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Film

The 50 most controversial movies ever

It’s time to get delightfully offended with these all-time shockers.

By David Fear, Joshua Rothkopf and Keith Uhlich

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controversial44reservoirdogs
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  • controversial44reservoirdogs

    RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

    798.fi.controversial44reservoirdogs_0.jpgcontroversial44reservoirdogs506411
  • controversial14lifeofbrian

    LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)

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  • controversial15pinkflamingos

    PINK FLAMINGOS (1972)

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  • controversial5clockworkorange

    A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)

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  • controversial16exorcist

    THE EXORCIST (1973)

    798.fi.controversial16exorcist_0.jpgcontroversial16exorcist507495

RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

Warning: What follows is explicit. These movies (and their accompanying photos) are not chosen for their beauty, but rather for their primal power to shock. And why is that important? Sometimes, in the case of politics and sex, filmmakers can be liberators, leading a charge that elevates the medium’s significance. Elsewhere—especially in the case of violence—a movie can warn us of where we might be headed. These 50 entries are the extremes. We welcome your response.

Comments (74)
Categories
Film
 
February 2, 2011
Comments
Why isn't Human Centipede on this list?
By Aidy (not verified) on 4/06/2012 at 10:52 am
I thought, for sure, Birth of a Nation would be #1,
By Anonymous (not verified) on 9/17/2011 at 11:29 am
Cannibal Holocaust A Serbian Film Inside Battle Royal Last House on the Left
By Anonymous (not verified) on 9/16/2011 at 1:48 am
Just because a movie is gross (human centipede) doesn't mean its controversial. Violence is already more accepted in cinema nowadays, that's why strictly gory movies in the last decade don't appear on the list.
By Anonymous (not verified) on 9/10/2011 at 7:36 pm
Tears of Kali should definatly be here... most disturbing movie I've ever seen.
By Kakashi (not verified) on 9/04/2011 at 8:45 pm
I'm a little disappointed thatt "Les Enfants du Paradis" ("Children of Paradise") was not on this list.
By Anonymous (not verified) on 9/03/2011 at 2:26 pm
I'm a little disappointed thatt "Les Enfants du Paradis" ("Children of Paradise") was not on this list.
By Anonymous (not verified) on 9/03/2011 at 2:26 pm
Does "Deliverance" (scarred for life) ring a bell? LOL Hello? Am I missing something here? Of course "Death wish" would have been included on my list as well. Had never even heard of say half of the movies mentioned on that list, let alone actually watched any of them. However, I do want to see the Dustin Hoffman flick now. Great actor, one of the best.
By Mary Jane (not verified) on 9/03/2011 at 2:11 pm
Does "Deliverance" (scarred for life) ring a bell? LOL Hello? Am I missing something here? Of course "Death wish" would have been included on my list as well. Had never even heard of say half of the movies mentioned on that list, let alone actually watched any of them. However, I do want to see the Dustin Hoffman flick now. Great actor, one of the best.
By Mary Jane (not verified) on 9/03/2011 at 2:11 pm
Where's Lolita
By Anonymous (not verified) on 9/01/2011 at 1:08 am
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