Top 10 TV Shows So Disgusting They Made People Physically Sick
#10: “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
Top 10 Game Shows That Wouldn't Get Made Today
Almost anything goes on HBO. This Emmy-winning epic took full advantage of this with some of the most graphic deaths ever committed to the screen. George R. R. Martin’s creation wasn’t afraid to tackle uncomfortable subjects either with incest at the forefront of several relationships. Audiences weren’t the only ones shocked by “Game of Thrones” on a regular basis. In Season 1, Daenerys ate a raw stallion heart as part of a ritual. While the prop heart was made from a gummy bear substance with a sugary syrup as blood, Emilia Clarke found it disgusting, making her reaction in the episode genuine. Not only did Clarke need a bucket for vomiting, but let’s just say she had a date with a toilet after.
#9: “Hannibal” (2013-15)
Top 10 Scariest Hannibal Moments
Being an NBC drama, you’d think that this incarnation of Hannibal Lecter would be infinitely more restrained than the Anthony Hopkins films. Honestly, though, “Hannibal” could easily be mistaken for a premium or streaming series. We’re surprised a broadcast network show got away with such ghastly - yet bizarrely inventive - crime scenes. As a network series, however, the showrunners do rely more on the power of suggestion. What seems like a gourmet meal suddenly becomes more stomach-churning when you see Hannibal eat it, letting us know what the secret ingredient is. For some viewers, this thought alone is enough to make them queasy. If you can’t even watch Hannibal prepare a meal, chances are you won’t be able to take the moments involving creatively-displayed corpses.
#8: “Squid Game” (2021-)
Top 10 Smartest Decisions in Squid Game
“Squid Game” is Netflix’s most-watched show to date, exploding into a cultural phenomenon. Its popularity has even reached the playground where games like Red Light, Green Light are seeing a resurgence in popularity. Apparently, the recess crowd wasn’t sickened by the show, but numerous older viewers were. Many took to social media, expressing how the show made them scream, cry, and vomit. And yet, a lot of them were still drawn to the drama, commentary, and worldbuilding. This comment sums it up best: “Watched the first and second episode of Squid’s Game today and almost puked my guts out but let’s do this.” Like the contestants, you know the show might not be the best for your health, but it’s too enticing to walk away.
#7: “Mindhunter” (2017-19)
Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Mindhunter
Edmund Kemper, Wayne Williams, Charles Manson, these are just some of the monsters who were portrayed on this Netflix crime drama. Oh, and did we mention that it was executive produced by the same director behind “Seven” and “Zodiac?” It should go without saying that “Mindhunter” isn’t for the faint of heart… or the faint of mind. While the series doesn’t hold back from on-screen violence, there are instances where the mayhem is merely described to us. Even then, the tension and mental imagery may be enough to make one uneasy. Like “Squid Game,” though, the show is so addicting that you have to keep watching. “As one user wrote, “it made you wanna throw up but you still click Next Episode.”
#6: “True Detective” (2014-)
Top 10 Best True Crime Shows of the 21st Century
This acclaimed anthology is another crime drama that’ll leave you shaken, distraught, and maybe even a little squeamish. Watching the show might not be a picnic in the park, but we’d rather be the viewer at home rather than an actor on set, at least based on Rachel McAdams’ experience. Introduced in Season 2, McAdams played Detective Ani Bezzerides. She had consumed a fair deal of Emergen-C before filming a lengthy shoot-out sequence that required a lot of running. This combination caused McAdams to vomit. Ironically, the brutality of this scene didn’t make McAdams sick, but the headshots got to us. The same can be said about various other scenes throughout the show, which we wouldn’t recommend watching while on the treadmill or after eating.
#5: “Jackass” (2000-07)
Top 10 Best Jackass Members
Let’s take a break from dramas for something more lighthearted, albeit equally disgusting. At the dawn of the 21st century, MTV released a revolutionary reality show that would not only test the cast’s tolerance for pain, but also the audience’s ability to keep their lunch down. Challenges involved fecal matter, private parts, more eggnog than one person should ever consume in some sitting - pretty much anything guaranteed to make the cast and viewers sick. Some called it vile. Others…well, everybody called it vile, but the creativity that went into these stunts and the cast’s dedication to the craft made “Jackass” a hit. So much so that the show inspired a film franchise with more freedom and more potential to make audiences hurl.
#4: “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (2022)
Dahmer Season 2 and 3 Explained
Although “Dahmer” is among Netflix’s most-streamed shows ever, it’s also one of the most divisive for a variety of reasons. Naturally, the atrocities that Jeffrey Dahmer committed make for an uncomfortable and occasionally nauseating experience. Even when there isn’t any blood or gore on screen, the subject matter gets under your skin. Just listening to others talk about the horrible smell from Dahmer’s apartment puts a nasty taste in your mouth. And speaking of taste, the show doesn’t tiptoe around what Dahmer kept in his fridge. While Dahmer’s actions were sickening, what makes this story especially stressful and infuriating is that he got away with it for so long. It encourages one to think about the state of society, leaving you with an upset stomach.
#3: “The Walking Dead” (2011-22)
These TV Episodes Made People Physically Sick...
It goes without saying that any movie or show centered on zombies is going to have some gnarly moments. “The Walking Dead” pushed the limits of cable TV with some of the genre’s most grotesque creatures. In terms of kills, though, the walkers weren’t always responsible for the most distressing moments. In the Season 6 finale and Season 7 premiere, Negan delivered what’s widely considered the show’s most controversial death… well, death(s). While the show had never pulled punches before, this moment was more than some could take. If you found Negan 's actions repulsive, you weren’t alone. Reflecting on filming those episodes, Christian Serratos, who plays Rosita, said, “It was very cold, it was very emotionally exhausting. A lot of us got physically sick.”
#2: “The Boys” (2019-)
Top 10 Times Nickelodeon Shows Made Fun of Disney
This satire establishes upfront that it isn’t going to be your grandpappy’s superhero show with one character enduring a gruesome hit and run. Not with a car, but with the A-Train! If that scene doesn’t get to you, keep watching. You’re bound to find something that turns your stomach upside down. “The Boys” keeps finding new ways to shock viewers using sea creatures, be it with a dolphin, a whale, or an octopus. For most viewers, however, the scene that pushed them over the edge involved a termite. No, not a literal termite, but rather a superhero who can shrink down. How small can he get, you might ask? Well, small enough to enter a very intimate place, which can backfire with one sneeze. Yikes!
#1: “House of the Dragon” (2022-)
Top 10 Dragons From Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon
After “Game of Thrones,” you probably thought you were prepared for anything that the prequel series might throw at you. To paraphrase a certain Wildling, “You know nothing, random viewer.” The “House of the Dragon” pilot doesn’t mess around, delivering one of the most brutal and heartbreaking birth scenes ever allowed on television. Twitter was united in expressing how this sequence made them cry and grow ill. It was just a small taste of what the first season still had to offer, which included crabs consuming corpses, heads being turned into mush, and King Viserys enduring what might be the slowest death in TV history. It’s balanced with awesome set pieces and performances, but we’re afraid of what future seasons have in store for us.
