Top 20 Most Disturbing Movies Because of What We Know Now

#20: The Birth of a Nation (1915)
A technical marvel that ushered in many of the filmmaking techniques used today, this movies impact on the future of the medium cannot be understated. And yet, theres more than a few reasons why they dont teach The Birth of a Nation in film class. The big one is its often considered one of the most racist movies ever made. Every single African American character is portrayed as a mindless, damaging caricature, which is made all the worse since most of the performances are by white actors in blackface. Under a modern social lens, the truly abhorrent depiction of race relations overshadows any of the films cinematic merit.
#19: It Ends with Us (2024)
Forget the onscreen fireworks, the juiciest drama here happened behind the scenes. Director and star Justin Baldoni had a seriously rocky relationship with leading woman, Blake Lively, and by the time the film released, it had soured into a full-on publicity warzone. On one hand, you had fans calling out Lively for her cavalier treatment of the films sensitive themes. On the other, there was Baldoni, who fielded allegations of onset harassment and intimidation. This wasnt just mud-slinging, though. Things got so bad, lawyers had to get involved, burying the films box-office success underneath a mountain of legal gossip. Something tells us when people think of this movie, it wont be because of the storytelling.
#18: Better Off Dead (1985)
Ricky Smith is an awkward deconstruction of the guy-next-door trope. Hes rightfully called out for his very uncomfortable obsession with Monique, and spends most of Better Off Dead as the butt of a joke. Its all fine and dandy until you realize Ricky is played by Dan Schneider. Yeah, Nickelodeons Dan Schneider. For those who dont know, he was the creator behind several iconic kids shows like iCarly, Victorious, and Zoey 101. But, his work has since been heavily scrutinized for putting young, female performers into highly inappropriate situations. Given that Ricky Smith is the exact kind of creep Schneiders accused of being, Better Off Dead is nye unwatchable anymore.
#17: The Blind Side (2009)
A captivating true story of community, passion, and football, 2009s The Blind Side is an Oscar-winning crowd-pleaser for all ages. Or, at least, it was, until 2023. The film version of events see down-on-his-luck Michael Oher adopted by the Tuohy family, who help propel him into a mainstream football star. Fourteen years later, Oher revealed the Tuohys hadnt adopted him at all, but rather invoked a conservatorship, which allowed them to profit off his likeness. Kind of makes you question their motives, doesnt it? Even without touching on the White Savior part of it all, the allegations alone are enough to change how you see The Blind Side forever.
#16: A Beautiful Mind (2001)
All it takes is a little digging to see that this biography isnt really based on a true story at all. While John Nash was a gifted mathematician and a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics, thats about as accurate as A Beautiful Mind gets. It conveniently leaves out Nashs complicated history with women, his alleged antisemitism, and how serious his schizophrenic behavior really was. A Beautiful Mind is definitely a well-made film, but it tries so hard to make you root for its main character, it becomes glorified fan-fiction. The truth doesnt always make for a good story. But, trying to conceal it is a surefire way to destroy your movies reputation.
#15: Last Tango in Paris (1972)
In this erotic drama, a young Marlon Brando begins a risque relationship with a young, Parisian girl. When she rejects him, he takes what he wants with force. Its a harrowing scene in what is already one of the most explicit films ever made. But, to make matters worse, actress Maria Schneider had no idea just how far it would go when she showed up to set that day. In order to elicit a more natural reaction, both Brando and the movie's director withheld the specifics of Schneiders role. Its a choice that left the 19-year-old utterly traumatized. Nowadays, the most famous scene in Last Tango in Paris is also the one we recommend fast-forwarding through.
#14: The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
How controversial could a childrens film about cats and dogs get? Well, the answer is pretty darn controversial, especially when the production is accused of numerous counts of animal neglect. Since Milo and Otis were both played by real animals, many international Humane Societies launched investigations into whether the pets were properly cared for during the long shoot. No hard evidence was found either way. However, rumors of its eerily realistic stuntwork has followed The Adventures of Milo and Otis ever since. We get why. These two furballs are so adorable, the mere thought of them being harmed in the making of this movie is completely unforgivable.
#13: Heathers (1988)
These days, a high-school drama with murder, sexual harassment, and bomb threats would be yanked out of theaters faster than you can say Sorry, Heather. But, in the 80s, it was just good popcorn entertainment. Heathers was a teen thriller so divorced from reality, it could cut right to its razor-sharp social commentary. However, as the years go by, Veronica and J.D.'s ultra-violent love-story becomes closer and closer to everyday high-school life. In an age where schools are common targets for acts of terror, Heathers strikes a much darker chord. If you want proof, just look at the ill-fated TV adaptation, which had to be pushed back again and again due to rising gun violence.
#12: Poltergeist (1982) & Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
While some might find the movie too scary to sit through, in reality, Poltergeist is tough to revisit for reasons outside its narrative. Her name is Heather ORourke. The acclaimed child actor was the heart of the movie as Carol Ann, a young girl whos trying desperately to evade a ghostly trip to the otherworld. But, the scary movie became an eerie prophecy of sorts when ORourke passed away in 1988 at the age of twelve. Given the real-life circumstances, seeing her character nearly die in Poltergeist II is extremely hard to stomach. In a way, its a testament to ORourkes work; shes simply too convincing.
#11: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
No judge or jury needed here; Dustin Hoffman is 100% in the wrong. His commitment to method acting is commendable. But, it crosses a lot of lines when he cant separate his castmates from their characters, such as in Kramer vs. Kramer. In the name of invoking a better performance from her, Hoffman repeatedly harassed co-star Meryl Streep. It ranged from insults, to slaps, to even throwing a real glass at a wall without her knowledge. You can literally see the tension between them onscreen. Knowing the extent of Hoffmans behavior reframes these top-tier performances into a case-study of an extremely toxic work environment.
