Top 10 Banned Movies of the 2010s

Tunisia
“Call Me By Your Name” is a movie full of gorgeous scenery and emotional moments, anchored by Timothee Chalamet’s breakout lead performance. It focuses on a romance between Chalamet’s character Elio and an American man, Oliver. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, its release was blocked in some places. The film was set to screen during the Beijing International Film Festival in 2018 but was ultimately taken off the lineup without explanation. Tunisia's Ministry of Culture also banned the drama, calling it an "attack on liberties." We’re not sure how exactly this movie is an attack on anyone’s liberties. Doesn’t that better describe banning the movie?

Vietnam
Like the YA series they’re based on, “The Hunger Games” films bring you into a dystopian future where young people are forced into a life-or-death competition. The films can be rather graphic, especially considering their PG-13 rating. This high level of violence ended up getting the first “Hunger Games” installment banned in Vietnam. The initial ruling was to give the film an indefinite delay, but this was ultimately changed to a permanent banning. "The Hunger Games" book series managed to make a big splash in Vietnam, and many fans were understandably disappointed by the decision. Can you imagine not being able to see a big-screen adaptation of your favorite book series? We certainly wouldn’t volunteer for that.

China
Most superhero movies do huge business overseas. However, most superhero movies aren’t like “Deadpool.” The foul-mouthed merc and his movies make us laugh plenty. But they’re also R-rated for a reason! While many films have been able to receive distribution in China after making concessions to the country’s censors, that wasn’t really possible with “Deadpool.” It was also never released in Uzbekistan. The film still managed to become a huge hit regardless and was later shown at the Beijing International Film Festival in all its unedited glory. Here’s hoping “Deadpool” never cleans up his act.

Multiple Countries
Director Darren Aronofsky’s epic film about a major flood sparked some controversy in the U.S. for its take on this famous story. However, in other countries, it wasn’t permitted at all. Censors in numerous Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar blocked the film's release. Other Muslim-majority countries also condemned the film. The reason has to do with the Islam’s ban on depicting prophets. Distributor Paramount made a point of asserting that "Noah" wasn't meant to be seen as a strict interpretation of this story. However, that didn't stop some governments from just saying "no" to "Noah."

North Korea & Russia
Not many films in recent memory have caused as much controversy as “The Interview.” The comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco follows a talk show host and producer who are roped into a CIA plot in North Korea. Threats from a hacking group got its release delayed in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, the film was banned in North Korea. It was also banned in Russia, reportedly due to the country’s ties with North Korea. Considering just how much scandal this movie caused, we wouldn’t be surprised if studios were more cautious about greenlighting political comedies in the aftermath.

Iran
Ben Affleck’s Best Picture-winning film about a fake movie during the real Iranian hostage crisis earned rave reviews ,but also some criticism for taking liberties with history. “Argo” was ultimately a no go in Iran, due to its unflattering portrayal of the country. While theatrical and home video distribution were blocked, the film still managed to circulate in the country, becoming a best seller in the bootleg DVD market. It clearly struck a nerve with the Iranian government, as a remake of the film was initially planned to tell the story from a perspective deemed more acceptable.

Multiple Countries
It took years for a big-screen movie about the most famous female superhero of them all to be released. And even then, it wasn’t a completely smooth journey, as some countries banned its release entirely. The issue wasn’t the film’s subject matter or any specific plot content. Rather, it was due to the film’s star. Actress Gal Gadot had previously served in the Israel Defense Forces, and the film was banned by countries with strained relationships with Israel. These include Lebanon, Qatar, and Tunisia. Similarly, “Justice League” was banned in Lebanon due to Gadot’s involvement. Much like her invisible jet, in these countries, Wonder Woman just couldn’t be seen.

Multiple Countries
Speaking of superheroes, don’t get this movie confused with “Ant-Man.” “The Human Centipede” films are known less for things like acting and direction and more for finding new ways to revolt their audience. In “Human Centipede 2,” a man obsessed with the original film embarks on making his own centipede, with stomach-turning results. The film was so graphic that multiple countries wouldn’t let it be distributed, at least, not initially. In the U.K., the British Board of Film Classification refused to give it a classification before cuts were made. A similar situation happened in Australia, and the film subsequently wasn’t even submitted for theatrical consideration in New Zealand.

Multiple Countries
Both the “Fifty Shades” books and films garnered significant attention for their explicit subject matter. And they’ve also both faced heavy censorship. The first big-screen adaptation of E. L. James’ erotic series was banned in numerous countries. Among the countries that said “no way, Christian Grey” are India, Malaysia, Kenya, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates. Other countries, like Vietnam, opted to edit the film, taking out any romantic content that went further than kissing. There are a few reasons why people see the “Fifty Shades” movies. But we don’t think that the kissing scenes rank particularly high.

Multiple Countries
There are plenty of movies on this list that are better than “A Serbian Film.” However, none of them are anywhere near as extreme. It’s less a film and more of an endurance test. The plot involves the making of a movie that turns deadly. While no one was reportedly hurt in the making of the film, that didn't keep it from being banned in dozens of countries. Among the estimated 46 countries that have banned "A Serbian Film" are Spain, Norway, and Australia. The film has spawned much discussion over its artistic merit or lack thereof, but pretty much everyone would agree: once you see "A Serbian Film," you're going to have a hard time forgetting it.