From the outrage over experimental storylines and “inappropriate” visuals leading to the creation of the Hays Code, to the Academy Awards’ eternal racial and gender prejudice and the huge scale of the Sєxual ᴀssault and rape culture in Hollywood exposed during the #MeToo movement, controversy both on and off-screen has been a point of contention for cinema since its conception.

Now, looking back, some controversial movies seem tame by today’s standards, as the extent of extremeness we regularly see on the screen has increased manifold in comparison. On the contrary, many great comedy movies would never be made today because the standards of political correctness are high and often stringent among audiences, producers, critics, and, thus, studio executives as well.

Some controversial movies become box-office hits because of the hype that the surrounding controversy generates, but the opposite is known to occur as well, since many controversial movies get outright banned and never get theatrical releases in many countries around the world. Irrespective of their success, the 21st century has seen its fair share of movies plagued by controversy.

Antichrist (2009)

Lars von Trier is known for courting controversy with his dark, cynical, depressing, and extreme arthouse filmmaking. From walkouts during premieres to excessive cuts and bans, it’s rare that one of his films isn’t surrounded by controversy. Regardless of the ongoing debate about which is his most outrageous film, no one can deny that Antichrist is his most infamous work.

From the baby falling out of the window while his parents orgasm in the shower to the man being castrated by his wife while he’s climaxing, Antichrist has its fair share of horror movie moments that make us audibly gasp, which were cited as grounds for censorship and even bans in the UK, Australia, and other parts of the world.

Baise-moi (2000)

With the turn of the century began a new wave of French cinema, the New French Extremity, identified by depictions of intense violence, Sєx, and Sєxual violence for long amounts of time. While there’s debate about which specific movie started the New French Extremity, a term coined in 2004, Baise-moi is undoubtedly one of the earliest examples of the wave.

It didn’t help that the film’s тιтle was often mistranslated as Rape Me. Other complaints were made by the censor boards of the countries where it sparked controversy. From unsimulated Sєx to gang rape, it changed what 18+ filmmaking looked like in the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Finland, and New Zealand. Some countries banned the sale of physical copies.

The Pᴀssion of the Christ (2004)

An interpretation of the last few hours of Jesus Christ’s life is going to spark controversy, even if it’s accurate. Play fast and loose with facts and myths and have Mel Gibson direct, and you’re practically asking for controversy. Not only is the movie historically inaccurate, but it’s also been subjected to accusations of antisemitism.

Of the many controversies surrounding The Pᴀssion of the Christ, two that stand out are the antisemitic tones and the gratuitous depiction of pain and suffering. It sparked outrage because the violence inflicted upon Christ was turned into a spectacle while the real facts about the time were twisted, and the film was denied a wide release by many governments.

The Human Centipede trilogy (2009 – 2015)

Depicting people getting sтιтched from mouth to anus to form a centipede-like being was never going to go smoothly with critics, audiences, or censor boards, but writer-director Tom Six couldn’t care less, as he made three of these movies. While the first film caught people’s attention for its excessively sadistic depictions of violence, the second movie attracted the most controversy.

The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) was heavily cut and outright banned in most countries, and it remains one of the most egregious examples of body horror, although there’s some cult fandom developed due to the controversy surrounding the film. With limited releases, it became coveted because of constant censorship.

Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)

While it features the breakout roles of both Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos, and even unanimously won the Palme d’Or in 2013, the legacy of Blue Is the Warmest Colour is steeped in controversy. Jul Maroh, the writer of the graphic novel on which the movie is based, and other viewers argue the film doesn’t represent the LGBTQIA+ community well.

However, the major controversy lay in the reports about poor working conditions on set, including complaints by the lead actresses who said the shoot was harrowing, although they both later expressed appreciation for both the film and the director. Regardless of how boundary-pushing it may have been at the time, it is one of the most controversial romance movies ever.

Eddington (2025)