Some movies have sparked so much controversy that governments banned, censored, or restricted them altogether.
Whether due to graphic violence, explicit content, religious objections, or political controversy, these films challenged cultural norms and pushed the boundaries of what audiences were allowed to see.
This list of 30 movies that were banned around the world also includes why they were banned and where they were banned.
While many of these bans have since been lifted, each film earned a place in cinema history for their shocking content.
Disclaimer:
Author’s Note: Many of the films on this list were banned or heavily restricted at the time of their release. In several cases, those bans have since been lifted or replaced with age restrictions. This article reflects their historical censorship and the countries where they faced significant bans or restrictions.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Why it was banned: Graphic violence, sexual assault, and disturbing themes.
Status: Withdrawn in the UK for decades and banned or restricted in Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, and others.
The Exorcist (1973)
Why it was banned: Religious themes and frightening imagery shocked audiences worldwide.
Status: Banned or heavily restricted in the UK (video), Singapore, Malaysia, and several Middle Eastern countries.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Why it was banned: Realistic violence and gruesome horror were considered too extreme.
Status: Banned or censored in the UK, Brazil, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Singapore, and others.
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Why it was banned: Religious groups objected to its depiction of Christianity.
Status: Banned or suspended in Lebanon, Pakistan, Egypt, Samoa, and parts of India.
Battle Royale (2000)
Why it was banned: Teenagers forced to kill each other sparked controversy over youth violence.
Status: Banned in Germany for years and never received a theatrical release in the U.S. due to controversy.
The Interview (2014)
Why it was banned: Political satire involving North Korea created an international incident.
Status: Banned in North Korea and pulled from many theaters following cyber threats.
Natural Born Killers (1994)
Why it was banned: Extreme violence and fears it encouraged copycat crimes.
Status: Banned or censored in Ireland, Singapore, and heavily edited in several countries.
Life of Brian (1979)
Why it was banned: Religious satire offended many Christian organizations.
Status: Banned in Ireland, Norway, parts of the UK, and several towns worldwide.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Why it was banned: Graphic violence and real animal killings caused worldwide outrage.
Status: Banned in more than 50 countries, including Italy, Australia, Norway, and Singapore.
The Evil Dead (1981)
Why it was banned: Graphic gore made it one of the UK’s infamous “video nasties.”
Status: Banned or seized in the UK, Finland, Iceland, and other countries.
Hostel (2005)
Why it was banned: Torture scenes and graphic violence pushed censorship limits.
Status: Banned in Ukraine and censored in Germany and several other countries.
Hostel: Part II (2007)
Why it was banned: Even more graphic violence than the original film.
Status: Banned in New Zealand and censored in Germany and elsewhere.
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Why it was banned: Its portrayal of Jesus sparked worldwide protests.
Status: Banned in Greece, Turkey, Chile, Mexico, Singapore, and several others.
Borat (2006)
Why it was banned: Political satire and offensive humor angered several governments.
Status: Banned throughout much of the Arab world and condemned in Kazakhstan.
Pink Flamingos (1972)
Why it was banned: Extremely explicit and intentionally shocking content.
Status: Banned or declared obscene in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Why it was banned: Explicit sexual content caused legal battles worldwide.
Status: Banned in Italy, Portugal, South Korea, Singapore, and others.
Salò (1975)
Why it was banned: Graphic torture, abuse, and sexual violence remain highly controversial.
Status: Banned in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Finland, and many others.
Faces of Death (1978)
Why it was banned: Many believed its death footage was real.
Status: Banned in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK.
Antichrist (2009)
Why it was banned: Graphic violence and explicit sexual imagery.
Status: Banned or heavily censored in France, Malaysia, and several other countries.
I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
Why it was banned: Graphic sexual assault and brutal revenge scenes.
Status: Banned in Ireland, Norway, Iceland, and the UK for many years.
A Serbian Film (2010)
Why it was banned: Widely considered one of the most disturbing films ever made.
Status: Banned in Spain, Norway, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and many others.
The Human Centipede 2 (2011)
Why it was banned: Extreme gore and disturbing violence exceeded censorship standards.
Status: Banned in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand before later edits.
Caligula (1979)
Why it was banned: Explicit unsimulated sexual content and graphic violence.
Status: Banned or heavily censored in Canada, Iceland, Australia, and elsewhere.
Ken Park (2002)
Why it was banned: Explicit sexual content involving teenagers generated controversy.
Status: Banned in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe.
Baise-Moi (2000)
Why it was banned: Combined explicit sex with graphic violence.
Status: Banned in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Grotesque (2009)
Why it was banned: Extreme torture and sadistic violence.
Status: Banned in the UK and censored elsewhere.
Persepolis (2007)
Why it was banned: Political themes critical of Iran’s government.
Status: Banned in Iran and protested in several countries.
The Death of Stalin (2017)
Why it was banned: Satirical portrayal of Soviet history offended Russian officials.
Status: Banned in Russia.
Fitna (2008)
Why it was banned: Criticism of Islam led to widespread political controversy.
Status: Blocked or banned in several Muslim-majority countries.
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983)
Why it was banned: Religious satire and irreverent humor offended censorship boards.
Status: Temporarily banned in Ireland and censored in several countries.
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