Top 20 Movies So Offensive They Were BANNED

#20: “The Devils” (1971)

It speaks volumes to the history and infamy surrounding Ken Russell’s “The Devils” that the uncut version of this controversial cult classic still remains something of an “unholy grail” for collectors of physical media. This all stems from “The Devils” being endlessly cut, edited and outright banned since its release back in 1971, thanks in part to its potent combination of sex and religion. This combustible powderkeg of a film isn’t just mere exploitation, however, since Russell’s script also speaks to the corruption of absolute power. The BFI’s Region 2 DVD remains out of print at the time of this writing, and it’s unclear whether a definitive version of “The Devils” will ever hit Blu-Ray outside of dubious, grey-market sources.

#19: “The New York Ripper” (1982)

Director Lucio Fulci’s reputation as Italy’s “Godfather of Gore” remains secure even today, thanks to such grisly exploitation efforts as 1982’s “The New York Ripper.” This mean and nasty mixture of police procedurals, slasher films and Italy’s giallo cycle was banned in the U.K. and remained prohibited as such until 2002. It’s easy to see why, too, since Fulci’s bleak vision of 1980s New York City felt in-line with the difficult criminal waters navigated by that city during this time. “The New York Ripper” is, said simply, rough, with fetishized violence and murder-set pieces that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. Oh, and the killer also quacks like a duck. Did we forget that part?

#18: “Caligula” (1979)

We live in an age where it seems almost inconceivable that a film containing stars like Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren and Peter O’Toole could actually be confiscated by authorities upon its release. Yet that’s what happened in Italy after this co-production between that country’s director Tinto Brass, screenwriter Gore Vidal and “Penthouse Magazine” producer Bob Guccione hit screens. “Caligula” is seen retroactively today by many critics as a fascinating blend of arthouse creative sensibilities and blatant, adult-focused erotica. A misunderstood, X-rated masterpiece with a lot of WTF to offer those willing to take the ride. Back in the day, however? “Caligula” got a lot of people hot and bothered…just probably not in the way it intended.

#17: “I Spit On Your Grave” (1978)

There’s no denying the graphic execution of the original 1978 version of this infamously banned film. Yet “I Spit On Your Grave” has also managed to be seen, retroactively, as a defiantly feminist statement against sexual violence and abuse. “I Spit On Your Grave” was banned in many places across the world due to its explicit content. The controversy also helped make Camille Keaton a cult star, however, an actor whose performance in the face of truly traumatic odds helped make “I Spit On Your Grave” live on as a progenitor of the “revenge” genre.

#16: “Sweet Movie” (1974)

There’s little in the way of actual sweetness in writer/director Dušan Makavejev’s 1974 effort, “Sweet Movie.” This is despite Makavejev ostensibly filming an absurdist comedy, commenting upon commercialism and left-wing politics while also breaking every rule of perceived “good taste” along the way. “Sweet Movie” was banned and even seized in countries like the United Kingdom, due to the film’s fast and loose approach to filming certain bodily fluids. “Sweet Movie” also found itself in hot water thanks to footage of Katyn Massacre victims, not to mention other, implied content that we can’t mention. Lead actress Carole Laure was so offended by her part in “Sweet Movie” that she abandoned the project during production.

#15: “Deep Throat” (1972)

“You had to have been there,” as the saying goes. During the era of “porno chic,” even society’s elite were slumming it in New York City’s 42nd Street grindhouses in order to catch a glimpse of what was showing on screen. Films like “Deep Throat” were banned across the United States, despite ravenous audience demand to see sex displayed on screen in a manner that differed from “stag films” found in the city’s peep shows. “Deep Throat” had a plot, albeit a silly one, and a desire to combine adult performances with cinematography. This mob-connected venture may have caused a lot of legal headaches, but “Deep Throat” also opened the floodgates for (brief) adult film legitimacy.

