While movies are at the mercy of a standardized rating system in countries like the U.S., particular cultural mores are bound to slip through the cracks. Some are unsurprising, some are absurd, but all speak to the differences inherent between cultures. As such, let’s learn about seven movies that were banned from theaters around the world. (For movies that failed, learn about the biggest box office bombs of the last decade.)
To compile a list of movies that were banned from theaters around the world, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of movie databases and publications. These include IMDB.com, as well as news publications. From there, we selected movies banned for unique reasons. After that, we consulted various news stories to confirm the facts of each ban like PBS.
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
“Fifty Shades of Grey,” the movie adaptation of the controversial novel by the same name, unsurprisingly stirred up some controversy. The movie depicts the meeting of a college student named Anastasia Steele, a mercurial billionaire named Christian Grey, and their dark, twisted fantasy that ensues. Suffice it to say, that this did not please certain markets.
Beyond the backlash in the United States, other countries outright banned the film. According to CNN, Indonesia and Cambodia banned the film due to its violent and explicit sexual content, claiming much of the movie bordered on pornography. It portrays an intense bondage-type relationship.
Nevertheless, “Fifty Shades of Grey” was successful overall. Enough so that it spawned a trilogy of movies and launched the careers of actors Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. It also helped revitalize the erotic romance film genre.
Barbie (2023)
“Barbie,” the movie reimagining of the classic children’s toy, was a wild success. Starring Margot Robbie as the timeless Barbie, the movie follows her awakening, of sorts. After realizing that there is a whole other world out there besides the land of toys, Barbie goes on an adventure with her pathetic but endearing partner Ken. Soon, they get a true taste of humanity’s good and bad sides.
The movie was a box-office smash, re-energizing the summer blockbuster and bringing people back into movie theaters. Except in Vietnam, that is. Due to a brief shot in the movie of a child’s drawing of the world map, Vietnam banned the movie for its depiction of the controversial nine-dash line in the South China Sea.
Vietnam has a reputation for banning any depiction of maps prioritizing China’s claim of the represented area. While this barely put a dent in Barbie’s ticket sales, Vietnam’s ban on the movie is noteworthy for just how particular it is.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Upon its release, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” achieved a near-mythical level of controversy and rumor. The movie depicts a group of friends who run out of gas while driving through the Texas backcountry. Soon, each friend is consecutively hunted and killed by the chainsaw-wielding, human skin mask-wearing Leatherface and his cannibal kin.
With its raw, unadorned violence, the movie was so unlike anything that had come before it that people went crazy. Some even claimed the footage was real and not fiction. Its instant controversial status no doubt influenced its being banned in movie theaters around the world. Germany, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden took immediate offense. What’s more, the Australian and British film boards initially refused to classify it.
As time went on, and increasingly violent movies were released, the bans were removed from most of the countries. What’s more, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” went on to become a classic movie and a pioneer of the horror genre. It’s easy to forget, however, just how scary and lifelike the movie seemed upon its release. (Click here for the best R-rated movies of all time.)
Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Perhaps the oldest movie with a wide enough release to even be banned from theaters around the world is “Battleship Potemkin.” Based on a true story, it depicts a group of Russian sailors fed up with cruel treatment and the rotten food they are forced to eat. So, they decide to stage a mutiny against their commanding officers.
While the film was lauded for its innovative special effects and visual storytelling techniques, it made more than one country nervous. This was due to its latent anti-war message. Worried that soldiers would take to the idea of overthrowing their superiors, both the United Kingdom and France banned the movie.
With a release during the geopolitical no man’s land between the two world wars, it’s not that surprising this movie was banned. As the decades progressed, however, “Battleship Potemkin” was increasingly seen as a high-watermark in early cinema.
Persepolis (2007)
Persepolis is an adaption of the highly-regarded graphic novel by the same name. It depicts the true, coming-of-age story of the comic’s creator during the Iranian Revolution and subsequent Iran-Iraq war. Set in stark black and white, the film explores the human condition amid the rapid changes the country undergoes throughout revolution and war.
While the film was critically acclaimed and even earned an Academy Award nomination, the country of Iran did not take too kindly to it. Claiming it depicted the Islamic Revolution inaccurately and unfaithfully, Iran banned the movie. It was soon after banned in Lebanon as well.
This blacklisting didn’t last, however, and Persepolis’ ban was lifted after complaints from several political parties in Iran. Frankly, this process only helped its legacy, as it’s now considered one of the greatest animated movies ever made.
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
When the classic TV show “The Simpsons” finally got around to releasing a full-length movie, fans were overjoyed. Expanding upon a standard Simpsons plotline, the movie follows patriarch Homer and his new pet pig. The pig, however, poops a lot. So much so, that it threatens not only Springfield but the entire planet. In response, Homer must set out to save the world and earn his wife Marge’s forgiveness in the process.
“The Simpsons Movie” was a hit in theaters all around the world, except for one. During the time of its release, the country of Burma was threatened by a rebel group called the National League of Democracy whose flag used red and yellow colors. Fearing that the yellow-shaded Simpsons family would cause bias in favor of the rebels, Burma banned the movie outright.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
It’s not surprising that “A Clockwork Orange” is one of those movies that were banned from theaters around the world. Based on the novel by Anthony Burgess of the same name, “A Clockwork Orange” is set in a dismal future and follows the horrifying exploits of a young psychopath and gang leader named Alex. After he is imprisoned for rape and murder, Alex volunteers for an experimental rehabilitation program that slowly makes him lose his mind.
Due to its graphic depictions of torture, sexual violence, and overall misanthropy, the movie quickly earned controversy. So much so, that Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and Singapore banned the movie for decades. What’s more, director Stanley Kubrick and his family received so many death threats over the movie, Kubrick had it pulled from UK theaters.
The legacy of “A Clockwork Orange” has steadily grown over the years. However, it is still a thorn in the side of many countries. Even in the United Kingdom, it was practically impossible to get your hands on a copy of the movie before 1999. (If you’re more of a reader, learn about the 25 most banned books in America.)