Top 20 Movies That Caused Massive Backlash
#20: “Crash” (2004)
Although “Brokeback Mountain” seemed preordained to win the 78th Academy Award for Best Picture, a select group of people were rooting for Paul Haggis’ ensemble drama about racial tension to pull an upset. Well, the little movie that could ultimately crashed the Oscars and its supporters immediately jumped ship. Now when people discuss the most unworthy Best Picture winners, “Crash” is typically the easy answer, with many calling it “Traffic” for dummies. If you’re one of those few people that stand by the Academy’s choice, though, we won’t judge you.
#19: “Aloha” (2015)
On paper, “Aloha” is seemingly a huge hit. It’s written and directed by Cameron Crowe and stars a slew of A-listers that would otherwise guarantee butts in seats, including Bradley Cooper, Bill Murray, and Rachel McAdams. But things did not turn out that way. The writing and directing did not work well, but most of all, it faced a significant amount of controversy for its whitewashing. The brunt of the criticism was aimed at the casting of Emma Stone, who plays a one-quarter Hawaiian, one-quarter Chinese pilot named Allison Ng. Some argued that Stone’s poor casting was intentional, including Stone herself, who stated, “The character was not supposed to look like her background” - though she has also expressed regret. Nevertheless, it was fiercely criticized and openly mocked at the 2019 Golden Globes ceremony.
#18: “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989)
Top 10 Things We Learned in Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U
This film starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy was a huge success in 1989, grossing nearly $150 million and earning nine nominations at the 62nd Academy Awards. It also set a few Oscar records; Tandy became the oldest Best Actress winner, it’s the most recent PG movie to win Best Picture, and it’s one of just five Best Picture winners to have not received a Best Director nomination. Perhaps that speaks to the controversy of its win. Many people believe that “Driving Miss Daisy” was undeserving of Best Picture - including the members of the Academy. When The Hollywood Reporter polled members in 2015, many admitted that the award should have gone to “My Left Foot” instead.
#17: “The Twilight Saga” (2008-12)
Top 10 Movies That Experienced Massive Backlash
After Stephenie Meyer’s bestseller got the big screen treatment, half of the human population rejoiced - while the other half was indifferent. The more attention “Twilight” got and the more MTV Movie Awards it won, the more annoyed people became. That annoyance quickly turned to anger that was so strong it was as if the films in the series were the spawn of Satan. While even once diehard fans are starting to admit “Twilight” received more success than it deserves, it’s also possible we’ve given it more hate than it deserves.
#16: “Mother!” (2017)
Top 10 Mother Daughter Movies
Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!” is one of the most divisive movies of the decade, and that was made readily apparent during its premiere at the Venice Film Festival when it was simultaneously applauded and booed. Some hated the film’s overt religious metaphors and Biblical allegories, perhaps expecting a more straightforward home invasion story. But the worst offense was the graphic violence on display. “Mother!” was viciously criticized for its degree of violence, which includes constant mistreatment of Jennifer Lawrence’s Mother and a horrific event involving her newborn baby. Many people can stomach barbarity in film, but this was crossing a line.
#15: “Ghostbusters” (2016)
Top 10 Ghostbusters Ghosts
As well intentioned as this movie may have been, “Ghostbusters” is just one of those movies you do not remake. It’s an all-time classic, and nostalgic fans who hold it close to their hearts were not happy. The all-female cast also drew a large amount of backlash, as did Leslie Jones’s performance, which some perceived as a loud and stereotypical African American character. The trailer quickly became the most disliked on YouTube, and this only fueled more backlash. Some saw the hostile response as misogynistic and an example of the ongoing culture war, and people involved in the movie began actively defending themselves on social media. It was just a huge mess from all directions.
#14: “The English Patient” (1996)
Another Top 10 Movies That Caused People to Walk Out
The story of “The English Patient” is obviously beloved. The movie received twelve Oscar nominations, and the novel it is based on took home both the Booker Prize and the Governor General’s Award. However, both received a fair amount of criticism and debate regarding the ethics of rewriting history. The titular Patient is based on László Almásy, a man who helped the Axis powers during World War II. Almásy died of dysentery in 1951, whereas in the movie he is given a fatal overdose of morphine after a fiery plane crash. Ethics aside, the movie has also received backlash for “Fargo” being snubbed at the Oscars and was famously mocked on an episode of “Seinfeld.”
