Time Out Names Most Controversial Films of All Time

I would think Birth of a Nation should be at the top of the list. It is still controversial to this day, while many of the others are not as thought about. I mean, BON got the KKK back in action. Can't get more controversial than that!

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I agree that Birth of a Nation should be on the list. Also, most movies starring the governor of California have been far more offensive than anything on that list.

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Hmm ... I think "Salo" is rightfully placed over "Birth of a Nation". That is one offensive and disturbing movie. I actually watched it in a movie-theatre, and only 5 people out of roughly 250 stayed till the end. The rest left in disgust at various points.

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We are also talking about a British list here, where "Birth of a Nation" would logically come across as at least a tiny bit less controversial.

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Controversial is a loaded term. Some of the most subversive films of all time were not controversial because the media buried them. And disturbing films are often not controversial because the easily offended mainstream does not go to see them.

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...Last Tango In Paris?.First "mainstream" film to carry the dreaded "X" rating. At the time, very controversial.

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I agree. Certainly there are some very disturbing films that aren't as controversial as they could be, because they were never mainstream fare to begin with, and now nobody remembers them anymore except some die-hard film and genre buffs. "I Spit on Your Grave" with its horrific 40-minute gang-rape scene certainly comes to mind, or "Cannibal Holocaust" (which was banned outright in Italy because, in addition to the graphic human violence, real animals were actually killed on-screen as part of the film).

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leni reifenstahls nazi propaganda film must be included in this list.1934s triumph of the will deified hitler and sadly converted many to national socialism.it was BANNED FOR MANY YEARS...BUT IT SHOULD BE WATCHED JUST AS BIRTH OF A NATION TO EXPOSE ITS ERRORS...

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i belive the movie KIDS should be on the list that movie was very contraversial

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If we're taking heated arguments over lattes, Here's my ten list...

Salvadore
"Kids"
JFK
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.
Irreversable
Baise Moi
Sweet Sweetback Baad Asssss Song
Do The Right Thing
Fahrenheit 9/11
American History X

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Absolutely where's Clockwork? And where's The Cook, the Thief, his Wife, and Her Lover? Protests, walk outs, And Life of Brian??? LOB might've been controversial in its day, or because it was close enough to mainstream for non-cinematic-types to even notice, but whether it WAS controversial on release, unlike the others, it IS NOT controversial today, hence, not of "all time."

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SALO IS RIGHTFULLY PLACED AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. I SAW IT NEARLY THIRTY YEARS AGO AND REMEMBER GOING FROM GROSSED OUT AMUSEMENT DURING THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THE MOVIE TO ABSOLUTE REVULSION AT THE "SNUFF" SEGMENT THAT CLOSES THE FILM.

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What about that hideous piece of waste "Gummo" by the director of "Kids" murdering cats, human filth and Chloe Sevigny and the infamous duct tape. I left about midway through to go to the restroom and throw up.

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Kids is a contraversial film but it also has a very deep message. That message i think out weighs any discomfort any viewer might have.

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Salo is one sick movie,but you have to remember the time he portrayed was one of sickness in the whole of recent humanity. Birth of a Nation is soooo disturbing over the glorification of the Klan. But subtle disturbing would be Executive Action about the assisination of JFK,for our generation the most disturbing should be the most recent proven FU to the people of america

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I think Rosemary's Baby should be added and of course the Exorcist. Each was a pioneer in their field and were both very controversial for their time

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I* agree with the list but not necessarily the order.
I also agree Last Tango in Paris should be included. I saw it first when I was very young and thought it just a "dark, dirty" movie. I watched it again years later and was moved by what a mature, insightful film it is. It has SO LITTLE to do with sex. Also since I knew Beando's bio prior to the film I was blown away by his gut wrenching candor. Never has an actor been brave enough to expose so much of himself. . .but did he? one never truly knows with an enigma such as Brando.

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The movie 'Freaks' directed by Tod Browning should have made the list. It was banned in England for years.

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What about Lolita?? And yes I agree Birth of A Nation should be #1 on that list. I haven't seen "murmurs of the heart" but I heard it's about incest between a mother and son, so maybe that should be on there too,, Oh, and I saw Salo in the theatre and it wasn't all that disturbing, it was gross yes, but nobody walked out of the theatre,,, maybe back in the day that was disturbing but not anymore.

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As Cath said "controversial is a loaded term"as we can see some believe the ideas are sound from some movies but not others,to each his/her perspective but we all agree there is some serious sick stuff as much as the the true story which offends someone as fairy tales seem offensive to others.

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