#14: “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

Horror movie trivia fans like to discuss how the original “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” actually doesn’t possess that much on-screen gore. Yet that didn’t stop director Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece from being banned in countries across the world. The question can then be asked, did those in the political position to ban “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” do so after actually viewing the film? Or did the reputation of Hooper’s film precede itself with regards to its undeniably powerful atmosphere? The original “Texas Chain Saw” certainly struck like lightning in a bottle, transfixing fans and critics alike with a power quite unlike anything else released at the time.

#13: “Faces of Death” (1978)

The promotional advertising for the 2026 reboot of “Faces of Death” smartly hypes up the original’s reputation as a “rite of passage” for many a horror-loving kid from the 1980s. The original “Faces of Death” also promoted itself in this fashion, wearing its “banned in 46 countries!” advertising as a badge of honor. This exploitation film disguised as a documentary would eventually become known for its juxtaposition of fake, staged death scenes alongside very real news footage, blurring the lines between art and violence…and becoming a legend in the process. Sequels, rip-offs and other violent “mondo movies” would emerge in the wake of “Faces of Death’s” bad-taste success, but, as they say, you never forget your first time…

#12: “The Last House on the Left” (1972)

The moral panic that took place in the United Kingdom in the 1980s resulted in films such as “The Last House on the Left” being banned as “video nasties.” These films were unavailable in their uncut versions for decades. “Unavailable,” at least, outside of the burgeoning black market bootleg circuit that thrived alongside the video nasty craze. Wes Craven’s rough exploitation and revenge film was also edited in other countries around the world, and with good reason. This dire and honestly depressing horror classic spares no expense with regards to the grime and sleaze, making it a challenging watch, even by today’s standards.

#11: “A Clockwork Orange” (1971)

Legendary director Stanley Kubrick did something a little different after the release of his adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ novel, “A Clockwork Orange,” back in 1971. Kubrick decided to voluntarily impose a ban on his film shortly after its release in the United Kingdom, after copycat criminals decided to take inspiration from Alex DeLarge and his Droogs. The film also saw other, non-voluntary bans in countries such as Brazil, Singapore and South Africa, lending further fuel to the reputation of Burgess’ source novel as one of the 20th century’s most controversial works.

#10: “The Birth of a Nation” (1915)

Few movies are as notorious as D. W. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation.” Released all the way back in 1915, the historical epic has garnered intense criticism for over a century. It’s an incredibly racist piece of work, featuring evil and bumbling Black characters, a heroic depiction of white supremacy, and pseudohistory that legitimizes the Lost Cause of the Confederacy. Even by 1915 standards, this was all seen as wildly problematic, and the movie’s release was met with protests and vehement criticism. Fearing racial backlash, several American cities and states, including Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Ohio banned “The Birth of a Nation.”

#9: “The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)” (2011)

There’s arguably a good idea buried deep within “The Human Centipede 2,” as it utilizes some clever metafiction to comment on the original movie and the potential danger that it poses. But critics agreed that the good idea was squandered by bad filmmaking and some reprehensible violence. The movie was not given a rating by the British Board of Film Classification (or BBFC), which means that it was de facto banned. It wasn’t until more than two minutes of footage was removed that the BBFC gave it the classification required for release. A similar incident occurred in Australia. But the story is different in New Zealand, as the distributors never even sent it to theaters there. Its DVD release, meanwhile, was prohibited.

#8: “The Death of Stalin” (2017)

This political satire from Armando Iannucci mines comedy from the death of Joseph Stalin and portrays his Council of Ministers in a not-so-flattering light. The movie was widely praised and won various British Independent Film Awards. But as you can imagine, “The Death of Stalin” was not warmly received in Russia. Various institutions released statements, claiming that it was both inaccurate and antagonistic, and it was banned shortly before release. Regardless, that hasn’t stopped many Russian citizens from viewing it. One particular theater made headlines for defying the ban, and over one million people are thought to have watched the movie through illegal piracy.