#13: “Blue Is the Warmest Colour” (2013)
Another Worst Blue/Green Screen Effects in Movies
This European film was warmly received by critics and won numerous industry awards, but controversy was there from day one. Director Abdellatif Kechiche received a lot of heat for the reported unfavorable working conditions, both from the crew and the lead actresses. Kechiche himself later expressed hesitation about releasing the film, believing that the negative publicity had tarnished its reputation. The movie was indeed released but only fueled more backlash, as many people took issue with its more intimate scenes. Some thought that they were too graphic, and those belonging to the LGBTQ+ community found them both unrealistic and exploitative.
#12: “Zero Dark Thirty” (2012)
Top 10 Special Forces Units From Movies
While Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty” was an impeccably made film, it also received a ton of negative feedback that has undeniably marred its legacy. The film quickly found itself caught up in the 2012 Presidential election thanks to many outspoken Republicans who accused it of supporting Obama’s re-election. Some even believed that Bigelow and her team were given classified information by the Obama administration while crafting the story. Others, including the director of the CIA, fiercely and publicly criticized the movie’s seeming pro-torture leanings, wit some calling it both propagandistic and historically inaccurate. Finally, the families of some 9/11 victims attacked the film for including voice recordings of their deceased loved ones without consent.
#11: “Juno” (2007)
Despite strong critical praise, “Juno” immediately found itself the target of movements that were anti-abortion and those that were for abortion rights. Some believed that the movie displayed strong anti-abortion themes, as Juno briefly flirts with the idea before actively deciding against it. It doesn’t help that “Juno” was released in the same year as both “Waitress” and “Knocked Up,” two comedies with similar storylines. The movie was further blamed for a series of teenage pregnancies in Massachusetts, resulting in what was termed “The Juno Effect.” Finally, the movie’s political background was brought up yet again in 2019, when writer Diablo Cody claimed that she wouldn’t have written “Juno” today owing to the “hellish alternate reality that we now seem to be stuck in.”
#10: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (2014)
Top 10 Horror Movies That Caused Hysteria
Although most of us knew “The Hobbit” didn’t need to be three movies, we were just excited to revisit Middle-earth and went along on Bilbo’s unexpected journey. At first, it was fun to see Gandalf and Gollum again. After sitting through the trilogy’s following chapters, however, Peter Jackson was officially trying our patience. Because “The Hobbit” began as a relatively short children’s novel, many believed this drawn-out adaptation had more filler than a never-ending soap opera. Perhaps a director’s cut or, better yet, a fan cut is in order. What was also unexpected was the mixed result over the new 48 frames per second tech used, with many moviegoers finding it less than an improvement.
#9: “Titanic” (1997)
Top 10 Titanic Stars: Where Are They Now?
It’s possible for a movie to become too successful, “Titanic” being an evident example. The film broke all kinds of records at the box office and Oscars, but James Cameron’s unsinkable hit didn’t stop there. For the longest time, it was impossible to go anywhere without seeing “Titanic” being referenced. Once the world finally got sick of it, they really, really got sick of it. Be that as it may, chances are you saw “Titanic” in theatres multiple times. Any film that accomplishes that must have done something right.
#8: “Ghost in the Shell” (2017)
Top 10 Creepiest Ghost Characters of All Time
Scarlett Johansson is a great actress, but was Motoko Kusanagi the right role for her? A lot of people don’t think so. Being an adaptation of a Japanese manga, “Ghost in the Shell” received a lot of pre-release publicity owing to the casting of Johansson, with many people calling it an example of whitewashing. It received further backlash when it was reported that the filmmakers were going to use CGI to make Johansson appear Asian. However, many others - including the director of the anime films and the “Ghost in the Shell” rightsholder - defended the casting and heaped praise upon Johansson. It was also widely reported that many Japanese natives and fans of the manga were not upset nor that surprised with Johansson’s casting.
