6 Famous Movies That Were Banned in Different Countries for Weird Reasons

Sometimes, it seems that in the modern world, it’s impossible to surprise or shock anyone anymore. However, the media is full of news that certain movies are banned in some countries because the authorities required it.

We at Bright Side decided to find out which great movies were impossible to watch for people in some countries.

1. Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino’s western flick was banned in China right on its premiere day. Movie theaters said that they couldn’t show the film for technical reasons because of the requirements set by the China Film Group Corporation. But it was probably less about the technical issues and more about the fact that Chinese censors were very concerned about Tarantino’s films that often showed a lot of violence.

Interestingly, the media had previously claimed that the director had prepared a special version of the film where the blood was less bright and also reduced the distance the slashes traveled. Django Unchained was supposed to be the first Tarantino film shown in China.

2. Wonder Woman

The movie Wonder Woman became one of the most successful films of the DC universe. However, viewers from some countries weren’t able to enjoy it because Gal Gadot is from Israel. Just like all women in this country, she served in the military. This fact was taken very negatively in Lebanon, Tunisia, and Algeria.

The media reported that 2 theater chains in Qatar also banned Wonder Woman several days before the premiere.

3. Kingsman: The Golden Circle

The ironic blockbuster Kingsman: The Golden Circle was banned in Cambodia because it allegedly depicted the country as a safe place for criminals. The official of the Ministry of Culture of Cambodia said that this movie was inappropriate. He was also concerned that a Cambodian temple was shown as a place where prohibited substances were made and violent crimes were committed.

4. Borat

The comedy movies about Borat, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, made the whole world laugh — except for Kazakhstan, that is. In the film, the main character, a TV anchor from Kazakhstan whose name is Borat, goes to the US to report on a story about this country. But the people in Kazakhstan thought that Sacha Baron Cohen didn’t look like a Kazakh and felt that their country was depicted in the wrong way because it was filmed in Romania. So, due to all this, the film was banned along with Cohen’s personal website.

But eventually, the Ministry of Tourism of Kazakhstan admitted that Borat increased the number of US tourists to Kazakhstan, so the ban was lifted.

5. Saw 3D

The famous horror film was also banned in some countries. At first, the film was banned in Germany because it was too violent but a year later, the ban was lifted and it was shown in movie theaters.

6. The Matrix Reloaded

The iconic cyberpunk trilogy about machines that enslave humanity has a lot of references to different philosophical and religious ideas. The directors created the film to allow you to find new symbols and meanings. This was the problem the Egyptian censors saw when they banned The Matrix Reloaded on religious grounds.

What is your opinion on the fact that some movies are banned? Do you think that in some cases it is okay or should the viewers be free to decide what they like and what they don’t?