Most Controversial Movies to Watch When You Are Bored
There are movies you watch for comfort. There are movies you watch out of curiosity. Usually, the latter is after someone mentions them online and you think, “how bad or intense can it really be?” To be pretty honest, this list we’ve come up with sits somewhere in that second category. The films you’ll find here are not easy to watch or widely loved in the usual sense. But what we can guarantee is that it started conversations (ehh, more like debates) and made millions of people feel discomfort for years.
Most of these movies can be watched on several streaming services, but some of them might be a bit challenging to find now. Even if that’s the case, it’s worth looking for because watching them is worth your time.
The Passion of Christ (2004)
Most of the controversy around this film comes down to how far it goes with the violence. It doesn’t really imply anything, it shows everything in a very direct way. The scenes, especially those leading up to the crucifixion, can be extremely hard to watch.
A lot of people weren’t used to seeing a religious story told with that level of intensity on screen, so it naturally sparked debate. Some saw it as honest and faithful to the source but others felt it went too far in focusing on suffering rather than the message itself.
Kids (1995)
Teenage life in New York? This is what this movie is all about. It’s about a group of teens as they move through drinking, drugs, risky behavior, and… well, everything in between, over a single day. Nothing is really explained for the audience, which is part of what makes it feel uncomfortable to watch. You’ve probably seen this at least once on DISH Network or at least heard people talk about it.
When it came out, a lot of the controversy centered on how young the actors were and whether the film was just reflecting reality or pushing too far in how it presented it. That unclear line is what keeps it debated even now.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
If you ask someone about the most controversial movie they watched, Cannibal Holocaust is probably at the top of many people’s lists. It’s about a documentary crew that goes into the Amazon to film indigenous tribes. But things happened and it suddenly spiraled into violence and death.
The film is shown through recovered footage which is what made it feel so real to early audiences. It became controversial not just because of the graphic violence, but because some scenes of animal killing were real, and the director even had to prove in court that the actors were alive.
120 Days of Sodom (1975)
If you’ve spent a lot of time TV streaming and browsing older films, 120 Days of Sodom is one of those titles that always shows up with a warning attached. It’s based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade and focuses on a group of powerful men who abduct young victims and subject them to a controlled environment where they carry out extreme acts of abuse.
I Spit On Your Grave (2010)
Watching this movie for the very first time can be extremely traumatizing. It’s about a writer who rents a secluded cabin to focus on her work, but she ends up being attacked and left for dead by a group of men.
Most of the controversy comes from how the first half is handled. The assault scenes are very graphic and drawn out, which is why many viewers react strongly to it. After that, the story shifts into revenge, where she goes after each of them one by one. That change in direction is exactly what splits people on how they feel about the film.
You’ll Understand Why People Keep Talking About These Films
These movies are not easy to watch, and they’re not meant to be. If you’re up for a challenge and ready to stay up late thinking about what you just saw, then our list is for you. Just make sure that you don’t have plans because some of these are the kind of films that leave you sitting there for a while.
