10 Movies That Are BANNED in Most of the World
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at films that have been prohibited across the globe.
“The Hunger Games” (2012)
Anything can be subject to censorship – even if they're part of one of the most lucrative franchises of the 21st century. “The Hunger Games” found immediate popularity thanks to its dark premise, which was centered around teenagers fighting to the death to entertain the rich. The film is violent in nature, so much so that Vietnam banned it from airing entirely. That wasn't the only country it saw trouble in. While it wasn't outright prohibited, an organization in Britain forced the studio to censor any blood found on weapons or people before it could be shown to a wider audience. Although that hasn't stopped the movie and overall series from thriving, it put a damper on what could've been a flawless release.
“Last Tango in Paris” (1972)
Sometimes, one scene is all it takes to derail a movie’s initial broadcast. By putting a darker spin onto the classic love story, “Last Tango in Paris” quickly proved it wasn’t going to have a happy ending. One scene in particular— wherein the female lead was put through an unexpected simulated assault— was so stomach-churning that it was the cause of bans around the world. Countries under strict military regime— such as Chile and Brazil— only aired it following their liberation. Other locations forbade it and never looked back, with Nova Scotia in particular using it as justification in court to censor other films as well.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015)
Some potentially controversial projects do well after being released— but this one never had a chance. Focused on a couple exploring their darker desires with one another, “Fifty Shades of Grey” offered adults a very mature moviegoing experience. It was filled to the brim with sexual acts— which quickly proved to be an issue. While it was given the highest possible rating in some areas, others completely prohibited it from being shown at all. The censorship was widespread, spanning across three continents and even being referred to as sadistic by Malaysia’s censorship board. Despite the mass hysteria, it still went on to do well in other countries— proving that there’s no such thing as bad publicity.
“Lightyear” (2022)
Some art is barred due to sheer obscenity, and others due to pure hatred. Although 2022’s “Lightyear” is by and large a completely inoffensive children’s movie, even it wasn’t safe from being censored globally. It was banned in sixteen different countries throughout the Islamic world for going against some of their beliefs. What was the cause of this widespread shock? A single, split-second scene where two women kiss. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the first time a same-sex kiss has led to art being censored. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” faced similar issues in the same region. It goes to show that even wholesome content is subject to being censored.
“I Spit on Your Grave” (1978)
A lot can be excused when it comes to creating art— but it can still go too far. While “I Spit on Your Grave” attempts to have a feminist message with its story of revenge following a brutal assault, the way it was executed had the opposite effect. To drive the story home, the director made the inciting incident as horrific as possible— even having it continue for a full half-hour of the film’s nearly two-hour run time. Several European countries barred it in response, insisting it encouraged violence rather than condemned it. Although some countries have loosened their restrictions in recent years, Ireland continues to hold strong, with their ban on its sale still in place.
“Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom” (1975)
This makes “The Hunger Games” look like child's play. Although the themes of “Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom” are complex, they're masked behind countless scenes of gratuitous violence. The film depicts several characters – many of which are teenagers – being subjected to brutal torture, ranging from consuming bodily fluids to sexual assault. It was intended to be a commentary on fascism in World War II Italy, but was so obscene that the political undertones went unnoticed in favor of the bloodshed. The graphic story led to it being outlawed in several countries following its release – and five decades later, only a select few have loosened their restrictions and allowed it to be seen.
“Cannibal Holocaust” (1980)
The title alone should more than explain its trouble finding an overseas market— but the troubles didn’t begin and end there. “Cannibal Holocaust” is pure violence in movie form— all about a fictional documentary crew going to the Amazon and meeting their fate. While the people involved came out unscathed, the same couldn’t be said for several animals. That cruelty—which extended from mammals to arachnids— quickly led to its commercial demise. It was banned in Italy and the creators tried for obscenity, but the backlash wasn’t over. Nations across four separate continents have taken steps to prevent it from being shown. It was even prosecuted in the United Kingdom due to being sold in its uncensored form, earning the title of video nasty.
“The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988)
Any art depicting religion in a critical light is bound to be met with some pushback. While some like “The Da Vinci Code” were banned for merely pointing out inconsistencies, others merely depicting religious figures were met with even worse. 1988’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” went about the bold route of dramatizing the life of Jesus Christ— including his crucifixion. The film spared no expense, leading to acclaim— and international disdain. Described as blasphemous and powerful enough to corrupt, it was outlawed for years in several areas, such as South Africa and Mexico. Others— such as the Philippines and Singapore— continue to prohibit it from being viewed today.
“A Clockwork Orange” (1971)
A film containing gratuitous violence doesn’t mean it’s necessarily promoting it— but this one certainly made people question otherwise. “A Clockwork Orange” utilized various types of assault as a way of enhancing its core message on human nature. It even went so far as to advertise this on its posters— being rejected in Ireland. The censorship didn't end there. For the first few years after coming out, it went unseen in South Africa and Brazil, and was only published after several edits were made. Other countries waited decades before finally allowing their populace to view it, giving them a chance to see just why it had been disallowed in the first place.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
While it may not be as visibly graphic as other modern horror films, it was still subject to mass censorship worldwide. Following a group of young adults victimized by several cannibals, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” was so macabre that it caused some audience members within the United States to leave midway through. Those reactions were only the tip of the iceberg compared to the global response. At one point, upwards of ten countries had prevented it from being broadcast, all of which cited the violence as the reason why. Britain went so far with the ban that even the word chainsaw was disallowed, forcing the title to be changed. It was only just released in Russia in 2024– fifty years after its original broadcast.
Have any of your favorite movies been banned across the world? Let us know in the comments below.
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