#10: American Beauty (1999)
In 1999, Kevin Spacey found Oscar Gold for playing Lester Burnham, a man who pursues a scandalous relationship with his daughters best friend. For years, it was the Kevin Spacey role. Then, in 2017, the #MeToo movement revealed that Spacey and Burnham had more in common than previously thought. Multiple men stepped forward accusing Spacey of unwanted sexual advances over the years. Immediately, American Beautys Oscar gold dimmed, with many finding the parallels too close for comfort. Even though Spacey has since been acquitted of liability, the damage to his image means theres no way to watch American Beauty without thinking of the scandal.
#9: The Shining (1980)
The scariest part of this classic horror flick is what happened to Shelley Duvall. As Jack Nicholsons character falls deeper into madness, director Stanley Kubrick knew Duvall had to serve as the audience surrogate. A.K.A, her job was to freak out in the final act. Kubrick, however, was unsatisfied with her work, and he made sure she knew it. Duvall was verbally berated, kept for long hours, and allegedly made to do takes over a hundred times. Before the film was finished, clumps of Duvalls own hair were falling out from the stress. We cant argue with the results; The Shining is a true genre-defining staple. But, it came at way too high a cost.
#8: The Crow (1994)
If you watched The Crow with no prior knowledge, youd probably be enthralled by its unapologetic style and edginess. Unfortunately, the film takes on a whole new meaning when you learn leading man Brandon Lee died onset. With only three days of shooting left, negligent handling of a prop gun put the entirety of The Crow into question. Eventually, producers decided to go forward with a theatrical release. But, considering The Crow features Lees character rising from the dead to exact vengeance on those who wronged him, the actors death isnt exactly easy to forget. All things considered, though, its a feat The Crow ever saw the light of day in the first place.
#7: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Dororthys trip to Oz was made with a herculean effort from the cast, many of whom have actual scars to prove it. For example, the original actor for the Tin Man had a severe reaction to the aluminum makeup and was hastily replaced. Then, theres Margaret Hamilton, who suffered third degree burns during a botched stunt. Oh, and theres also the original director, who was fired partway through production for creative reasons. Most of all, we cant forget Judy Garland, who endured nonstop ridicule and harassment during shooting. Suffice it to say, if you follow the Yellow Brick Road, youre going to stumble on a lot of classic, Hollywood scandals!
#6: In Cold Blood (1967)
Actor Robert Blake stepped into the shoes of murderer Perry Smith back in 1967. Later, in 2001, Blake experienced another murder trial. Only this time, he wasnt acting. When the body of Blakes second wife turned up in his vehicle, he became the prime suspect in the news story of the year. Even though Blake was acquitted of murder charges, the court of public opinion was slow to forgive and forget. Its especially hard given his performance in In Cold Blood, where Blake convincingly plays someone charged with the very same crime. No matter your opinion, its easy to see why many opt out of seeing this movie.
#5: Contagion (2011)
Years before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world into quarantine, a sci-fi thriller hit screens with an uncomfortably similar premise. Based on the name, its obvious what Contagion is about. But, it went viral in 2020 for more than its plot. No, the movie also features several small details about pandemic life that felt incredibly apropos. The masking. The social distancing. The bevy of conspiracies and social unrest. Contagion basically predicted exactly how the world would respond to a mass outbreak. It's quite a storytelling feat, all things considered. Although, thats also why many think it hits too close to home.
#4: Powder (1995)
A solid but unspectacular installment in Disneys live-action catalogue, the only time anyone mentions Powder anymore is to bring up the movies director, Victor Salva. In 1988, he was convicted of gross acts towards the underage star of his film, Clownhouse. To reiterate, Powder is a Disney movie. A convicted felon not only got another directing gig, but this time for one of the most family-friendly companies on Earth. Let that sink in. Despite some concerted protests, this wasnt the end of Salvas career, either. Hed go on to helm the cult-hit Jeepers Creepers, too. Some of those scenes will definitely make you shudder - and not just because of the creeper!
#3: The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)
Spoiler alert; Sharon Tate dies in this movie. Roman Polanski tries to save her character, but she falls victim to the vampires, and the credits roll. That wasnt the end of their story, though. The performers fell in love and got married only for Tate to meet the same fate as her character two years later. You might know it better by the name The Manson Murders. Its one of the most notorious acts of violence in American history. So, seeing Polanski and Tate unknowingly act out their future makes Fearless Vampire Killers an incredibly disturbing watch. Vampires or not, this movie felt way too real.
#2: Manhattan (1979)
In 1979, Woody Allen dated a young girl, while also exploring feelings for two other women in his life. Oh, sorry, thats not Allen, thats the plot of Manhattan, a movie he coincidentally wrote, directed, and starred in. If some of those details seem familiar, its because Allen himself has faced serious accusations of uncouth behavior towards his daughter, Dylan Farrow. While nothings ever been proven, the substantial media attention has stained much of Allens cinematic legacy. Particularly the movie where he literally dates a teenager. For all its positive buzz, Manhattan might just be too far gone to ever recover in the eyes of the public.
#1: Every Harvey Weinstein Film
If your favorite movie came out in the 90s or early 2000s, theres a good chance its forever ruined thanks to the actions of one man. Bonus points if it has a female lead! Harvey Weinsteins stink infected Hollywood for generations, to the point its not fair to single out one film. He harassed so many women, that his grubby legacy is over comedies, horrors, dramas, and everything in between. Its a real shame that such a large corner of the industry is forever tainted by such a despicable man. Then again, the real question is how his behavior went unchecked for so long.
Which of these movies would you pay to watch again with fresh eyes? Let us know in the comments below!