#7: “Avatar” (2009)
Top 10 Things You Missed in Avatar: The Way of Water
The bigger the movie, the bigger the backlash. Between 2009 and 2019, “Avatar” was the highest-grossing film ever. While it was briefly overtaken by “Avengers: Endgame”, it retook the top spot in 2021 thanks to a Chinese reissue. Unsurprisingly, the epic sci-fi has suffered a behemoth backlash unlike any other throughout this time. Paralleling “Titanic,” “Avatar” has gone from reigning at the box office to being the most heavily criticized entity online. Bloggers and commenters alike can’t stand the notion that a movie with such simplistic themes and a clichéd story made over two billion dollars. Regardless, there are still plenty of pro-blue people who proudly defend the film, which is fortunate, considering how many sequels are set to be released in the 2020s!
#6: “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988)
Top 20 Movies That Caused People to Walk Out
Martin Scorsese has often received backlash for the degree of violence in his films. In this case though, it was for depicting Jesus Christ getting personal with Mary Magdalene. While the movie includes a disclaimer stating that it is “not based on the Gospels,” that didn’t stop some Christians from getting upset. Many Christian groups protested and boycotted the movie’s release, and a few theater chains caved to the pressure and refused to show the movie. Scorsese reportedly received death threats, and the film was outright banned in several countries. But the worst came on October 22, 1988, when a Paris cinema showing the film was set on fire by a group of Christian fundamentalists. Fourteen people were injured in the attack.
#5: “Kids” (1995)
20 Hidden Jokes in Kids Movies That Will RUIN Your Childhood
This Larry Clark-directed coming-of-age drama was originally given the rare NC-17 rating owing to its explicit content. Shot in a quasi-documentary format, “Kids” received immediate criticism owing to its graphic nature, with some even calling it exploitative and bordering on illegal. Not only was the content itself controversial, but many of the main characters were deemed abhorrent and unlikable. One scene - which we will not show - continues to draw immense criticism, both for its horrific content and the unflinching manner in which it’s filmed. Very few people saw any artistic merit within the film, instead calling it provocation for provocation’s sake.
#4: “The Interview” (2014)
Top 10 Movies That Could Never Be Made Today
If the hullabaloo around “The Interview” taught us anything, it’s that people will absolutely cater to the demands of North Korea. The movie immediately drew criticism in the totalitarian country for its depiction and on-screen killing of Kim Jong-un. Sony Pictures Releasing was hacked prior to the release of the film, and the hackers - who had North Korean connections - threatened future attacks if the release went ahead as planned. Following the threats, Sony pulled “The Interview” from wide release - a move that was fiercely criticized by critics and actors alike. Even President Obama decried the move, saying, “We cannot have a society in which some dictator in some place can start imposing censorship in the United States.”
#3: “Cuties” (2020)
This is the debut of French director Maïmouna Doucouré, and it was not a great first impression. Netflix absolutely bungled the release of this film by unveiling a controversial poster depicting scantily-clad young girls. While the movie criticizes this type of hypersexualization in pre-teens, Netflix subscribers and organizations found the poster extremely inappropriate and demanded the cancellation of the film. Numerous American politicians publicly condemned the movie through social media and even opined that its release broke federal laws and constituted criminal behavior. But despite the very prominent backlash, Netflix continues to defend the film and claims that it is misunderstood.
#2: “Nymphomaniac” (2013)
Directed by the ever-provocative Lars von Trier, “Nymphomaniac” is about a woman named Joe regaling a stranger about her wild personal life. With the uncut version running a patience-testing five and a half hours, “Nymphomaniac” received criticism both for its indulgent runtime and explicit content. In fact, the lower body parts of various adult entertainers - who acted as body doubles - were superimposed over the actors’ in the movie. As such, the film features incredibly graphic shots that some find highly uncomfortable to watch, and it faced some backlash regarding the unrestrained nature of the visuals. This is certainly not one to watch with your parents.
#1: “The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
Top 10 Movies That Caused People To Walk Out
Really, anything involving Jesus is bound to be controversial. While an enormous success and obviously well made, Mel Gibson’s Biblical epic was relentlessly crucified by the media. Some argued against the Biblical accuracy of the film, but one of the biggest claims was that the movie was antisemitic. However, many of these claims were made prior to release, and many prominent movie critics praised the film and argued against its supposed antisemitic themes. Others focused on the extent of the graphic violence and compared it to a snuff film. Not only was the violence hard to watch, but some also argued that the movie missed the story’s teachings by focusing solely on its brutality.
