens might’ve all been accidental, but that didn’t help when audiences saw the final product.
North
This star-studded film is infamous for being one of Roger Ebert’s most hated films. The movie stars a young Elijah Wood as North, a kid who decides to divorce his parents and sets out to find better ones. The film also features Bruce Willis, Reba McEntire, and Julia Louis-Dreyfux, to name a few. But its convoluted story wasn’t the most controversial part of this film.
One scene involves North being taken in by an Inuit family, played by white actors Kathy Bates and Abe Vigoda. All three actors were put in brown makeup…something that definitely wouldn’t fly today. This film won’t just be looked back on for being bad, its racist controversy won’t age well, either.
Frozen
Frozen came out in 2013 and has been part of the public’s consciousness ever since. Something about this film, its characters, and musical numbers had a profound impact on little girls everywhere. Few Disney princesses gain the kind of status Elsa enjoys. But how could there be any backlash against a by-the-books Disney film? It all had to do with the character design.
People accused the film of sexism when the head of animation was quoted saying, “Historically speaking, animating female characters are really, really difficult,” though the director claimed this was taken out of context. Some viewers complained about the lack of variety in female characters’ design. What’s your take on this controversy?
Borat
It should come as no surprise that this film stirred up a storm of controversy. Sacha Baron Cohen’s mockumentary film Borat really pushed the limits of what you could get away with in real life and on screen. The film received an R rating for its highly graphic content, and is rife with antisemitism, sexism, and anti-Romani sentiment. Cohen uses everything in his film to make a statement, but that wasn’t enough for some people.
The unknowing participants in the film were furious, many taking legal action. The government of Kazakhstan was against the film, that is until they realized it helped attract tourism. The film was also banned in every Arab country except Lebanon and the UAE. That’s one controversial film!
The Exorcist
The movie that caused audiences to faint and run out of the theater; The Exorcist was unlike anything people had seen before. It managed to create a believable depiction of a sweet little girl’s demonic possession, and it doesn’t hold back with any of the visuals. Viewers may have had extremely negative reactions to the graphic content, but the Catholic Church was surprisingly pleased.
While the film is highly provocative, it ultimately depicts a Catholic ritual and paints the priests as honorable and righteous figures. Despite this, evangelist Billy Graham criticized the film for its satanic imagery. Many wrote in to accuse Linda Blair of Satanism, which prompted Warner Bros. had to secure bodyguards to protect her.
A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange was destined for controversy based on the source material alone. The story is set in a dystopian future in Britain where youth run wild and commit heinous crimes. Alex is the anti-hero we follow during the film, and he gets into some pretty nasty business. The film was condemned for being “morally offensive”. People went so far as to protest outside of director Stanley Kubrick’s home.
The film was also linked to a few crimes, which likely validated the concerns of the public. The film was banned and censored in several countries, including the United Kingdom. It wasn’t easy to see this movie back when it was released, which may have added to its status as a horror classic
Hellraiser
This supernatural horror film is chock full of murder, sexuality, and sadomasochism. Author and director Clive Barker introduced the Cenobites to the world, but were audiences ready for it? Several cuts had to be made for the film to go from an X to an R rating. Upon its release, it was banned in Ontario due to its graphic content.
Surprisingly, the film received no significant backlash for its religious undertones. However, Critics weren’t exactly thrilled with the movie from a critical standpoint. While some applauded it as an excellent horror movie, others like Roger Ebert gave it a half-star rating. Despite the mixed reviews, Hellraiser is considered a horror classic to this day.
Psycho
While it seems innocent in comparison to the horror movies of today, Psycho was once considered a highly controversial film. Our protagonist Marion Crane is brutally murdered in the shower of a roadside inn, the killer is revealed to be a deeply disturbed man who suffers from a split personality disorder. But that wasn’t what the public was upset about.
At the time, the film’s depiction of sexuality was considered very risque. It was too far to show the leading lady in a bra! And that’s not all, Psycho was the first film screened in the US to show a flushing toilet on-screen. How’s that for a bit of controversial film history?
Noah
We all know that biblical films are tricky territory. Noah was a Darren Aronofsky film based on the story from the book of Genesis, and it received mixed reviews from the public. Surprisingly, major Christian and Jewish groups and figures praised the film for sharing a biblical story. However, people of other faiths weren’t as impressed.
The movie was banned in several Islamic countries, as the story was seen to contradict the teachings of Islam. There were other religious figures who criticized the lack of the word “God” in the film. Further criticism involved the casting of white actors in a biblical story. People believed it would’ve been a good chance to spotlight non-white actors as the tale takes place in ancient Mesopotamia.
The Last Airbender
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender would prefer to pretend this movie doesn’t exist. It was critically panned by movie reviewers, fans of the original series couldn’t have hated it more. But the controversy surrounding this film came about before it hit theaters. The original Nickelodeon animated series takes place in a fictional world, however, the culture is influenced by East Asian countries. Many consider the show to be an American anime.
