Lisa O
Movies have always been great at telling stories with amazing visuals and deep messages. But sometimes, their bold creativity clashes with cultural, political, or moral values. This clash can stir up a lot of drama—causing some films to get banned. Check out the list of 15 movies you never knew were banned in the U.S.
Monty Python’s Life of Brian
This British comedy is a cheeky take on biblical stories, following the wild adventures of Brian from Nazareth. The film caused a stir, being labeled blasphemous and slapped with an ‘X’ rating in England. When it hit screens in the United States, it sparked protests from religious groups. Senator Strom Thurmond tried to ban it in South Carolina—claiming it mocked Christians. There were protests and cancellations in North Carolina, Louisiana, and New Jersey.
Titicut Follies (1967)
Director Frederick Wiseman shook up documentaries with his camera, capturing real life as it happened. His 1967 film Titicut Follies took viewers inside a state hospital for the criminally insane. The movie was banned in Massachusetts, where it was filmed, supposedly for violating the inmates’ privacy, but it also showed the shocking conditions in the asylum.
Freaks (1932)
MGM made Tod Browning’s Freaks, but they chopped out about 25 minutes of super-shocking stuff before it hit theaters. The movie freaked out audiences so much that it got yanked from screens soon after. Browning cast actors with physical disabilities in this horror film about circus life. Being a former circus performer himself, the director wanted to show the human side of being an outsider. But lots of people still find the film controversial.
Ecstasy (1933)
Hedy Lamarr’s provocative nude scenes in Ecstasy stirred such controversy that the film faced a lengthy ban. It featured intimate close-ups of her face during passionate moments, pushing boundaries for audiences of the era. Lamarr’s husband reportedly went to great lengths to try and destroy all existing copies of the film—highlighting the intense reaction it provoked at the time.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
In the 1980s, slasher movies became a hit, often featuring killers linked to specific dates, like Jason in Friday the 13th or the creepy Michael Myers in Halloween. Naturally, someone decided to make Santa Claus the ax-wielding killer. Parents nationwide launched petitions to ban the film. Angry parents protested in Brooklyn, Chicago, and Milwaukee, but all the fuss ended up giving the movie a ton of free publicity.
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Before its premiere, many influential Black leaders tried to block D.W. Griffith’s incredibly racist blockbuster—calling it a “direct incitement to hatred.” The movie portrays the Ku Klux Klan as heroes, yet President Woodrow Wilson still screened it at the White House and endorsed it. Peaceful protests by Black citizens back then are now seen by historians as a blueprint for the future civil rights movement.
The Exorcist (1973)
This possession film caused such a commotion that it got straight-up banned in the U.K., and its trailer faced criticism in the U.S. The movie was yanked from theaters after reports of people freaking out and even getting queasy. But despite its creepy vibes, the film still ended up a massive hit, showing how it really got under people’s skin.
Scarface (1932)
Before Al Pacino dropped his famous line “Say hello to my little friend” in the 1983 remake, there was the original Scarface, supposedly inspired by Al Capone’s life. The 1930s film was just as legendary and so shocking that it got banned in five states. Wondering why? It glorified crime, violence, and gangster life long before Tony Soprano and Vito Corleone in The Godfather captured America’s imagination.
The Outlaw (1943)
Jane Russell’s “big and prominent” breasts caused quite a stir in The Outlaw. The controversy dragged on for ages, leading to lawsuits and bans. The film had trouble getting the green light for release as they argued over how much of those shots needed to be cut. Once it finally hit theaters, one brave manager got arrested for showing it. All the fuss about indecency led to the movie getting banned all across the country.
Haxan (1922)
This Swedish movie was banned in the U.S. for years because of its portrayal of demonic behavior, sacrilegious acts, and sexual content often set in churches. American authorities thought it was too shocking for audiences, but it finally premiered in 1929. It gained a following in the art scene after being re-edited and re-released in the 1960s—earning a reputation for its avant-garde style today.
Pink Flamingos (1972)
Cult filmmaker John Waters set out to glorify outrageousness in his tribute to bad taste, starring the legendary drag queen Divine. While the underground scene ate it up, the film got banned in many small towns nationwide. Why? Because it proudly showcased perversion—exactly what it aimed to do. Despite the bans, Waters’ work kept drawing fans who loved its bold, in-your-face style and irreverent charm.
The Vanishing Prairie (1954)
Disney’s acclaimed nature documentary scored an Academy Award, but it ran into trouble in New York, where it got banned at first because people worried it might mess with people’s morals. The fuss was over a scene showing a buffalo giving birth, which some thought was too much for audiences. Luckily, the ban didn’t stick for long and was lifted soon after.
The Song of the South (1946)
Disney didn’t outright ban their live-action and animated mix, Song of the South. Instead, they stashed it away and kept it from being shown. Both the film and the Splash Mountain ride draw from Uncle Remus’s stories about Br’er Rabbit. The movie portrays a racist view of African American life on a plantation. The lyrics to the popular song Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah are jarringly inappropriate and highly problematic.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock’s famous shower scene barely squeaked past the ratings board, but it set the stage for modern horror slashers. Audiences ate it up and packed theaters to feel the raw terror it unleashed. However, the film also stirred up a storm of controversy. Some people even called it cruel and tasteless, demanding theaters stop showing it.