Georges Braque famously said, “Art is meant to disturb.” Many movies are made with this idea. While a great section of these controversial pieces of art pushes boundaries and leaves an indelible mark on society, a handful of them have been suppressed and banned in the United States.
Why did these films not see the light of day when they were made? The reasons range from shocking and indecent to politically charged and downright offensive. If revisited now, some of the movies might be called groundbreaking and serve as milestones in the development of the cinematic era. But what matters is they were banned in the U.S. during their time.
Top Banned Movies In America
The Birth Of A Nation (1915)
The silent drama is one of the most controversial movies to date. It courted criticism for its racist tone and promotion of white supremacy. ‘The Birth Of A Nation’ caused the re-emergence of the Ku Klux Klan after 40 years by depicting the members as heroic and portraying African Americans as sexually violent and unintelligent.
Birth Control (1917)
More than 100 years on, sex educator Margaret Sanger’s ‘Birth Control’ remains relevant. She aimed to promote family planning with the documentary, but it was shut down after facing fierce opposition. It was banned “in the interest of morality, decency, and public safety and welfare.” However, Sanger managed to open one of the first clinics in U.S. history that educated women about diaphragms and birth control.
Related: Why Did ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Get Banned?
Häxan (1922)
The Swedish silent horror delves deep into witchcraft, its practices, and its followers. The story traces its beginnings to the Middle Ages and sees how it carried on till the 20th century. ‘Häxan’ was slammed in many parts of the world, including the U.S., where it remained banned for seven years due to its vivid depiction of Satanism.
Scarface (1932)
Before Al Pacino came to be known for his Tony Montana in ‘Scarface’, another film had been made with the same title. It was based on the 1929 novel ‘Armitage Trail’. The 1933 ‘Scarface’ told the story of a Chicago gangster named Tony Camonte and was censored and banned due to its graphic content showing violent crimes and murder.
In case you missed it: Why Al Pacino’s Oscar-Winning Role Is Also His Most Ridiculed Performance
Ecstasy (1933)
The Czech erotic drama stars actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr as a woman who marries a wealthy old man. The notorious film was met with many bans and censorship troubles for years due to nudity, which was scandalous on screen at the time. Apparently, the Vatican and Pope Pius XI also condemned ‘Ecstasy’.
I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967)
The Swedish erotic drama tells the story of a young woman who explores her sexuality and is curious about how the world works. The film was critiqued for being “obscene” as it featured many scenes of sexual intercourse and nudity. While many called it pornographic, an angry arsonist even set fire to a theater in Houston that was screening the banned movie.
Pink Flamingos (1972)
The John Waters comedy film was banned in many places in the United States for 25 years. The reason? In those times, the portrayal of homosexuality and explicit sexual content was a strict no-no. The film also featured scenes of animal cruelty, and one in which the lead character consumed dog meat. Well, it was certainly a lot in the 70s.
Monty Python’s Life Of Brian (1979)
It’s hard to imagine one of the funniest Hollywood films to have been banned after production. The film is a religious satire and revolves around a man named Brian, who is mistaken for a Messiah due to a coincidence. ‘Monty Python’s Life Of Brian’ was called blasphemous for mocking Jesus Christ’s sufferings and banned.
The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988)
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Willem Dafoe, the religious drama depicts the life of Jesus Christ and his internal struggles with temptations like love, lust, doubt, and fear. Christian groups around the world called for its ban and especially attacked the scenes portraying Jesus’ inner thoughts about sexual activities.
The Profit (2001)
Even though the movie was promoted as a work of fiction, the Church of Scientology stopped its distribution for five years. It revolves around the inception and propaganda of cults. The Church of Scientology argued that the film was made to discourage people from joining their religion as it borrowed elements from the life of its creator, L. Ron Hubbard.
