6 films that were once banned in the UK — and the reasons why

David BenjaminFebruary 26, 2026

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Live Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885599v) Michael Madsen Reservoir Dogs - 1993 Director: Quentin Tarantino Live Entertainment USA Scene Still Action/Adventure — When there is controversy surrounding around a film – see the recent Wuthering Heights, for example – it instantly makes you curious. And when it comes to older movies, times change and so do cultural values and social norms, meaning that films from days gone by which may not have raised an eyebrow at the time are now judged as highly problematic, or vice versa. Take Monty Python’s Life of Brian – now considered a classic – which was originally banned in no fewer than 39 local authorities because of its supposedly blasphemous content. (Picture: Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Dick van Dyke and Julie Andrews in a still from Mary Poppins. — Alternatively, in the modern day, films are still being reexamined, such as Mary Poppins which was originally given a U rating and is generally considered family friendly, but was reclassified by the BBFC (British Broad of Film Classification) to a PG in 2024 due to the use of an outdated racial slur in the scene with the dancing chimney sweeps. Here are six films that were, at one time, banned in the UK and the (sometimes harrowing) stories behind them. (Picture SHUTTERSTOCK)

1. The Evil Dead

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by New Line/Everett/Shutterstock (512792a) 'The Evil Dead' - Bruce Campbell 'THE EVIL DEAD' FILM - 1981 — The Evil Dead is now considered a cult classic. It was one of the original video nasties – banned films, mainly horror, that were distributed on VHS but criticised by the press. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film sees a group of friends visit a cabin in the woods to relax…should be fine, right? Only their night descends into chaos when they read from a mysterious book. A demon that appears was not the cause of the controversy, however, but rather it was the violence and a particularly graphic scene of sexual assault that saw the film censored and banned in various countries, including in the UK in 1984. Almost fifteen years later, in 2000, the uncut version received an 18 certificate for both cinema and home. (Picture: New Line/Everett/Shutterstock)

2. I Spit On Your Grave

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Everett/Shutterstock (14202965bw) I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, (aka DAY OF THE WOMAN), from left: Eron Tabor, Camille Keaton, 1978. ? Cinemagic / Courtesy Everett Collection Everett Collection - 1978 — I Spit On Your Grave has an interesting title, and an even more interesting story behind it. The film was banned from release due to its graphic violence and scenes of rape. It follows young writer Jennifer Hills (Camille Keaton) as she seeks revenge upon the four men who brutally raped her and left her for dead. Though it is no longer banned like it was in the early 1980s, it is still considered very controversial to this day, so much so that it was even featured in Time Magazine’s Top 10 Ridiculously Violent Movies. The fully uncut version was released in 2010, but a previous version with cuts was allowed out in 2001. (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)

3. Reservoir Dogs

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Live Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885599x) Michael Madsen, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Penn, Lawrence Tierney, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Eddie Bunker Reservoir Dogs - 1993 Director: Quentin Tarantino Live Entertainment USA Scene Still Action/Adventure — A classic from Quentin Tarantino – his debut feature as director, actually – but it took a long time for this film to get to the UK. The movie, which follows six criminals hired to steal diamonds (but they don’t know each other’s true identity), debuted in January 1992 at the Sundance Film Festival and Tarantino has been a legend ever since. Though films took longer to make their way across the globe then, in the UK Reservoir Dogs didn’t arrive until 1993 and was even banned from home video until 1995 due to the film’s graphic violence. Now, of course, it’s a cult classic. (Picture: Entertainment/Kobal/Shutterstock)

4. A Clockwork Orange

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Warner Bros/Hawk Films/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5885876ak) James Marcus, Warren Clarke, Malcolm McDowell A Clockwork Orange - 1971 Director: Stanley Kubrick Warner Bros/Hawk Films BRITAIN Scene Still Drugs Scifi L'Orange m?canique — Unlike most of the other films on this list, A Clockwork Orange wasn’t actually banned or critiqued by an outside source. It was Stanley Kubrick himself (who directed, wrote and produced the film inspired by the Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel) that asked for the film to be withdrawn a few years after release in 1973. It is believed that this was due to instances of copycat violence, or death threats received by Kubrick’s family, and so the film was not allowed to be shown in the UK until after Kubrick had passed in 1999. (Picture: Warner Bros/Hawk Films/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Everett/Shutterstock (497730y) 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', Gunnar Hansen, 1974 FILM STILLS — Anything with the word massacre in the name is bound to have some violence, but after a year of screenings, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was banned by the BBFC — apparently due to the explicit use of ‘abnormal psychology’, refusing it even an X rating when it came out in the mid 1970s. Despite it still being banned, Camden London Borough Council allowed the film to be shown in 1998, and this prompted the BBFC to release the film uncut with an 18 certificate. Now, it’s considered a standard for horror movie fans, and an iconic Halloween costume. (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)

6. The Human Centipede 2

The Human Centipede 2 — A sequel is always a tumultuous event in the film world – will it ever reach the heights of the first movie? For The Human Centipede, the horror film by Dutch director Tom Six was refused a certificate by the British Broad of Film Classification, despite being one of the later films on our list, released in the 2010s. Only a few months later though, ahead of the DVD release, it was granted an 18 certificate – though almost three minutes were removed, relating to sexual violence, graphic gore and obscenity. The uncut version now circulates, so if you want sleepless nights you’re more than welcome to them.

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