Film has been censored almost as long as it has existed. Governments, religious groups, local councils and studios have all pulled films from screens, whether over sex, violence, blasphemy, politics or fear of copycat behavior. Some bans lasted a few weeks, others decades, and a few films were banned in many countries at once.
A few clarifications first. “Banned” is used loosely: it can mean a legal prohibition, a refusal by a censorship board, or a distributor’s decision to withdraw a film. Many bans have since been lifted, and rules differ by country and change over time, so check the current status of any film you want to see.
Part 1: The Classics of Censorship
1. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian film about a violent gang leader was among the most controversial of its era. It was blamed in the press for copycat crimes in Britain, and Kubrick himself had it withdrawn from UK distribution in 1973. It stayed unavailable there until after his death in 1999, and was also restricted in places like Ireland and Singapore.
2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Tobe Hooper’s film was refused a certificate by the British censors and banned in a range of countries for its intensity, despite showing surprisingly little onscreen gore. It reached UK audiences uncut only in the late 1990s and 2000s.
3. The Exorcist (1973)
William Friedkin’s possession drama caused fainting and walkouts, and several local authorities and countries banned or restricted it. In Britain it was effectively unavailable on home video for years, before being released in 1999.
4. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Bernardo Bertolucci’s drama starring Marlon Brando was prosecuted for obscenity in Italy, where a court ordered the destruction of prints. It was also banned or cut in several other countries. In later years, the film has also been the subject of controversy over the treatment of actress Maria Schneider.
5. Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Pier Paolo Pasolini’s brutal adaptation of the Marquis de Sade, set in fascist Italy, was banned in numerous countries and remained banned in some for decades. Britain passed it uncut only in 2000. It is often regarded as among the most extreme films ever made, and many critics still consider it a serious, if unbearable, political allegory.
6. Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
The comedy satirizing organized religion was banned by many local councils in Britain and prohibited in Ireland and Norway. Its marketing in Sweden famously joked that it was so funny it was banned in Norway.
7. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Martin Scorsese’s religious drama, which imagines Jesus with human doubts and desires, provoked protests and bans across many countries, particularly in parts of Latin America and elsewhere. In Chile, the ban lasted until 2003. A Paris cinema showing it was attacked by arsonists.
Part 2: Films Banned for Politics
8. Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Sergei Eisenstein’s silent classic, about a naval mutiny, was seen as revolutionary propaganda. It was banned in numerous countries for years, including Britain, where restrictions lasted decades.
9. The Birth of a Nation (1915)
D.W. Griffith’s landmark film glorified the Ku Klux Klan. It was technically groundbreaking and hugely popular, but it sparked protests and was banned in several American cities. Its legacy remains deeply troubling.
10. Paths of Glory (1957)
Kubrick’s anti-war film about French soldiers unjustly executed was banned in France for many years, and restricted in other places, over its criticism of the military.
11. The Great Dictator (1940)
Charlie Chaplin’s satire of Hitler was banned in Nazi-controlled and aligned countries, and was also restricted elsewhere. It was one of the earliest major Hollywood films to mock the dictator directly.
12. Persepolis (2007)
Marjane Satrapi’s animated memoir of growing up in Iran was banned in Iran and drew objections in a few other countries.
Part 3: Horror and Extreme Cinema
13. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Ruggero Deodato’s found-footage horror was banned in dozens of countries and led to legal trouble for its director, who had to prove that no actors were actually killed. It was included on Britain’s “video nasties” list.
14. I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
This rape-revenge film was one of the most notorious “video nasties” in Britain and was banned or heavily cut in many territories.
15. Freaks (1932)
Tod Browning’s film used real carnival performers with physical differences. Audiences found it disturbing, and it was banned in several places, including Britain for over three decades. Today it is widely regarded as a classic.
16. Pink Flamingos (1972)
John Waters’ deliberately outrageous cult film was banned in places including Australia and Norway, and cut in others.
Part 4: Modern Bans
Recent bans often involve LGBTQ content, political sensitivities and religion, and vary by country.
- Barbie (2023): Banned in Vietnam over a map shown in the film, and banned or blocked in some other countries for other reasons.
- Lightyear (2022): Banned in several countries, largely in the Middle East and Asia, over a brief same-sex kiss.
- Brokeback Mountain (2005): Not released in various countries because of its gay love story.
- The Da Vinci Code (2006): Banned or challenged in several countries for its treatment of Christianity.
- Borat (2006): Banned in Russia and Kazakhstan, where it caused political embarrassment.
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Banned in a few countries over sex, drugs and profanity.
- Christopher Robin (2018): Reportedly denied a release in China, with the Winnie the Pooh comparisons to the country’s president widely cited as the reason.
- Deadpool (2016): Its release was blocked in China because of its violence and sexual content.
Why Are Films Banned?
- Sex and nudity. The most common reason worldwide, and the driver of many bans.
- Violence. Films seen as glorifying brutality or inspiring copycats.
- Religion. Blasphemy accusations, particularly for films that portray sacred figures.
- Politics. Films criticizing governments, militaries or leaders.
- LGBTQ themes. A frequent cause of bans in many countries today.
- Moral panic. Britain’s “video nasties” era, in the early 1980s, saw dozens of horror films prosecuted or banned amid public fear.
Ban vs. Censorship vs. Self-Regulation
Not every restriction is a ban. The US Hays Code, in place from the 1930s to the 1960s, was an industry self-censorship system rather than a government law, but it shaped what Hollywood could show for decades. Ratings systems like the MPA and BBFC classify films rather than prohibit them, though a refusal of classification can amount to a ban.
The list of banned films reads like a map of what societies fear at any given moment. Many films once considered too shocking, such as The Exorcist and A Clockwork Orange, are now regarded as classics, while others still provoke debate. Bans also tend to increase curiosity: several films on this list became cult favorites in part because of the attempts to suppress them.
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