10 Controversial Films That Became Classics

Alfred Hitchcock shocked the world with Psycho. The infamous shower scene was experienced as unprecedentedly explicit and the film broke with all conventions: the heroine dies halfway through, the subject was taboo and Hitchcock banned late arrivals in the cinema. Once seen as a tasteless shock effect, now considered the beginning of the modern horror film. A controversy that made history.

When David Fincher's film came out, critics were divided. Many saw it as a nihilistic work that glorified violence and anarchy. The film initially flopped at the box office. It was only with the DVD release that a cult status was created, after which Fight Club became a generation-defining classic. The iconic twist and sharp criticism of consumer society made Tyler Durden a cultural icon.

Martin Scorsese's alternative vision of Jesus Christ – in which Christ is shown as a man who also has doubts and desires – caused protests worldwide. Cinemas were attacked, and some performances were even violently disrupted. Nowadays the film is praised as a courageous attempt to bring religion and humanity closer together, supported by an impressive role by Willem Dafoe.

Tobe Hooper's low-budget horror was banned or heavily censored in numerous countries. The raw camera work, the shocking themes and the use of a chainsaw as a murder weapon shocked the public and censorship authorities. But the film is much less explicit than often thought. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is now seen as a masterpiece that inspired an entire subgenre of slasher films.

Paul Verhoeven's erotic thriller caused heated debates. Campaign groups accused the film of homophobia and misogyny, while Sharon Stone's famous "cross-leg" scene caused a worldwide outcry. Despite (or because of) the controversy, Basic Instinct became a box office hit and remains a textbook example of the 1990s erotic thriller. Years later, Sharon Stone said that she felt betrayed during the editing: she did not know that the infamous scene would be depicted so explicitly. That revelation once again cast a shadow over the film, but did not change its iconic status.

Oliver Stone's hyper-stylized, chaotic film about two serial killers who become media stars was accused of glorifying violence. Several copycat crimes were linked to the film. Critics were divided: genius or dangerous? Yet Natural Born Killers is now a cult classic that perfectly encapsulates the media frenzy of the '90s.

What begins as a biting satire on religion was interpreted by many as a direct attack on Christianity. The film was even banned in Ireland and Norway. Church groups spoke of blasphemy. Ironically, Life of Brian became one of the most beloved comedies of all time, praised for its witty humor and timeless critique of dogmatic thinking.

Bernardo Bertolucci's film caused a worldwide stir with its raw sex scenes, especially the infamous "butter scene". Critics spoke of pornography disguised as art, and some countries banned the film. Only later did recognition emerge for the intense acting performances of Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider and the cinematographic power. Yet the controversy persisted: Maria Schneider said years later that she felt humiliated and abused during the filming because she had not been fully informed about what would happen in the scene. That put the discussion surrounding the film in a completely different light.

Rarely has a horror film caused so much hysteria. Moviegoers fainted, ran from the theater screaming or shouted that the devil was in the celluloid. The Catholic Church strongly condemned the film. Yet The Exorcist became a milestone of the horror genre, with iconic images such as Linda Blair's spinning head. Today it is seen not only as terrifying, but also as a technically and thematically brilliant piece of cinema.

Stanley Kubrick's dystopian masterpiece about violence, free will and government control was immediately infamous upon its release. The scenes of extreme aggression and rape caused horror among the public and press. In Great Britain, Kubrick even decided to withdraw the film from circulation after threats to his family. Yet A Clockwork Orange is now regarded as a visionary look at the relationship between freedom and control, and as one of Kubrick's absolute highlights.