Notable controversial films from the past decade

Perhaps the most controversial film of the last decade was released on Netflix in 2020, causing an uproar of backlash with hundreds of thousands of subscribers pledging to “cancel” the streaming service. ‘Cuties’ (‘Mignonnes’) is a French coming-of-age film written and directed by French-Senegalese Maïmouna Doucouré, featuring attractive 11-year-old girls in a film rated 18+. It was criticized for child exploitation, with many calling Netflix’s defense of the film as a “social commentary against the attractive portrayal of young children,” entirely hypocritical and counterproductive.

1 / 31 Fotos

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (2012) -

Kathryn Bigelow’s thriller about the manhunt for Osama bin Laden sparked controversy on many levels.

2 / 31 Fotos

'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012) -

Many were shocked by the depiction of the torture used by the US military and CIA during interrogations.

3 / 31 Fotos

'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012) -

The film was heavily criticized for being "pro-torture."

4 / 31 Fotos

'Blue Is the Warmest Colour' (2013) -

Abdellatif Kechiche’s movie enjoyed initial success when the director and both leading actresses were awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2013.

5 / 31 Fotos

'Blue Is the Warmest Colour' (2013) -

The name of the film was subsequently sullied, however, when actresses Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos came forward about the harassment and labor law violation that went on during filming.

6 / 31 Fotos

'Blue Is the Warmest Colour' (2013) -

Kechiche’s follow-up, 'Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo,' experienced the same issues.

7 / 31 Fotos

'Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014) -

Ridley Scott’s epic biblical film was one of the first to come under serious fire for whitewashing.

8 / 31 Fotos

'Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014) -

White actors Christian Bale and Sigourney Weaver were cast in the main roles, whilst the slaves, servants, and civilians were played by people of color.

9 / 31 Fotos

'Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014) -

Whitewashing became a point of heavy debate over the decade, with Rupert Sanders’s 'Ghost in the Shell' (2017) also being heavily criticized.

10 / 31 Fotos

'The Interview' (2014) -

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg must have expected their satirical comedy to cause a bit of a stir: it centers around two American journalists hired to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

11 / 31 Fotos

'The Interview' (2014) -

However, the controversy blew up to unprecedented proportions when it became embroiled in the Sony Pictures hack.

12 / 31 Fotos

'The Interview' (2014) -

The infamous hack is often thought to have been North Korea’s response to the film about their leader’s cinematic assassination.

13 / 31 Fotos

'The Birth of a Nation' (2016) -

Nate Parker had high hopes for his silent epic after its success at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

14 / 31 Fotos

'The Birth of a Nation' (2016) -

However, the re-emergence of his misconduct trial in 1999 thwarted any chance the film had of being a box office hit.

15 / 31 Fotos

'The Birth of a Nation' (2016) -

The public was reminded of accusations against him and co-writer Jean McGianni Celestin, and in the end the film was a flop.

16 / 31 Fotos

'Nina' (2016) -

Cynthia Mort’s biopic about Nina Simone was met with fierce criticism because of the decision to darken the skin of lead actress Zoe Saldana in order to increase likeness with the singer.

17 / 31 Fotos

'Nina' (2016) -

The use of blackface was condemned by high-profile musicians including Grammy Award- winner India Arie.

18 / 31 Fotos

'Nina' (2016) -

Nina Simone’s estate also took to social media in its damning of the movie.

19 / 31 Fotos

'I Love You, Daddy' (2017) -

Louis C.K.’s film about a 17-year-old girl who falls in love with a much older man was probably intended to turn a few heads.

20 / 31 Fotos

'I Love You, Daddy' (2017) -

The film really became the subject of controversy, however, when C.K. confessed to misconduct.

21 / 31 Fotos

'I Love You, Daddy' (2017) -

As a result, the Paris premiere of the film was canceled and it was never released in cinemas or on video on demand.

22 / 31 Fotos

'The Predator' (2018) -

A story about soldiers fighting off a pair of invading predators, the fourth installment of the sci-fi 'Predator' franchise was not intended to cause a stir.

23 / 31 Fotos

'The Predator' (2018) -

The gates were blown open, however, when actress Olivia Munn revealed that director Shane Black had cast Steven Wilder Striegel, his known offender friend, in a minor role.

24 / 31 Fotos

'The Predator' (2018) -

The release of the film consequently became what has been described as a "media circus."

25 / 31 Fotos

'The House That Jack Built' (2018) -

The extreme violence depicted in this film by Lars von Trier is somewhat legendary.

26 / 31 Fotos

'The House That Jack Built' (2018) -

There was a rumor that over 100 viewers walked out of its Cannes Film Festival world premiere.

27 / 31 Fotos

'The House That Jack Built' (2018) -

Whether this rumor holds true or not, the film is often thought to be one of the decade’s most shocking.

28 / 31 Fotos

'Joker' (2019) -

Todd Phillips’s origin story about the Batman villain has been the topic of much conversation.

29 / 31 Fotos

'Joker' (2019) -

The film’s graphic depiction of a failed comedian’s mental illness and descent into extreme brutality was harshly criticized for glorifying violence. But Joaquin Phoenix nonetheless won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and in the end the film was able to surpass the controversy

30 / 31 Fotos

NL Beeld

0 / 31 Fotos

'Cuties' (2020) -

Getty Images

1 / 31 Fotos

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (2012) -

Kathryn Bigelow’s thriller about the manhunt for Osama bin Laden sparked controversy on many levels.

