Controversy often serves as a catalyst for discussion, debate, and even dissent. From provocative themes to boundary-pushing visuals, certain films have sparked fervent discourse, challenging societal norms, moral codes, and artistic boundaries. Join us as we embark on a cinematic journey through film history, as we encounter a diverse array of works that have ignited controversy in various forms.
This curated list delves into what we at SAW have determined to be the 100 of the most controversial movies ever made. These films are not merely provocative for the sake of shock value; rather, they offer profound insights into the human condition, societal taboos, and the power of art to challenge, provoke, and inspire. Some have been met with critical acclaim despite their contentious nature, while others have faced censorship, bans, and public outrage.
From groundbreaking classics that pushed the boundaries of cinematic expression to modern masterpieces that continue to polarize audiences, each entry in this list represents a unique chapter in the ongoing evolution of cinema. As we navigate through tales of love, violence, politics, religion, sexuality, and everything in between, we invite you to engage with these films, not only as entertainment but as thought-provoking discussions of art.
60. White Dog (1982)
In an attempt to prove that hate can be unlearned, a black trainer (Paul Winfield) risks life and limb trying to reprogram a vicious dog that’s been raised to kill black people. For a film that was buried almost immediately upon release, White Dog is surprisingly deep. Skating the line between exploitation and soap box melodrama, the film tackles a bunch of social issues without ever feeling like a PSA. Even though its message is pretty clear without a shade of ambiguity (the ending is pretty much the director looking at the camera yelling “DO YOU GET IT?”), the topic must’ve been too controversial for studios to handle because they ripped it out of theaters and threw it in a vault for years and years. Which just means it was light years ahead of the curve. White Dog is an entertaining drama/horror that’s more relevant now than it was in ’82.
-Sailor Monsoon
59. Goodbye Uncle Tom (1971)
Goodbye Uncle Tom is a profoundly unsettling and controversial film that delves into the darkest depths of the institution of slavery in America. Directed by Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi (of Mondo Cane and Africa Blood and Guts infamy), this pseudo-documentary aims to provide a visceral and unflinching portrayal of the horrors endured by enslaved Africans in the antebellum South. From the moment the film begins, viewers are plunged into a harrowing journey through the slave trade, plantation life, and the various atrocities committed against black men, women, and children.
Through a combination of staged reenactments, historical documents, and archival footage, Goodbye Uncle Tom paints a disturbingly realistic picture of the brutality and inhumanity of slavery. The film is unapologetic in its depiction of violence and degradation. Scenes of rape, torture, and physical abuse are portrayed with shocking realism, leaving viewers feeling both horrified and complicit in the suffering of the enslaved. This unflinching approach forces audiences to confront the uncomfortable truths of America’s past and the enduring legacy of racism and oppression. Goodbye Uncle Tom is not a historical record of the atrocities of the slave trade, it is a shockumentary that exploits and sensationalizes the suffering of enslaved people for shock value. And fans of Jacopetti and Prosperi wouldn’t have it any other way.
-Sailor Monsoon
58. Battle Royale (2000)
Blood, violence, and murder were nothing new to cinema in the year 2000. Especially extreme Asian cinema. But when the aforementioned blood and violence also involved school children, people suddenly had a problem with it. The plot of Battle Royale follows a group of ninth-grade students who have to fight a battle on a deserted island with meagre resources. Some students decide to fight it out, while others look for a way to escape from the island.
Regardless of the critical acclaim it received, the film drew controversy and was banned or excluded from distribution in multiple countries. Many of the actors were aged 15 and certainly didn’t look any older. Battle Royale features some brutal scenes and upsetting moments. But it was also extremely popular and influential. It has gone on to spawn numerous works of battle royal genre fiction in movies, video games, and comics, right up until the present day.
-Lee McCutcheon
57. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Most of the films on this list are only remembered because of their controversial elements. A lot of them would most likely fade into obscurity if not for their risque subject matter. Last Tango in Paris is one of the only films on this list who’s reputation was hurt because of controversy. It’s impossible to talk about this film without mentioning “the butter scene”. It’s the only thing this movie is remembered for and that’s a shame because if this movie didn’t have that scene, it would be considered a masterpiece. Pauline Kael said in 1972 that Bertolucci and star Marlon Brando ‘altered the face of an art form’ with their psychosexual drama about a wildly grieving widower who sparks up a no-strings fling with a young Parisian woman, played by Maria Schneider.
Last Tango in Paris is an exploration of raw, unbridled desire and the search for connection in a modern, impersonal world. Bertolucci delves deep into the psyche of his characters, unraveling their innermost desires, fears, and vulnerabilities through unflinchingly honest performances by the two leads. The film’s infamous butter scene, in which Brando’s character uses butter as a lubricant during a sexual encounter, has been a subject of much debate and interpretation. Some view it as a metaphor for the dehumanizing nature of their relationship, while others see it as a symbol of liberation and transcendence. Regardless of how you see it, the act itself is rape. The actress didn’t consent to it and the director and actor kept it a secret for a reason. It’s gross and it tarnishes the legacy of what otherwise is a beautiful, if challenging story on love.
-Sailor Monsoon
56. Fat Girl (2001)
-Vincent Kane
55. El Topo (1970)
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s previous film Fando Y Lis was so incendiary upon release, the director had to escape out the back during the premiere because there were people waiting outside of the theater to literally kill him. You know how people throw rotten vegetables at public speakers if they disagree with what they’re saying? They did that except with rocks. They fucking despised that movie. Alejandro Jodorowsky took that as a sign to retire from filmmaking. Just kidding, he actually doubled down and made something even crazier and more controversial. El Topo is a surrealistic Western that’s been captivating audiences with its unique blend of religious allegory, violent imagery, and philosophical concepts for over fifty years. The film follows the journey of El Topo (played by Jodorowsky himself), a gunfighter clad in black, as he traverses through a desert landscape with his young son. El Topo engages in duels with various adversaries, ultimately defeating them.
