FORBIDDEN FILMS

Over the years, a number of different countries throughout the world have decided to ban certain movies based on their own moral virtue. After all, what's violent to a certain section of society, isn't necessarily violent to another. Similarly, you can also say exactly the same thing about the depiction of sex, religion, and politics, depending on how they’re being portrayed on the silver screen. Here, check out the following map for a quick look at...

The Number of Movies Banned Throughout the World

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Now, as you can see, the UK has banned the release of an awful lot of films, 89, to be exact, including the likes of 'A Clockwork Orange' (1971), 'The Exorcist' (1973), and 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1925). Although, it must be said, that many have since had their bans lifted due to them opposing the initial rulings handed-down by the BBFC (British Board of Film Censors).

Well, let's face it, regardless of your status, nobody can truly enforce what someone else should think about a film, be it good, bad, or ugly, because taste is subjective and it constantly evolves with the times. In fact, time can change public opinion so much, that what’s being banned one year, is being reinstated the next. 

To see what I mean, please check out the following two lists: One, features the films that have been banned for a year in certain parts of America, while the other, features the films that were banned for a bit longer in certain parts of America (both lists have been organized by the main reason why they were hindered from being released).

List of Movies Banned in America for a Year and the Main Reason Why. 

Political

Birth Control (1917) / Brewster's Millions (1945) / Lost Boundaries (1949) / If You Love This Planet (1982)

Criminal Content

Party Girl (1930) / Scarface (1932) / Scarlet Street (1945) / Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) / Portland Exposé (1957)

Sexual Content

Convention City (1934) / Two-Faced Woman (1941) / The Moon Is Blue (1953) / The Vanishing Prairie (1956) / Promises! Promises! (1963) / Flaming Creatures (1964) / I Am Curious: Yellow (1969) / The Tin Drum (1997)

Religious

Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) / The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Legal Action
Hillary: The Movie (2008) / The Yes Men Fix the World (2010)

Profanity

Victim (1961)

List of Movies Banned in America for Longer than a Year and the Main Reason Why.

Sexual Content

Häxan (1922 to 1929) / Ecstasy (1933 to 1937) / Viva Maria! (1966 to 1968) / Pink Flamingos (1972 to 1997) / Female Trouble (1974 to 1999) 

Legal Action

Ossessione (1943 to 1976) / Titicut Follies (1968 to 1991) / The Thorn (1974 and 1984) / The Profit (2002 to 2007) 

Offensive Content

The Birth of a Nation (1915 to 1916) 

On average, most people think that the vast majority of films have been banned because of their excessive violence or sexual content. But no, no they’re not, as it's more common for films to be banned on the grounds of their alleged political point of view (38%). For instance, the ‘Back to the Future’ series of movies were banned in China for depicting time travel (which is a big no-no amongst the Chinese political elite), whereas ‘The Simpsons Movie’, on the other hand, was banned in Myanmar over “the juxtaposition of the colors yellow and red" (which was seen as support for rebel groups).

Below, is a list of the top-ten films banned all-across the world, along with a graph that illustrates some of the reasons why certain movies have been told to, shoo-shoo, go away. 

The Ten Most Popular Banned Films Around the World 

11 Countries
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

7 Countries
A Clockwork Orange (1971) / Last Tango in Paris (1972) / Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) / The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) / The Da Vinci Code (2006) / Noah (2014) / Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

6 Countries 
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) / Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

So, what do you think of that, dear reader? And what do you think about censorship in general? Either way, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below, and when you can, check out PartyCasino.com because they helped me compile this article and wrote one of their own.