Getty Images

2 / 31 Fotos

'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012) -

Many were shocked by the depiction of the torture used by the US military and CIA during interrogations.

Getty Images

3 / 31 Fotos

'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012) -

The film was heavily criticized for being "pro-torture."

Getty Images

4 / 31 Fotos

'Blue Is the Warmest Colour' (2013) -

Abdellatif Kechiche’s movie enjoyed initial success when the director and both leading actresses were awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2013.

Getty Images

5 / 31 Fotos

'Blue Is the Warmest Colour' (2013) -

The name of the film was subsequently sullied, however, when actresses Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos came forward about the harassment and labor law violation that went on during filming.

Getty Images

6 / 31 Fotos

'Blue Is the Warmest Colour' (2013) -

Kechiche’s follow-up, 'Mektoub, My Love: Intermezzo,' experienced the same issues.

Getty Images

7 / 31 Fotos

'Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014) -

Ridley Scott’s epic biblical film was one of the first to come under serious fire for whitewashing.

NL Beeld

8 / 31 Fotos

'Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014) -

White actors Christian Bale and Sigourney Weaver were cast in the main roles, whilst the slaves, servants, and civilians were played by people of color.

NL Beeld

9 / 31 Fotos

'Exodus: Gods and Kings' (2014) -

Whitewashing became a point of heavy debate over the decade, with Rupert Sanders’s 'Ghost in the Shell' (2017) also being heavily criticized.

NL Beeld

10 / 31 Fotos

'The Interview' (2014) -

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg must have expected their satirical comedy to cause a bit of a stir: it centers around two American journalists hired to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

NL Beeld

11 / 31 Fotos

'The Interview' (2014) -

However, the controversy blew up to unprecedented proportions when it became embroiled in the Sony Pictures hack.

NL Beeld

12 / 31 Fotos

'The Interview' (2014) -

The infamous hack is often thought to have been North Korea’s response to the film about their leader’s cinematic assassination.

NL Beeld

13 / 31 Fotos

'The Birth of a Nation' (2016) -

Nate Parker had high hopes for his silent epic after its success at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

Getty Images

14 / 31 Fotos

'The Birth of a Nation' (2016) -

However, the re-emergence of his misconduct trial in 1999 thwarted any chance the film had of being a box office hit.

Getty Images

15 / 31 Fotos

'The Birth of a Nation' (2016) -

The public was reminded of accusations against him and co-writer Jean McGianni Celestin, and in the end the film was a flop.

Getty Images

16 / 31 Fotos

'Nina' (2016) -

Cynthia Mort’s biopic about Nina Simone was met with fierce criticism because of the decision to darken the skin of lead actress Zoe Saldana in order to increase likeness with the singer.

Getty Images

17 / 31 Fotos

'Nina' (2016) -

The use of blackface was condemned by high-profile musicians including Grammy Award- winner India Arie.

Getty Images

18 / 31 Fotos

'Nina' (2016) -

Nina Simone’s estate also took to social media in its damning of the movie.

Getty Images

19 / 31 Fotos

'I Love You, Daddy' (2017) -

Louis C.K.’s film about a 17-year-old girl who falls in love with a much older man was probably intended to turn a few heads.

Getty Images

20 / 31 Fotos

'I Love You, Daddy' (2017) -

The film really became the subject of controversy, however, when C.K. confessed to misconduct.

Getty Images

21 / 31 Fotos

'I Love You, Daddy' (2017) -

As a result, the Paris premiere of the film was canceled and it was never released in cinemas or on video on demand.

Getty Images

22 / 31 Fotos

'The Predator' (2018) -

A story about soldiers fighting off a pair of invading predators, the fourth installment of the sci-fi 'Predator' franchise was not intended to cause a stir.

Getty Images

23 / 31 Fotos

'The Predator' (2018) -

The gates were blown open, however, when actress Olivia Munn revealed that director Shane Black had cast Steven Wilder Striegel, his known offender friend, in a minor role.

Getty Images

24 / 31 Fotos

'The Predator' (2018) -

The release of the film consequently became what has been described as a "media circus."

Getty Images

25 / 31 Fotos

'The House That Jack Built' (2018) -

The extreme violence depicted in this film by Lars von Trier is somewhat legendary.

Getty Images

26 / 31 Fotos

'The House That Jack Built' (2018) -

There was a rumor that over 100 viewers walked out of its Cannes Film Festival world premiere.

Getty Images

27 / 31 Fotos

'The House That Jack Built' (2018) -

Whether this rumor holds true or not, the film is often thought to be one of the decade’s most shocking.

Getty Images

28 / 31 Fotos

'Joker' (2019) -

Todd Phillips’s origin story about the Batman villain has been the topic of much conversation.

NL Beeld

29 / 31 Fotos

'Joker' (2019) -

NL Beeld

30 / 31 Fotos

Notable controversial films from the past decade

Some movies aren't for the faint-hearted

26/11/24 | StarsInsider

MOVIES Hollywood

As with any art form, film is intended to spark conversation. It would make for a pretty boring experience if directors always toed the line. Some films, however, are so controversial that they are banned from release or, at the very least, ignite international debate.

Such controversies were in no short supply in the 2010s, with many films coming under fire. Sometimes the scandal centered around the films themselves, with accusations of whitewashing and blackface, while others were shrouded in controversy thanks to their directors' poor behavior.

Check out this gallery to reminisce about some of the most controversial films of the last decade.