It’s a fact: If a film has been banned, it must be interesting. Movies that challenge the perceptions of our society become the most noteworthy. Whether it’s the shock ofPsychoor the compelling crime drama ofThe Godfather, the most challenging films are the ones worth seeking out.
Some films challenged so much that they were banned by governments or groups for various reasons. These reasons could range from depictions of sex to controversial politics. To better understand the hoopla, here are seven banned films you can stream right now. Don’t worry; you won’t break any laws watching them.
Some of these films are not for everyone and deal with mature themes. Please refer to the ratings and content warnings before watching any of the movies listed in this article.
2023
1 hour 55 minutes
Rating
PG-13
Nobody expectedBarbieto be the hit summer movie of 2023, but it was a surprising film to be the pink queen of that movie year. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are perfect in the roles of Barbie and Ken, as they are forced to question their gender dynamics when venturing out of their colorful world. In this bright and bold farce, they’ll discover the crushing weight of reality while embracing the individuality and identity they both crave.
WhileBarbiewas the biggest box office success of 2023, it wasn’t exactly revered worldwide. Algeria, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, and Russia would ban the film for reasons ranging from the promotion of homosexuality to “diminishing the importance of the family unit.” Vietnam’s ban, however, was due to a dispute over the map drawn in Barbie Land, misinterpreted as featuring the controversial nine-dash line.
HBO Max
Barbietakes the classic toy, giving her a fun and meaningful adventure with plenty of pink.
1966
1 hour 14 minutes
Not Rated
As one of the wildest films of the Czech New Wave,Daisieschallenged the perceptions of women in a world that feels spoiled. The two central characters, Marie and Marie, decide to indulge their deepest desires and have had enough of their societal roles. Thus begins a surreal adventure where they blow off dates, cut up their bodies, get drunk, and eat lots of food.
Released during Czechoslovakia’s political shift to communism,Daisieswas accused of depicting wantonness because it embraced consumerism and nihilism and set a bad example for women. It was removed from Czech theaters for being so controversial, though some small film groups still screened it. It has since become an avant-garde classic with imagery that remains etched in my mind, from the blonde Marie’s crown of flowers to the brunette Marie’s pigtails.
The Criterion Channel
Daisiesis a surreal film about two women striking back against a spoiled world with their indulgence in all manner of vice.
2005
2 hours 14 minutes
R
Ang Lee portrayed a tragic gay romance that got mainstream audiences talking with 2005’sBrokeback Mountain. Based on the short story by Annie Proulx, the film features Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal playing cowboys in 1960s Wyoming. A herding job leads to a one-night stand between them, leaving them both insecure about their futures when a gay relationship wouldn’t be possible in a discriminatory era.
Though touching and praised upon its theatrical release,Brokeback Mountainwas banned in the United Arab Emirates for the country’s criminalization of homosexuality. China would also ban the film for being too taboo, but it still spread throughout the country through bootleg videos.Brokeback Mountainwas a pivotal film that proved that gay romances would have a future in mainstream cinema.
Amazon Prime Video
Brokeback Mountainposed a gay romance between two cowboys who couldn’t make it work in 1960s America.
1969
2 hours 7 minutes
While some political films might include boilerplate text to indicate that they aren’t targeting anybody specifically,Zboasts the opposite, wanting the audience to recognize the rot in the politics of the 1960s. This blunt satire of Greek governance features a bubbling rebellion amid the mysterious death of a leftist activist. As the truth comes out, so does the violence of a political regime bound by repression.
Inspired by the 1963 assassination of the democratic Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis,Zwas a French-Algerian co-production that was too provocative for Greece. The Greek military junta banned the film for being critical of past political movements and conspiracies in the country, staying true to the censorship that laced the film’s narrative. Despite ruffling the feathers of the country it depicts,Zbecame an international hit and one of the most essential political thrillers of the 20th century.
Zis a scathing critique of 1960s Greek politics amid the death of a political activist.
2006
1 hour 24 minutes
Sacha Baron Cohen’s Kazakhstani reporter blew up on the big screen withBorat. The titular character ventures off to America to learn its ways, but gets distracted by the many cultural elements that challenge his worldview. This leads to a ridiculous road trip involving everything from running naked through a hotel to Borat confessing his love to Pamela Anderson.
Boratwas built for provocation, with its satire on Eastern European cultures and vulgar jokes about sex, religion, and race. Because of the offensive nature of the comedy, the film was banned not only in Kazakhstan (as expected) but also in a host of other countries, from Algeria to Yemen. Interestingly enough, Kazakhstan has since warmed up to the picture due to the attention and tourism it’s gained.
Hulu
Boratserves up the satirical adventure of an Eastern European reporter experiencing American culture.
1979
1 hour 34 minutes
After mocking the age of King Arthur, the Monty Python comedy troupe took aim at religion withLife of Brian. Set during the age of Jesus Christ, the average and wimpish Brian (Graham Chapman) unwittingly becomes a messiah. Despite his cries about not wanting such a life, he is thrown into many ridiculous situations similar to Christ’s, from stonings to crucifixions.
For poking at Christianity,Life of Briangarnered controversy before it was even released. The religious spoof was banned in parts of the United Kingdom and fully banned in the countries of Ireland, Italy, and Norway. The banning only promoted the movie further, however, as Sweden advertised the film as “The film that is so funny that it was banned in Norway.”
Pluto TV
Monty Python’s Life of Briantakes a silly approach to the age of Jesus, mocking everything from religious misconceptions to absurd names.
2 hours 1 minute
Gillo Pontecorvo’sThe Battle of Algiersstresses that the footage you’re watching is not from a documentary, as it depicts a fictionalized account of the Algerian uprising against occupying French forces. Shot with documentary-style realism, the carnage in the street is brutal and gritty, showcasing perhaps the most realistic guerrilla warfare staged for a camera. The film highlights the violence while also focusing on the personal drive of figures like the devoted FLN leader El-Hadi Jafar and the stone-cold Colonel Philippe Mathieu working for the French.
The Battle of Algierswas banned by the French government for being released so soon after the conflict in Algeria. The film hit a sore spot in the French government’s recent history of colonialism. Despite the controversy, it has become one of the most revered films for portraying political violence, inspiring directors ranging from Stanley Kubrick to Spike Lee. It’s an essential film in its subject matter, but also amazing with its filmmaking prowess, especially with a soundtrack by the legendary Ennio Morricone (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly).
The Battle of Algiersdepicts the brutal violence in Algeria against the residents and the invading French.
While these banned films are fun to watch because they depict what was considered taboo, they also tell us about the history of cinema. you may witness what was considered taboo, but also what was necessary to advance culture. Whether it’s a gritty epic of guerrilla warfare or a comedy based on a toy, banned films exist for every generation and will hold importance for years to come.