People were outraged to find out none of the main cast was of East Asian heritage. They were even less impressed with their performances, and the fact M. Night Shyamalan changed the pronunciation of their names. If you can’t win over the fans or critics then your movie is dead in the water, this one was definitely a blight on Shyamalan’s career.
Priest
What did this 1994 film do that caused a Cardinal to call it “viciously anti-Catholic”? As is, films on Catholocism are known to garner controversy, but this one went the extra mile by making the main character a gay priest going through a crisis of faith. Throw in an intimate scene and you’ve got yourself the perfect storm for a scandal.
Despite the controversy, the film received some critical success and was nominated for a BAFTA. Much of the original material had to be cut in order to prevent the movie from being slapped with an NC-17 rating. But the cuts couldn’t keep the Catholic League from attempting a boycott of Disney, as they owned the company to release the film.
Memoirs of a Geisha
This period drama, based on the book of the same name, tells the story of Chiyo Sakamoto. Born into a poor family, she’s sold to a geisha house and eventually becomes a geisha under a new name. The film casts East Asian actresses in all the main roles, however being that this is a Japanese tale people were unhappy with the choices.
Reviews in Japan were mixed when it came to the casting as well as the portrayal of geisha. They believed this topic was Westernized to suit audiences. The film was banned in China upon its release, likely due to the cold relationship between China and Japan at the time. Chinese audiences felt Ziyi Zhang embarrassed her country by taking on the main role in this movie.
JFK
Religion is a sensitive topic for film, but so is politics. When it comes to portraying real historical events, especially those still within living memory, you’re bound to stir up some controversy. This was the case with Oliver Stone’s JFK. While the movie received critical praise, there was some truth-stretching when it came to the historical facts. People were further outraged by the film’s implication that Kennedy’s vice President, Lydon B. Johnson, was somehow involved in the assassination.
The Assassination Records Review Board said the movie was largely fictional. However it would seem that the risky subject matter paid off for Stone, the film was nominated for a number of Academy Awards and was the sixth highest-grossing film worldwide upon its release.
Cuties
This Netflix film was met with a wave of backlash before the movie was viewable to audiences. The come-of-age story follows an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant named Amy and her integration into Paris. The film sought out to explore themes of culture, religion, and fitting into a foreign society. Unfortunately, certain aspects of the film shadowed those messages.
People were shocked to see young girls dancing provocatively in the film’s trailer while wearing skimpy clothing. Those who viewed the film found certain scenes to be wildly inappropriate, considering the main characters are all young girls. Netflix received hundreds of complaints and calls to remove the film from the streaming platform.
Reservoir Dogs
This bloody American crime film was Quentin Tarantino’s directing debut. While it’s tame in comparison to some of his other projects, it still contains a level of violence that made audiences squirm. Some of them were so uncomfortable during a certain scene that they walked out of the theater. If you’ve seen the film you know which part we’re talking about…
Mr. Blonde’s treatment of that police officer was considered extremely violent at the time. The United Kingdom banned it for two years after its release. Though with the release of Tarantino’s other films this one hardly seems brutal. But what do you think? Have newer films desensitized us to the events in this one?
The Da Vinci Code
Tom Hanks stars in this mystery thriller alongside French actress Audrey Tatou. The film uses references from Da Vinci’s work and religious texts to unlock a two-thousand-year-old secret. Spoiler alert, it’s Jesus’s daughter with Mary Magdalene. It ends with the discovery that Audrey Tatou’s character is the last living descendant of Jesus Christ. Is anyone surprised that people were offended by this?
The film was banned in several countries with claims of blasphemy and false depictions of religious figures. Protestors stood outside theaters across the United States, saying the film brought shame onto the Catholic Church and Jesus Christ. To add salt to the wound, the film was hardly a critical success.
Exodus: Gods and Kings
This Ridley Scott film tells the story of Exodus, but its production was messy from the start. The criticism began with Scott directing this film despite being an atheist. It was banned in both Egypt and the United Arab Emirates for historical inaccuracies, mainly the depiction of Moses as a preacher as opposed to a prophet. But that’s not where the issues end…
People took to Twitter to express their distaste with the casting decisions. They believed that a story set in the Middle East should cast Middle Eastern actors. Users called for a boycott due to the predominantly white cast. Do you think this was a production mistake?
The Godfather
The award-winning film that spawned an award-winning sequel wasn’t without its naysayers. Considered one of the greatest mafia films of all time, The Godfather drew controversy and criticism from a couple of different groups. One of the most memorable scenes in this film, the one involving a severed horse head, was not well-received by animal rights activists. Production claimed the head was sourced from a dog food company.
But it wasn’t just the animals that people were concerned about. The Italian-American Civil Rights League wasn’t pleased with the portrayal of Italians in the film. In fact, they held a rally in Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately for them, this move only made audiences more aware of the film resulting in its further success.