Top 10 Controversial Raunchy Comedies

This all-American comedy (which ironically stars Canadian treasure Eugene Levy) tested the censors when it arrived at the 20th century’s tail end. Before settling on the R-rated theatrical cut, the MPAA branded the movie with the NC-17 badge. The filmmakers modified the picture not once, not twice, not thrice, but… is frice a word?) The point is that they went through four cuts before satisfying the censors. The scene that ignited the most controversy was Jim’s encounter with the titular pie. The MPAA finally agreed to an R rating on the condition that the number of thrusts into the pie be limited. Decades later, the iconic pie scene feels pretty innocent, although the webcam sequence has received modern backlash from critics and cast members.

Two years after Disney delivered “The Aristocats,” cinemagoers met a different breed of cat. Based on Robert Crumb’s comic, an early reel of “Fritz” had distributor Warner Bros. up in arms, driving one person to leave the screening room. With WB wanting less sex and more bankable stars, Ralph Bakshi’s film found a new home at Cinemation Industries. The animated feature still had to overcome its then-unfounded X rating, which led some to believe it was XXX fare. Cinemation wore this edgy rating as a badge of honor, however. One critic wrote, “There is something in ‘Fritz the Cat’ to offend just about everyone over the age of 17.” Yet, this only helped “Fritz” to find an audience, guaranteeing raunchy animation was here to stay.

Whenever people discuss the quintessential college comedies, “Revenge of the Nerds” is bound to ignite passionate feelings. The film remains beloved for its underdog story, memorable lines, and classic 80s tropes, complete with a musical climax. However, some struggle to get past how far the nerds take their revenge, most notably Lewis’ deceptive encounter with Betty. This scene has only grown more controversial with the #MeToo movement. Even going back to 1984, a few critics called out the scene for what it is. While this wasn’t their intention, the filmmakers have come to acknowledge the scene’s uncomfortable nature. Julie Montgomery, who played Betty, still feels that there’s “something charming” about her character’s dynamic with Lewis, although she admits the scene could’ve used “one more beat.”

Black and brownface have been considered taboo for decades, but it wasn’t until recently that people started to realize just how widespread this practice has remained even into the 21st century. Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Kirk Lazarus became a go-to example. However, many have defended “Tropic Thunder” as the film that exposed Hollywood’s habit of casting white actors as people of color, as well as the Academy’s tendency to award such roles. This came full circle with Downey Jr. getting an Oscar nomination. Ben Stiller’s “Simple Jack” also ignited protest, although the character can be seen as a savage takedown of problematic Oscar bait. Whether you consider the film offensive or a brutally honest portrait of showbiz, Stiller has two words: “no apologies.”

John Waters is a titan of trash, demonstrating how “tasteless filmmakers” and “auteurs” can be one and the same. “Pink Flamingos” - starring Waters mainstay, drag performer Divine - remains his most infamous outing, depicting just about every immoral act under the sun… and where the sun don’t shine. You know those underground nightclubs where anything goes? This is the cinematic equivalent. The film’s fearless approach would get it banned across multiple provinces and even counties for a period. At the same time, “Pink Flamingos” was a cornerstone of the counterculture, reflecting a society eager to challenge the norm. Even decades later, it’s still considered a staple of LGBTQ+ cinema and a beacon of rebellion. It’ll always have squeamish detractors, but as long as there’s “filth” in the world, it’ll have a fanbase.

Even when it came out, “Porky’s” wasn’t exactly a critical darling. Many found it misogynistic, the notorious shower scene being a key point of contention. The film was even banned in Ireland, although this would be overturned in less than 20 days. Despite negative reviews, “Porky’s” remains one of the highest-grossing R-rated comedies of all time. Before his death, writer/director Bob Clark said that he “would pull back a little” if the film was remade today. Yet, Clark argued that “Porky’s” found a large audience because it tapped into something honest about college life, saying, “It was the most outrageous film of its kind, but it was the truth.” Inappropriate for sure, but it’s hard to imagine the future of sex comedies without “Porky’s.”

Matt Stone and Trey Parker essentially invited Iraq to ban the “South Park” movie. The real war, though, was between the creators and U.S. censors. With “Team America,” Stone and Parker saw another opportunity to have fun with the MPAA. The duo was nonetheless frustrated when they were met with an NC-17 rating. In addition to the demise of Hans Blix, the MPAA took issue with the legendary puppet sex scene. Parker found this ridiculous, arguing that kids do this sort of thing with Barbie and Ken dolls. Regardless, the scene was tweaked no less than nine times before attaining an R rating. North Korea also unsuccessfully requested that the Czech Republic ban the film, although Kim Jong Il’s response could’ve been much worse.

Ten years after “Team America” made fun of Kim Jong Il, “The Interview” took aim at the fruit of his loins. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg initially intended Kim Jong Il to be the subject of this dark satire, but with his death in 2011, they shifted their target to Kim Jong Un. Following multiple delays and edits to satisfy North Korea, a group called “Guardians of Peace” hacked Sony Pictures. With further threats to attack cinemas, the film’s wide theatrical run got axed with most seeing it through streaming. In all honesty, the assassination premise probably led people to believe that “The Interview” was edgier than it was. In this day and age, though, folks don’t need to see a film to be outraged.

“Blazing Saddles” is often the default answer when people bring up movies that couldn’t be made today. The funny thing is, it probably couldn’t have been made at any other point in history. It would’ve been too raunchy for an era under the authority of the Hays Code. You couldn’t make light of the serious subject matter between the 50s and 60s when the Civil rights movement was in full swing. Hollywood became increasingly PC from the 80s onward. This isn’t to say that Mel Brooks didn’t clash with the studio over the film’s content in the 70s. He did - and audiences voiced their criticisms as well. “Blazing Saddles” has nonetheless endured as a comedy classic that thankfully came out at just the right time.

​​From “Brüno” to “The Dictator,” controversy is part of the package whenever Sacha Baron Cohen comes out with a new comedy. Nothing could prepare the world when “Borat” arrived in theatres, however. This mockumentary was shocking for a variety of reasons, being heavily censored in some countries and banned in others. Ironically, the film perhaps caused the biggest uproar in the United States. In addition to villagers in Romania, several American participants pursued legal action against Cohen and company. Beyond those featured in the film, various audiences took offense to the film’s depiction of… pretty much everyone. For all of his controversial antics, though, Cohen put a mirror up to the average American, reflecting an image arguably even more shocking than a naked wrestling match.