Poll: Movies You Love, but Dictators Hate
Which of these select movies banned during a past or present authoritarian regime or dictatorship* is your favorite forbidden film? Sources: Wikipedia, The Economist *Democracy Index Scale 0-4 After voting, discuss the topic here.
Vote:
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The Great Dictator (1940)
Banned for "mocking dictatorships" and as "imperialist propaganda." Argentina, Germany, Paraguay, Uganda -
Fight Club (1999)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
The Departed (2006)
Banned for "implying Chinese government would use nuclear weapons on Taiwan." China -
Wonder Woman (2017)
Banned "in accordance with a decades-old Lebanese law and Arab League policy that boycotts Israeli products, namely Gal Gadot" Lebanon, Qatar -
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Banned under President Park Chung-hee's regime for "its anti-war themes." South Korea -
Ben-Hur (1959)
Banned under the regime of Mao Zedong for containing "propaganda of superstitious beliefs, namely Christianity" and as "imperialist propaganda." China, Uganda -
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Banned for the "juxtaposition of yellow and red" as unlucky (rebel group colors). Burma -
300 (2006)
Banned for "its negative portrayal of the Persian military." Iran -
Z (1969)
Banned for "being critical of the Greek junta, known as the Regime of the Colonels" (in conjunction with a ban on the letter "Z")" and as "imperialist propaganda." Greece, Uganda -
Modern Times (1936)
Banned in Nazi Germany "for advocating Communism" and as "imperialist propaganda." Germany, Uganda -
The Green Mile (1999)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
Schindler's List (1993)
Banned for "for being propaganda with the intent of soliciting sympathy for the Jewish cause." Indonesia, Malaysia -
Rambo (2008)
Banned for "negative portrayals of Burmese soldiers." Burma -
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Banned for "danger of being misunderstood" and as "imperialist propaganda." Paraguay, Uganda -
Paths of Glory (1957)
Banned under Franco's regime for "its anti-military themes" and as "imperialist propaganda." Spain, Uganda -
Gladiator (2000)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Banned for "being critical of the Iraq war and being an insult to Saudi Arabia's royal family." Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -
Argo (2012)
Banned for "its negative portrayal of Iran." Iran -
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Banned for "its negative portrayal of the October Revolution and communist Russia" (in conjunction with a ban on Boris Pasternak's novel, both lifted 1994)" and as "imperialist propaganda." Russia, Uganda -
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Banned for "a disrespectful portrayal of Arab culture", as "imperialist propaganda", "for being anti-Turkish" and "misrepresentation." Jordan, Uganda, Turkey and many other Arab countries -
The Matrix (1999)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
The Interview (2014)
Banned for "justifying and encouraging terrorism via the film's premise about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un." North Korea -
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Banned for "distorting the history of a just war and the humanity of the Vietnamese people." Vietnam -
The Death of Stalin (2017)
Banned by Russia's Ministry of Culture as "... its satire was part of an alleged Western plot to destabilize the country." Russia -
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Banned in Nazi Germany "for showing democracy working well" and as "imperialist propaganda." Germany, Uganda -
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
Banned for "pervasive vulgar language and crude sexual humor, and for some violent images", as well as, "depicting (dictator) Saddam Hussein in a comedic light." Burma, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam and other nations. -
Team America: World Police (2004)
Banned for "ridiculing President Kim Jong-Il." North Korea -
Back to the Future (1985)
Banned for "depicting time travel and superficial depiction of significant historical events." China -
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Banned for "being "anti-German" and anti-militaristic", "imperialist propaganda" and alternatively being too "pro-German." (France, Poland) Germany, Uganda -
American Beauty (1999)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
The Kingdom (2007)
Banned for "an inaccurate depiction of a 1996 bombing in Saudi Arabia." Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -
Titanic (1997)
Banned as part of a "prohibition on Western technology and art including all films" during the five-year reign of the Taliban government (1996-2001). Afghanistan -
Duck Soup (1933)
Banned for "poking fun at dictators and war", "because the comedy stars were Jewish" and as "imperialist propaganda." Germany, Italy, Uganda