Parental discretion is advised! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the most controversial blockbuster family films of all time.
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00:00Mom, Uncle Frank won't let me watch the movie, but the big kids can, why can't I?
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down the most controversial blockbuster family
00:11films of all time.
00:13All of these movies were massive releases, but also raised huge questions.
00:19Don't lose your head, Augustus.
00:20We wouldn't want anyone to lose that... yet.
00:26Number 10.
00:27The Lion King.
00:29There's no question that The Lion King is one of Disney's most beloved offerings.
00:34Yet upon its release, it sparked allegations of plagiarism.
00:38It was an accident, I didn't mean for it to happen.
00:43Of course, of course you didn't.
00:46No one ever means for these things to happen.
00:50Critics noted similarities between Disney's animated feature and the Japanese anime series
00:56Kimba the White Lion, created by Osamu Tezuka.
01:00While Disney has denied intentional copying, the parallels in character designs and plot
01:05elements were striking enough to ignite a debate among fans and creators.
01:21The controversy highlights the thin line between inspiration and imitation in creative
01:26works, but it hasn't diminished its status as a classic.
01:36Number 9.
01:37The Harry Potter Franchise.
01:47The wildly popular Harry Potter series, based on J.K.
01:51Rowling's best-selling series of novels, faced significant backlash from some religious
01:56groups who objected to its portrayal of witchcraft and wizardry.
02:01Critics argued that the books and movies normalized and promoted occult practices and thus undermined
02:07traditional values rooted in religious beliefs.
02:21Despite these objections, the series became a global phenomenon, praised for its storytelling,
02:27character development, and imaginative world-building.
02:30The controversy did little to dampen the enthusiasm of millions of fans worldwide, who embraced
02:36magical adventures of Harry and his friends.
02:49Number 8.
02:50The Golden Compass.
02:52Much like Harry Potter, the adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel The Golden Compass
02:57was met with significant resistance from religious organizations, particularly the Catholic Church.
03:04Critics accused it of promoting atheism and undermining religious beliefs.
03:15The story, set in a parallel universe, follows a young girl, Lyra, on a quest involving mysterious
03:21dust and challenging authoritarian control.
03:25Notwithstanding its ambitious narrative and impressive visual effects, it struggled at
03:30the box office, partly due to the controversy.
03:40The debate around The Golden Compass highlighted the tension between artistic expression and
03:45religious sensitivities, influencing the reception and future adaptations of Pullman's work.
04:00Number 7.
04:01Shrek.
04:02The DreamWorks animated smash was lauded for its humour and subversion of fairytale tropes,
04:07but it also raised eyebrows due to its crude jokes and innuendos.
04:16Many appreciated the irreverent take on classic stories.
04:20Some parents and critics felt the humour was inappropriate for younger audiences.
04:29This success, spawning multiple sequels and spin-offs, demonstrated a shift in entertainment,
04:35where content aimed at children could also appeal to adults with more mature humour.
04:44Shrek became a cultural milestone, reshaping expectations for animated films and proving
04:50that they could push boundaries while still achieving widespread popularity.
05:02Number 6.
05:03E.T.
05:04The Extraterrestrial.
05:06Steven Spielberg's E.T. enchanted audiences with its heartwarming story of a young boy
05:11befriending an alien.
05:17However, it faced some slight concerns at the time of release regarding its portrayal
05:24of government officials as antagonists, as well as the use of mild profanity.
05:30These elements, combined with emotionally intense scenes, led some to question its suitability
05:35for a very young children.
05:37Even given these concerns, E.T. became one of the highest-grossing films of its era,
05:42and is celebrated for its emotional depth and universal appeal.
05:49Still, it courted more controversy upon the release of a digitally revised 20th Anniversary
05:58Edition in 2002.
06:00Spielberg has since expressed regret about the decision to censor out guns from the original
06:05and replace them with walkie-talkies.
06:11Number 5.
06:12Home Alone.
06:13This John Hughes classic became an instant holiday staple with its story of young Kevin
06:18McAllister defending his home from bumbling burglars.
06:22Its popularity is undeniable, but it also drew criticism for its depiction of violence
06:28and, most notably, neglect.
06:38The idea of a child being forgotten by his entire family and left alone for an extended
06:42period – and all in quite a blasé, light-hearted manner – didn't go down well with concerned
06:49parents.
06:55Crushing abandonment and a long history of elaborately cruel booby-traps to boot, it
07:00made for the perfect mixture of inappropriateness at Christmas time, according to those who
07:06rallied against it.
07:16Number 4.
07:17The Little Mermaid.
07:18Disney's The Little Mermaid marked a renaissance for the studio but was not without its detractors.
07:25Critics argued that Ariel's decision to give up her voice and family for a chance
07:29at romance – and with someone she hadn't even actually met yet – sent extremely problematic
07:35messages about self-sacrifice, gender roles, and dependence on a man.
07:46Yes, there was widespread acclaim for the animation and, particularly, for the music.
07:51But the supposed love story caused waves of the wrong kind back then, and has only gained
07:57more criticism in time.
08:06Consider too that the original cover of the movie's VHS release was also recalled due
08:12to the presence of apparent phallic imagery in the castle in the background, and its reputation
08:18takes another hit.
08:28Number 3.
08:29Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
08:32Based on Roald Dahl's iconic book, this is a film well-remembered for its imaginative
08:37story.
08:38However, there are and were darker elements as well.
08:47The mysterious and ominous fates of the children who disobey Wonka's rules, the parallels
08:52between the Oompa Loompas and slavery, plus a title change reportedly made due, in part,
08:58to Charlie also being a derogatory term during the Vietnam War, it all combined to multiple
09:05concerns about its appropriateness for young audiences.
09:21The movie's surreal and sometimes unsettling tone sparked debates with parents and critics
09:27about its suitability too.
09:29It's a tale that's certainly endured, but has also raised significant questions.
09:52As hugely successful as it was, Aladdin also caught a lot of controversy for its portrayal
09:57of Middle Eastern culture.
09:59Critics and viewers objected to the wide use of cultural stereotypes, as well as many seemingly
10:05lazy inaccuracies in the creation of its main characters and crucial settings.
10:11Most infamously of all though, there were big concerns raised about the controversial
10:16lyrics in the film's opening song, Arabian Nights, which were later altered.
10:28The controversy surrounding Aladdin led to ongoing conversations about how diverse cultures
10:34are depicted in entertainment, with a live-action remake in 2019 attempting to chart a different
11:11Pocahontas faced significant backlash for its historical inaccuracies and portrayal
11:19of Native American culture.
11:21The romanticized version of the relationship between Pocahontas and John Smith led to criticism
11:27from historians.
11:28In real life, Pocahontas was eventually married to John Rolfe, another settler and infamous
11:34promoter of colonialism.
11:48She was also made to convert to Christianity.
11:51At the time of the events in the film, she was a child, not a woman, and she ultimately
11:55died at just 21, living in England.
11:59For many, therefore, the film's legacy is that it glossed over the true complexities
12:04and tragedies of colonialism.
12:14Regardless of its beautiful animation, the story just doesn't tally at all with what
12:19really happened.
12:21Which other movies could have made this list?
12:23Let us know in the comments!