Top 10 Recent Movie Scenes That Caused Massive Backlash

#10: Every Musical Number

“Joker: Folie à Deux” (2024)

The first “Joker” movie turned Arthur Fleck into the iconic Batman villain. The sequel attempts something stranger: a love story within a courtroom drama, complete with full-scale musical numbers. Individually, these ideas align with the Joker’s silly showman persona. Together, they clash so badly that the movie falls apart under its own weight. The musical numbers especially didn't work for audiences. They were a slog to get through and the vocals grated viewers more than they charmed. There were also simply way too many. Just about every complaint ever leveled against musicals can be found in this movie. Worst of all, Lady Gaga’s immense talent feels wasted.

#9: The Depiction of Donald Trump

“The Apprentice” (2024)

An unflinching look into Trump’s life was always going to provoke controversy. The timing of its release, weeks before the election, made it explosive. Even Trump himself lashed out, referring to the cast and crew as “human scum” and calling the film “a cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job.” This was followed by threats of legal action from his campaign team. The lightning rod likely that got the film on their radar was the scene depicting violence toward his first wife Ivana. Trump supporters allege that no such event occurred, and Ivana's claims had since been withdrawn. Despite the uproar, the film was praised for its performances and is still accessible today.

#8: Rook

“Alien: Romulus” (2024)

Hollywood’s knack for resurrecting dead actors grows bolder every year. We saw Peter Cushing revived in 2016's “Rogue One,” and Pat Morita's likeness appeared in “Cobra Kai.” The recreations leaned into the uncanny, and “Alien: Romulus” was no different. In the film, the crew encounter an android modeled after Ash from the original film. With actor Ian Holm having passed, Rook was largely built from CGI, which left many unsettled. The ethics of using actors’ faces posthumously are still hotly debated. Some see it as disrespectful, while others accept it if their families approve. Either way, Rook only added more fuel to the cultural arguments.

#7: Claptrap’s Poop Joke

“Borderlands” (2024)

The 2020s seemed to finally crack the code for making video game adaptations. Both Sonic and Mario were hits on the big screen, and shows like “Fallout” and “The Last of Us” earned critical praise. “Borderlands,” however, fell prey to the pitfalls that have plagued the genre: bizarre casting choices, cheap effects, and shallow treatment of the source material. Claptrap expelling bullets pretty much sums it all up. Granted, the franchise is known for its raunchy humor, but this is really obnoxious and lazy. Casual viewers found Jack Black’s performance irritating, and diehard fans were upset that the original voice actor didn’t play him. Claptrap may not be the film’s worst aspect, but he represented everything wrong with it since the first trailer.

#6: “It’s You?!”

“War of the Worlds” (2025)

The latest reboot of “War of the Worlds” has already been cemented as a cinematic disaster. Audiences have mocked its absurd plot, bargain-bin visuals, and dialogue that borders on parody. The performance that stole the spotlight, for all the wrong reasons, was Ice Cube as William Radford, a surveillance expert who spends most of the movie on a video call. His lines were delivered so poorly that it drew in people to witness the trainwreck firsthand. The film’s most infamous scene, where Radford learns his son is a hacker called “Disruptor,” exploded into meme culture. If nothing else, the film proved that it's unforgettable.

#5: NC-17 Rated Scenes

“Blonde” (2022)

This Marilyn Monroe biopic didn’t just spark debate, it ignited outrage. Rated NC-17, the film portrayed her relationships and traumas with graphic detail. Viewers and critics alike found it unbearable and exploitative, with many arguing that the filmmakers turned her pain into spectacle. The film’s reliance on shock value framed Marilyn as a portrait of misery rather than a human being. Supporters of “Blonde” argued that it shed light on Hollywood’s long history of exploiting women, yet detractors countered that it only repeated that cycle. In the end, the film left audiences divided over how far art should go in depicting such stories.

#4: The Multiverse

“The Flash” (2023)

If we had aan entire day we couldn’t list off all the problems in “The Flash.” So instead, let’s focus on the one almost everyone agrees is the worst. During the collapsing multiverse finale, several DC universes appear. Created by AI and deepfake technology, there are disturbing cameos of George Reeves and Christopher Reeve’s Supermen. We also see Helen Slater’s Supergirl, Adam West’s Batman, and Nicolas Cage’s Superman from a shelved Tim Burton movie. Apart from looking grotesque, the sequence adds nothing to the film. It’s not a heartfelt homage nor does it set up a crossover. It’s hollow, uncanny, and deeply unsettling. Even casual viewers recognized it for what it was: a cynical, corporate attempt at fan service.

#3: Nani Leaves

“Lilo and Stitch” (2025)

If you ask fans what made the original “Lilo & Stitch” a classic, they’ll almost always point to the heart of the film: the theme of family. Throughout, Lilo and Nani desperately try to stay together, clinging to their parents’ lesson of “Ohana.” The live action remake tosses this aside, and audiences definitely noticed. Instead of expanding their family and evading social services, the remake has Nani move to California, leaving Lilo in the custody of a neighbor. The change strips away the original’s anti-colonial subtext, and it guts the core message. Disney reboots often draw criticism, but few outright betray the beloved themes of the original. It’s not hard to see why so many hated this ending.

#2: The Evil Queen

“Snow White” (2025)

As noted, it’s not unusual for Disney’s live action remakes to spark controversy. The reboot of its first animated feature, however, drew special ire – much of which was aimed at the evil queen. As a villain who wasn't that complex to begin with, you’d think the remake might flesh her out more. Instead she’s arguably more flat and tedious than ever before. In another world, the weak writing could’ve been saved by an actor with charisma and decent singing. Unfortunately, Gal Gadot’s gravitas and vocal presence are practically nonexistent. In fact, her performance was so lacking that it became instant meme material, with numerous clips of the Evil Queen immediately shredded by moviegoers.

#1: “Man to Woman or Woman to Man?”

“Emilia Pérez” (2024)

What was meant to be a bold crime musical instead became an instant award season firestorm. One scene in particular drew outrage: Zoe Saldana’s number about gender-affirming surgery. The moment seemed to upset just about everyone who’s seen it. Rather than explaining the process with care or sensitivity, it instead devolved into awkward spoken verse, stitched together with clumsy rhymes. The result was neither informative nor entertaining – just uncomfortable. Viewers were left confused, critics piled on, and the scene quickly became a focal point of criticism. It sparked even more backlash when the film secured numerous nominations and awards. Many Spanish speakers, the LGBTQ community, moviegoers, and musical theater enthusiasts alike believe that the film didn’t deserve any of them.

Do you think any of these reactions were blown way out of proportion? Tell us your take in the comments below.

“A Minecraft Movie” (2025)

Warner Bros.

Chicken Jockey: https://youtu.be/EY4h38NaXwU?si=2NqrpZonSxFZE4Tu&t=42