#7: “The Da Vinci Code” (2006)

Dan Brown’s classic thriller subverts many canonical facts about Jesus Christ, and the film adaptation follows suit. During his rousing adventure, Robert Langdon discovers that Jesus and Mary Magdalene not only wed, but had a kid. As if that wasn’t enough, he also learns that their lineage continues to this day in the form of the metaphorical Holy Grail. The movie portrays the Catholic Church as holders of this secret knowledge who have been concealing the truth for ages. The film and its fictional weaving of religion and history offended many and drew widespread condemnation. It was met with protests and was banned on blasphemous grounds in numerous countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, and Jordan.

#6: “Pink Flamingos” (1972)

While some may call it John Waters’ masterpiece, “Pink Flamingos” makes for an incredibly difficult watch, even by today’s standards. We can only imagine how contentious it was back in 1972. The movie is filled with depraved actions and disturbing scenes, as characters compete to be the “the filthiest person alive.” It was even marketed as “an exercise in poor taste,” and yep, that pretty much sums it up. “Pink Flamingos” was deemed offensively revolting and received bans in Australia, parts of Canada and Switzerland, just to name a few places. Funnily enough, the movie is now part of the Criterion Collection. Perhaps there’s sometimes artistic merit to be found in the grotesque.

#5: “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988)

Movies that depict Jesus Christ have to walk a fine line, as religious content has a lot of potential to offend. “The Last Temptation of Christ” started as a novel published in 1955 and was met with immediate backlash for its themes and a depiction of Jesus some felt was “blasphemous.” The novel was adapted by Martin Scorsese over thirty years later, and nothing had changed. Scorsese was threatened, and an extremist Catholic group even carried out an arson attack at a Paris theater that was screening the movie. Numerous countries banned the film outright, including Argentina, Israel, and Mexico, and it continues to be outlawed in Singapore.

#4: “Cannibal Holocaust” (1980)

There are scandalous movies, and then there’s “Cannibal Holocaust.” The granddaddy of video nasties, Ruggero Deodato’s horror film has long been criticized for its extreme level of violence. The killings are so realistic and disgusting that people genuinely thought this was a snuff film, and Deodato was charged with homicide. He was eventually acquitted, but the reputation of his movie lived on. Countless film censors took umbrage with the violent content and real animal killings, so “Cannibal Holocaust” received bans across the globe. Many of these prohibitions have since been lifted, but the movie is notably still barred in New Zealand.

#3: “Borat” (2006)

If anything, “Borat” is a great exercise in interpretation. The movie was widely acclaimed in the Western world, won numerous awards, and was the pop culture event of the year. Even to this day, people imitate Borat and his many catchphrases. But most of the Arab world found the movie to be wildly offensive. Officials in Kazakhstan condemned both the film and its leading character, and the government successfully asked that it not be distributed there. Kazakhstan wasn’t the only country to take issue with the movie’s satirical content. In fact, “Borat” was banned in nearly every Arab country.

#2: “A Serbian Film” (2010)

It takes a lot to offend 21st century movie-goers. The Motion Picture Association in America, for instance, has grown more lenient throughout the years. So it can seem like everything but the most extreme content is given a pass. Well, “A Serbian Film” has that extreme content, and then some. It carries a heavy reputation, and it’s widely regarded as one of the most unsettling, gross films ever made. It was therefore banned (either temporarily or permanently) in numerous places, including New Zealand. One Spanish festival director notably faced charges for publicly showing the movie, though he was exonerated. It was also the first film in over 20 years to be banned in Brazil.

#1: “The Interview” (2014)

It’s rare for a movie to cause as much drama as “The Interview.” This political satire is about an entertainment talk show host and his producer who travel to North Korea to interview Kim Jong-un. Unsurprisingly, the country was none too happy with the content of the film and took offense with its depiction of their nation and leader. A criminal group with links to North Korea hacked into Sony Pictures Entertainment and threatened violence in a bid to prevent the film’s release. In the aftermath, “The Interview”’s US wide theatrical release was controversially axed by Sony. While it would go on to be released through VOD and streaming, it remained banned in both North Korea and Russia.

What are your thoughts on film censorship? Who, if anyone, should decide what’s morally objectionable? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.