13 Controversial Films That Got Banned

1. Rambo

In 2008, this film was banned in Burma upon initial release. The country accused the film of giving the world a bad portrayal of what Burmese soldiers were like.

2. Farewell My Concubine

Released in 1993, China disliked the homosexual content and the negative portrayal of Chinese communism. Despite this the film won an award at the Cannes film Festival.

3. The Human Centipede 2

Australians are not usually seen as prudish but this graphic horror film was too much for their screens. Due to the explicit violence and disturbing sexual content the government banned it.

4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Notoriously creepy, this movie was banned for a long period of time in West Germany – from 1974 to 1999. Upon its release, no other film had even touched the surface of such dramatic terror that this film contained.

5. Schindler’s List

This film deals with raw emotion and is very sad throughout. Indonesia took a disliking to the Jewish themes of the film and it was eradicated from the silver screen.

6. Evil Dead 2013

Ukraine believed the film had too much gratuitous violence, sex and gore, that no censor could do justice for – hence it was heavily discredited in the country.

7. A Serbian Film

Heavily induced sexual violence and drama that the Spanish government was disgusted by, resulted in the film being banned from screens.

8. Hostel

Ukraine noted that this film depicted Europeans as sick and blood thirsty that will kill for money. Banned from cinemas but people are allowed to watch the movie at home on DVD?!

9. Hitler: The Last Ten Days

Made in 1973 and banned in Israel. Sir Alec Guinness was heavily criticized of his performance. Israelis claimed that he made Hitler seem too human like, promoting sympathy for the tyrant.

10. Grotesque

A Japanese film released in 2009 which was even banned in the United Kingdom. It is about a young couple who is snatched off the street and tortured by their capturer.

11. Scum

This film is a harsh depiction of the reality of Borstal prison for young offenders in the United Kingdom. “Scum” was Ray Winstone’s breakthrough role.

This was completely banned from television due to the graphic contents of rape and violence.

12. The Exorcist

The scariest movie of all time? This film was not allowed to be shown in the UK until 1990 although it was made in 1973!

Upon initial release paramedics were called to cinemas to relieve people who had fainted or had panic attacks.

13. Natural Born Killers

Directed by Oliver Stone, and involved a screenplay written by Quentin Tarantino. Completely banned in Ireland and did not pass the USA standards, so it had to be re-edited and four minutes of graphic violence were cut out.

Many films get banned and then get re-released in a lot of different countries. It often depends upon different cultures and religious beliefs around the world. What may be offensive to one country is sometimes glorified in another!