These movies caused problems before their release...
It's difficult to think of many movies whose pre-release controversy became an international incident. The Interview, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, centered on a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea condemned the movie, Sony Pictures faced a major cyberattack, and the film even triggered a minor geopolitical crisis. The situation became so serious that several major theater chains initially pulled the film from their schedules. | © Columbia Pictures
Even before anyone saw Cats, the movie's unusual visual effects became a topic of conversation online. The first trailer revealed the cast transformed into digitally created feline-human hybrids. Their bizarre appearance sparked widespread reactions ranging from confusion to outright ridicule. The film eventually became a bit of a punching bag before it even reached theaters. | © Universal Pictures
The Neon Demon attracted controversy before its release because of its extremely provocative subject matter and graphic imagery. The film explores the brutal world of the modeling industry through themes of beauty and exploitation, with early screenings generating strong reactions to its disturbing violence and cynical content. Its Cannes premiere also produced a particularly divisive response, with some viewers reportedly walking out while others applauded. | © Amazon Studios
Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat caused a notorious amount of controversy before its release because of the mockumentary film's offensive comedy and insensitive approach. The interactions between the fictional Kazakh journalist and real people raised serious questions about consent, deception, and exploitation. The government of Kazakhstan denounced the film, and many Middle Eastern countries banned it. | © 20th Century Fox
Sonic the Hedgehog became controversial before its release for a surprisingly simple reason: the appearance of Sonic himself. When the character's original movie design was shown in the first trailer, fans were immediately unhappy with his appearance. They were especially vexed by his human-like teeth and eyes. The backlash became so intense that director Jeff Fowler announced that the studio would redesign Sonic and delay the movie's release, which reportedly cost millions of dollars. | © Paramount Pictures
The 2020 remake of The Witches faced backlash after its trailer revealed the design of Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch, whose hands and feet resembled the characteristics of limb differences. Disability advocates argued that the design could reinforce negative associations between certain physical differences and evil. Warner Bros. later apologized, and the filmmakers stated they had not intended to make that unfortunate connection. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
Ridley Scott's biblical epic film, Exodus: Gods and Kings, immediately attracted criticism over its casting. Many accused the film of whitewashing figures from ancient Egypt and the Middle East by casting white actors in lead roles. The controversy continued after the film's release, with Egypt and other countries blocking its release over historical inaccuracies. | © 20th Century Fox
The family movie A Dog's Purpose was hit by controversy before its release when a leaked behind-the-scenes video appeared to show a reluctant German shepherd named Hercules being forced into turbulent water during filming. The footage prompted widespread outrage and calls for a boycott. The studio and filmmakers denied that the animal had been abused, but the controversy led to the cancellation of the movie's premiere in Los Angeles. | © Reliance Entertainment/Universal Pictures
Joker became controversial months before its release in 2019 because of concerns surrounding its violent subject matter and somewhat sympathetic portrayal of the titular character. Some law-enforcement and public-safety concerns were serious enough to result in heightened security around certain screenings. | © DC Films/Warner Bros. Pictures
Scarlett Johansson's casting as Major Motoko Kusanagi in 2017's Ghost in the Shell sparked accusations of whitewashing well before the movie was released. The original manga and anime centered on a Japanese character, which led people to question why a Japanese actress wasn't chosen for the film adaptation. The controversy followed the movie throughout its marketing campaign and became one of its biggest talking points. | © Paramount Pictures
The Birth of a Nation initially generated enormous anticipation, but controversy surrounding director Nate Parker's past became a major issue before the film even reached theaters. Questions surrounding a 1999 sexual-assault case involving Parker and his college roommate became a topic of discussion during the movie's publicity campaign. The controversy overshadowed much of the discussion surrounding the historical drama itself. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures
The Hunt's premise sparked significant controversy as its story involved wealthy liberal elites hunting conservative Americans for sport. Political commentators from both sides criticized the concept, and the movie's marketing became a major talking point before release. Universal later postponed the film from its original 2019 release to 2020, following several fatal tragedies in the US. | © Blumhouse Productions/Universal Pictures
Noah became controversial because its interpretation of the biblical story differed from how many religious audiences expected the story to be presented. Several religious groups raised objections, while several countries banned or restricted the film. Paramount even worked with religious leaders in an attempt to address concerns before its 2014 release. | © Paramount Pictures
The Flash became controversial long before its release, largely because of the legal troubles surrounding star Ezra Miller. Miller faced several arrests and allegations in the years leading up to the film's debut, which, at the time, was one of the biggest and most expensive DC projects. The studio continued promoting the film, while Miller largely stayed out of the spotlight during the campaign. This controversy is one of many reasons the film was a commercial disaster following its 2023 release. | © Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Films
Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ faced enormous backlash before its release because of its unconventional portrayal of Jesus. Religious groups objected strongly to the film's depiction of Jesus experiencing human desires and imagining a life with Mary Magdalene. The 1988 film faced further condemnation and bans in several countries. | © Universal Pictures
Sometimes a movie doesn't need to reach theaters to become controversial. A casting announcement or even the subject matter alone can be enough to trigger protests, boycotts, and public debates. In some cases, the controversy has led to certain films being banned. With that in mind, here are 15 films that sparked an intense amount of controversy before it even released.