Along the way, he encounters a series of bizarre characters and situations that challenge his perceptions of reality and morality. Drawing heavily from Eastern philosophy, particularly Zen Buddhism and Taoism, El Topo, at its core, is a spiritual journey. The main character seeks enlightenment and redemption through violent and surreal encounters. His journey parallels various religious and philosophical themes, including Buddhism, Christianity, and existentialism. But it’s not a religious movie. It just uses religious ideas and constructs as the backbone of its story. It’s a good vs bad story where the bad is outdated ideology. It’s a movie jammed backed with so many ideas, there was no way it wasn’t going to be controversial. El Topo is the OG of WTF cinema.
-Sailor Monsoon
54. Straw Dogs (1971)
Set in a remote English village, the film follows David Sumner and his wife Amy, as they confront a series of escalating conflicts with the locals. As tensions rise, David is forced to confront his own morality and capacity for violence in order to protect his home and loved ones. Director Sam Peckinpah’s film sparked controversy upon its release due to its graphic depiction of violence and its exploration of taboo subjects such as rape and revenge. The film’s infamous rape scene, in particular, ignited heated debate and divided critics and audiences. While some praised Peckinpah’s boldness in confronting difficult subject matter and his exploration of the darker aspects of masculinity, others criticized the film for its brutality and accused it of glorifying violence. The rape scene had to be heavily edited to in order to not receive an X rating although the film would still be banned by different countries. Even the people of the small village where the movie was filmed were upset once they found out the nature of the film.
-Vincent Kane
53. Blue Velvet (1986)
David Lynch’s Blue Velvet captivated audiences with its surreal blend of mystery, noir, and psychological horror. Set in a seemingly idyllic suburban town, the film follows Jeffrey Beaumont, as he becomes entangled in a dark underworld of violence and depravity after discovering a severed ear. Lynch’s signature style, characterized by dreamlike imagery and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, creates an unsettling and hypnotic viewing experience. The film’s exploration of the dark underbelly lurking beneath the veneer of suburban Americana resonated deeply with audiences, drawing them into a world of twisted desires and forbidden secrets. However, it was Lynch’s unflinching portrayal of sexual violence and psychological torment that sparked controversy and divided critics.
Blue Velvet confronted audiences with its disturbing depiction of sexual deviance and psychological trauma, particularly through the character of Dorothy Vallens, played by Isabella Rossellini. Lynch’s exploration of themes such as voyeurism, power dynamics, and the duality of human nature pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling and challenged viewers to confront their own discomfort. The film’s graphic scenes of violence and its subversion of traditional narrative conventions provoked outrage among some critics, who accused Lynch of glorifying depravity and sensationalizing taboo subjects. Several of these critics would point to the treatment of Rossellini believing she was humiliated and exploited throughout the film.
-Vincent Kane
52. American Psycho (2000)
Mary Harron’s film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s novel American Psycho ignited controversy upon its release, mainly due to its unflinching portrayal of violence and its satirical examination of 1980s yuppie culture. Harron’s direction and Christian Bale’s chilling performance as Patrick Bateman, a wealthy investment banker with a dark and murderous alter ego, brought Ellis’s disturbing vision to life in a manner that both mesmerized and repelled audiences. The film’s sharp satire of consumerism, materialism, and the shallow excesses of the era was both incisive and unsettling. However, it was the graphic scenes of violence and sexual depravity, depicted with a disturbingly detached tone, that fueled the controversy surrounding American Psycho.
The film’s exploration of the disconnect between appearance and reality, as well as the erosion of moral values within a decadent society, struck a nerve with viewers and critics. Many found the film’s depiction of brutality gratuitous and disturbing, while others praised its dark humor and social commentary. Harron’s decision to focus on the psychological aspects of Bateman’s character rather than solely on the violence helped to deepen the film’s impact and provoke discussion about the nature of identity and sanity. Despite facing calls for censorship and condemnation, American Psycho has since become a cult classic.
-Vincent Kane
51. Sweet Movie (1974)
After his film WR: Mysteries of the Organism got banned and his soft core anthology Wet Dreams was attacked by critics, Dusan Makavejev wanted to really challenge viewers with his next film by forcing them to confront topics they would normally avoid. Infamous for its boundary-pushing content, Sweet Movie explores themes of sexuality, politics, consumerism, and human nature in an unapologetically surreal and confrontational manner. The film is divided into two distinct but thematically linked storylines. The first storyline follows Miss World (Carole Laure), a beauty pageant winner who represents the epitome of conventional femininity and purity. However, her seemingly perfect life takes a dark turn when she runs away from her duties and embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads her to encounters with various bizarre characters and situations.
The second storyline focuses on a wealthy ship captain named Anna Planeta (Anna Prucnal), who marries a communist leader and moves into a luxurious mansion. However, she soon becomes disillusioned with her marriage and the oppressive regime it represents. Her story unfolds in a series of increasingly surreal and grotesque scenes that culminate in a shocking and unforgettable climax. Sweet Movie is not for the faint of heart, as it contains explicit scenes of sex, violence, and otherwise forbidden behavior. However, beneath its shocking exterior lies a deeply thought-provoking exploration of the human condition and the ways in which society shapes our desires and identities.
-Sailor Monsoon
70-61 | 50-41
How many of these controversial movies have you seen? Did you find any of them controversial?