When it comes to movies banned, governments, regulators, and sometimes even filmmakers themselves have pulled the plug on films that stirred up trouble. From graphic violence to political firestorms, each of these ten titles tells a tale of censorship, controversy, and eventual rebirth.
Movies Banned: Why Censorship Hits the Silver Screen
10 A Clockwork Orange
Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange throws viewers into a dystopian Britain where Alex DeLarge, a charismatic sociopath, revels in rape, robbery, and ultraviolence. The film hit British screens in 1971 without any cuts, and the press quickly linked it to a spate of “copy‑cat” crimes. Concerned about the backlash, Kubkubick voluntarily withheld the movie from the United Kingdom until 1973, when it finally crossed the Atlantic to the United States.
Public outcry intensified after a Dutch teenager was assaulted by attackers who sang “Singing in the Rain,” echoing Alex’s own macabre serenade. In response, Kubrick trimmed 30 seconds of footage to secure an R rating, moving it away from its original X classification. The British Board of Film Classification then banned the film outright for 27 years.
When the ban lifted in 2000, an uncut version returned to British cinemas, reminding audiences why the novel‑inspired story still makes viewers squirm in their seats.
9 Scarface: The Shame Of The Nation
Not to be confused with Al Pacino’s 1983 classic, Howard Hawks’ 1932 gangster epic Scarface: The Shame Of The Nation dramatized the violent underworld of the early 1930s. The film’s unapologetic portrayal of crime landed it on the banned list in several U.S. states and even caught the eye of Nazi Germany’s censors.
Because the movie tested the era’s moral boundaries, United Artists kept it out of multiple states and delayed its Chicago debut while gangster culture swelled in the city. Based on Armitage Trail’s 1930 novel, the picture depicted a life of crime reminiscent of Al Capone, who was already behind bars when the film rolled.
8 Monty Python’s Life Of Brian
Monty Python’s 1979 satire Life of Brian sparked a firestorm in the United Kingdom for its irreverent take on biblical stories. The film follows Brian, a Jewish man born on the same day as Jesus, who inadvertently becomes the focus of a cultic messianic frenzy.
British officials slapped an X rating on the film, arguing it mocked Christianity by depicting a man being worshipped and ultimately crucified by Romans. The movie’s cheeky tagline claimed it would “offend nearly two thirds of the civilized world.” Still, it earned a modest $26,376 on its opening weekend in the United States, proving that the Python crew’s humor resonated across the Atlantic.
7 Hillary: The Movie
In 2008, the nonprofit conservative group Citizens United produced Hillary: The Movie, a documentary‑style critique of then‑presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. The film compiled archival footage, interviews, and news excerpts to paint a picture of Clinton’s political career up to that point.
Because the production received corporate contributions, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) barred the documentary from airing until after the 2008 election, arguing it fell under campaign‑finance regulations. Citizens United sued, and the case eventually reached the Supreme Court as Citizens United v. FEC. In a 5‑4 decision in 2010, the Court ruled that corporations enjoy First Amendment free‑speech rights, overturning the ban and reshaping the political‑advertising landscape.
6 The Last House On The Left
Wes Craven’s 1972 shocker The Last House on the Left follows two teenage girls who fall victim to a gang of psychopaths, enduring abduction, rape, and murder. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and the Greater London Council (GLC) both rejected the film, deeming it devoid of any redeeming merit.
After a brief VHS release in 1982 and a heavily edited DVD version in 2002 (which cut 31 seconds), the movie resurfaced as a cult classic. A 2009 remake earned over $14 million at the U.S. box office, cementing the original’s legacy despite its early bans.
5 Song Of The South
Disney’s live‑action/animated hybrid Song Of The South never faced an official ban in the United States, but the studio has kept it out of circulation due to its problematic portrayal of African‑American characters. The film’s romanticized view of the post‑Civil War South and its stereotypes have led Disney to withhold any official DVD release domestically.
While the movie’s soundtrack appears in the “Classic Disney” CD collection, the film itself remains unavailable on U.S. home video. Nevertheless, it inspired the beloved Splash Mountain attraction at Disney World, linking a controversial work to a wildly popular ride.
4 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Tobe Hooper’s 1975 horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was initially rejected by the BBFC for its graphic violence and grotesque imagery. The Greater London Council eventually approved a heavily cut version, removing 28 seconds and assigning it an X rating for London screenings.
Rumors that the film was based on true events swirled, though Hooper denied any factual basis. While some countries banned the movie outright, others released edited versions. Its legacy endures through numerous sequels and its reputation as one of the most terrifying slasher films ever made.
3 E.T. The Extra‑Terrestrial
Steven Spielberg’s heart‑warming alien adventure E.T. The Extra‑Terrestrial was surprisingly restricted in Norway, Finland, and Sweden. Authorities in those countries imposed age limits—eight years old in Finland and twelve in Norway and Sweden—arguing that the film portrayed adults as antagonists to children.
Despite the Nordic bans, the movie was a massive hit in the United States, raking in nearly $12 million on its opening weekend in 1982. It later inspired the popular E.T. Adventure ride at Universal Studios Florida, cementing its place in American pop culture.
2 The Exorcist
For eleven years, the United Kingdom kept The Exorcist off the shelves due to its unsettling content. The 1973 horror film follows a 12‑year‑old girl possessed by a demon, prompting her terrified mother to enlist two priests for a harrowing exorcism.
Initially rated X and shown in theaters, the BBFC later removed the film from home‑video distribution, fearing it would be seen by younger audiences. A 2010 DVD release finally cleared the movie after advances in special‑effects technology lessened its shock value. Today, the film carries an R rating for strong language and disturbing images and remains a staple of the classic horror canon.
1 The Interview
Seth Rogan and James Franco star in The Interview, a comedy that follows two clueless journalists recruited by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea condemned the film as propaganda encouraging violence against the nation, leading to theater cancellations and a high‑profile hacker threat against Sony.
The movie premiered in the United States in 2014, but after the cyber‑attack, major chains pulled or delayed screenings. Sony ultimately released the film online, where it remains available worldwide—except in North Korea, where it is still prohibited.