Throughout the history of cinema, there have been numerous movies considered controversial. And yet, some of them would go on to be perceived as some of the greatest movies ever made, and would even get to the top spots of viewer-rated lists like IMDb's Top 250 List.
There are some recent movies on that list that have been accused of flaws such as misrepresenting racism (like Green Book), but some movies have received far worse accusations. Some viewers prefer to overlook these controversies, while others simply don't know about them.
Joker (2019) - 8.5
Sitting at #33 on the IMDb Top 250 List, Joker is the 2019 movie that made the most noise way before it was actually released in theaters. After winning the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival, it got critics writing about it with both praise and hate.
The movie tells the origin story of DC's most famous villain - none other than Joker himself. And because of this, obviously, the movie contained many violent scenes which were the reason for the critics' agitation. In addition to that, some people were concerned about the way mental illness was portrayed.
American History X (1998) - 8.5
America History X is just a little lower on the list at #41. Now it is considered a classic, but at the time, the movie was known for the fact that its director Tony Kaye publicly disowned it which would later negatively impact his career.
But that's not the only controversial thing about the movie. The story follows two brothers living in Los Angeles who get involved in the white supremacist and neo-Nazi movements. Though the characters break away and become better people, some neo-Nazi groups allegedly still watch the parts where Norton's character is in the movement and praise them.
Trainspotting (1996) - 8.1
Closer to the end of the list at #210 is Danny Boyle's Trainspotting. The movie is based on the novel of the same name and follows a group of heroin addicts living in an economically depressed area of Edinburgh.
At first glance, it may look like just another great movie about drug addiction and its perils, but upon its release, it sparked controversy in such countries as Britain, Australia, and the United States. Some critics claimed it romanticized drug use, but the movie's producer and director explained that it was necessary to show why people use drugs and why it could seem like it's fun when it's actually not.
Requiem for a Dream (2000) - 8.3
Sitting at #94, drug addiction. It follows four different people who experience different kinds of addiction, which influences them both mentally and physically.
Like Trainspotting, the accusations were mainly connected to the portrayal of drug use. However, there was also one particular scene that got a lot of attention. In the scene, one of the characters attends a sex show that is portrayed quite graphically. Some questioned whether the scene really had to be included, but director Darren Aronofsky stood by his decision.
Oldboy (2003) - 8.4
At #67 on the list is the now-iconic Oldboy, directed by Park Chan-wook. This Korean neo-noir action thriller tells the story of a man imprisoned in a hotel room-like cell for fifteen years without any idea about who his captor is. Once he is released, he goes on a quest for vengeance.
Naturally, the movie has a lot of violence which was criticized by some viewers. Moreover, the main character eats a live octopus on-camera in one of the scenes. The ending of the movie is also somewhat controversial, but it's best not to spoil it to anyone who hasn't watched Oldboy yet.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - 8.6
In the top thirty at #28 is serial killer who skins his female victims.
Upon its release and even to this day, the movie is criticized by the LGBT community for supposedly portraying "Buffalo Bill" as bisexual and transsexual. The accusations have been addressed by the director and by Lecter himself who states in the movie that Bill is "not really transsexual".
The Deer Hunter (1978) - 8.1
Almost at the end of the list at #225 sits the first film about Vietnam released after the Vietnam War that managed to get to a wide audience and be critically acclaimed.
The most famous scene from the film is, incidentally, the most controversial and criticized one. The three main characters are captured by the Viet Cong and forced to play Russian roulette. Most of the criticism was directed at the fact that the scene was unrealistic, as there were no documented s of the game being used during the Vietnam War. Another criticism was that the Vietnamese were portrayed as cruel and sadistic while the assumption was that the American soldiers weren't so even in the slightest.
Life of Brian (1979) - 8.1
Just one place higher at #224 is Life of Brian. Though Monty Python is notorious for joking about everything and anything, this movie garnered more negative attention than the comedy group had probably expected it would at the time.
The story focuses on a man born on the same day as Jesus Christ who is now mistaken to be the Messiah. Naturally, the movie was accused of blasphemy and protests ensued. The movie was subsequently banned in thirty-nine local authorities in England as well as in Ireland, Norway, and other countries, with some of the bans lasting decades.
Citizen Kane (1941) - 8.3
At #122 on the list is the infamous Citizen Kane. Pretty much everything connected to the movie is controversial in some way. Orson Welles (who starred in, co-wrote, produced, and directed the movie) was noticed by Hollywood thanks to his controversial radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. Then, he signed an equally controversial contract with RKO which granted him full artistic control of the two films he was going to make.
Another controversy (which also involves the famous critic Pauline Kael's essay Raising Kane) still surrounds the movie's screenplay, which was co-written by Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz. Then there was the pre-release controversy due to the main character being partially based on various media barons of the time, particularly William Randolph Hearst, who later prohibited any mention of the film in his newspapers. And finally, there was the colorization controversy.
A Clockwork Orange (1971) - 8.3
At #111 sits the most controversial movie of them all, A Clockwork Orange. Perhaps, the accusations thrown at this movie aren't as profound as those thrown at some other movies, but A Clockwork Orange is by far the most famous example of a controversial movie.
Based on the book of the same name, it is set in a dystopian Britain and tells the story of the young delinquent Alex and his gang who commit various violent acts. Upon its release, it was met with polarized reviews, with many criticizing the graphic violence depicted in the movie. The movie was also banned in some countries, but it was later re-evaluated by critics and became a cult classic.
