Scandalous! The 10 Most Controversial Movies of All Time

1. "A Clockwork Orange" (1971)

Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" ignited quite a public outrage upon its release. The movie, based on Anthony Burgess's novel, follows Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell), a sociopathic delinquent who leads a gang on a violent spree across future dystopian Britain. The film's graphic depictions of violence, sex, and its unsettling examination of free will versus morality led to it being banned in several countries. In an unexpected turn, Kubrick himself withdrew the film from distribution in the UK due to death threats he received.

2. "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988)

Directed by Martin Scorsese, "The Last Temptation of Christ" is a thought-provoking examination of the life of Jesus Christ. However, the film's depiction of a more humanized Jesus, particularly his relationship with Mary Magdalene, led to an international outcry from religious groups. Several countries banned the film, and protests were common at theaters showing it. It's worth noting that despite its controversy, the film earned Scorsese an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

3. "Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom" (1975)

If there were a crown for the most controversial film, "Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom" would surely be a top contender. Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, the film presents a brutal commentary on fascism, depicting a group of Italian fascists who kidnap and torture a group of teenagers. The film's disturbing themes, graphic violence, and sexual content sparked immediate controversy and led to various censorship attempts. It still remains banned in several countries.

4. "The Birth of a Nation" (1915)

As the first 12-reel film in America, D.W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation" was groundbreaking in terms of cinematic techniques. But it's better known for its controversial portrayal of African Americans and the glorification of the Ku Klux Klan. Despite protests and riots at the time of its release, the film was a commercial success. The film's controversy led to the rise of Hollywood's first major protest group, the NAACP.

5. "Cannibal Holocaust" (1980)

"Cannibal Holocaust" is a film notorious for its explicit violence and very disturbing content we're not even going to describe however vague. Directed by Ruggero Deodato, it's a found-footage style horror film where a documentary crew goes missing in the Amazon rainforest while filming cannibal tribes. Upon its release, the film's realistic gore led to Deodato being charged with obscenity and later, murder, as some believed the on-screen deaths were real. The charges were eventually dropped, but the film's infamy remains.

6. "Last Tango in Paris" (1972)

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, "Last Tango in Paris" is an erotic drama starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. The film, particularly a scene involving the use of butter in a sexual act, caused a scandal due to its explicit nature and was subject to censorship across many countries. It became even more controversial years later when Schneider revealed she felt exploited during the shooting of that scene, as she hadn't been fully informed about what it would involve. Despite the controversy, Brando's performance earned him an Academy Award nomination.

7. "The Passion of the Christ" (2004)

Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is an intense retelling of the last twelve hours of Jesus Christ's life. It faced significant controversy for its brutal depiction of Christ's crucifixion and accusations of anti-Semitism. Despite the backlash, it became a box office hit, grossing over $600 million worldwide. Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Christ, went through quite a lot on set – notably, he suffered a shoulder injury and was struck by lightning during production.

8. "Song of the South" (1946)

Disney 's "Song of the South" is a blend of live-action and animation based on the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris. Its controversy arises from its portrayal of African American characters and the romanticized depiction of the post-Civil War South, which many critics argue propagates racist stereotypes. Despite introducing the popular song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," the film has never been released in its entirety on home video in the United States due to its controversial reputation.

9. "The Interview" (2014)

This comedy, starring James Franco and Seth Rogen, ignited an international incident due to its plot about assassinating North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The controversy escalated when North Korea called the film an "act of war," and a major cyberattack on Sony Pictures was linked to the country. The threats led to a change in release strategy, with the film being distributed online. In a delicious twist of irony, the controversy ended up providing the film with much more publicity than any marketing campaign could.

10. "The Da Vinci Code" (2006)

"The Da Vinci Code", directed by Ron Howard and based on Dan Brown's best-selling novel, is a mystery thriller that rocked religious communities worldwide. The film, starring Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon, follows a thrilling hunt for the Holy Grail, with the controversial twist that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene might have had a lineage. This alternative perspective on biblical history incited uproar from several religious groups, leading to calls for censorship and even protests outside theaters. Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, the film was a box office success, grossing over $760 million worldwide.