Some decades will always be remembered for both their contributions to cinema and the number of movie controversies they witnessed.
On the one hand, the ‘90s were the decade that saw the release of some of the most groundbreaking movies; however, on the other hand, some of them lit social firestorms with their exploration of delicate issues and taboos in ways never seen before. This specifically happened because many indie films gained commercial exposure through film festivals such as Sundance.
Naturally, those narratives drew significant hatred upon release, and some were even shelved to appease the outrage. Interestingly, some of these are true cinematic gems.
In this article, we’re looking at ‘90s movies that made headlines with their controversial stories or treatments.
The Most Controversial Movies of the ‘90s
1. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut is an erotic exploration of what loyalty means in a romantic relationship. Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, the movie follows a married couple whose marriage has come to a sexual and emotional standstill.
One night, the wife confesses that she has been sexually fantasizing about another man, and the husband is heartbroken. Subsequently, as fate would have it, he finds himself at an orgy that’s run by a secret underground cult that wears decorative masks.
The film was released after Kubrick’s death, and the infamous orgy scene was altered before the film’s release to avoid an NC-17 rating.
2. Natural Born Killers (1994)
Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers faced both extreme backlash and legal issues upon its release. The film follows a couple who go on a mindless killing spree, turning into celebrity killers. Stone aims for a satiric exploration of society’s obsession with celebrity criminals through the couple’s bloody adventures, which become a media spectacle.
However, the extreme, unhinged violence throughout the movie became the talk of audiences. Things got out of hand when copycat crimes started popping up in reality, and the guilty began using the movie as an excuse, citing Natural Born Killers as an inspiration for their crimes.
Lawsuits followed against both Stone and Warner Bros., and censors heavily trimmed scenes. To this day, the movie remains a milestone in shaping cinema censorship.
3. JFK (1991)
Another Oliver Stone movie that wasn’t well-received is JFK. Partially because the movie, as a political thriller, is completely inaccurate, featuring events and characters that were purely fictional.
As a fan fiction, Stone seems to have explored the different events and motivations behind Kennedy’s assassination.
While people didn’t appreciate the inaccuracies, JFK’s earnest exploration of the repercussions of Kennedy’s death on America cannot be denied.
4. Funny Games (1997)
Funny Games is a cathartic saga of two psychopathic young men who take an entire family of three hostage in their own home. The young men then torture them by forcing them to play sadistic and violent games with each other, while they watch them slowly succumb to their injuries.
This Austrian film stirred up quite a bit of controversy for its explicit violence; however, it eventually became a milestone in the genre. Director Michael Haneke remade Funny Games in English, which was released in 2007.
5. Man Bites Dog (1992)
Man Bites Dog’s satirical take on the media’s role in perpetrating violence didn’t quite convince the audience about its good intentions.
The narrative revolves around a serial killer who’s being followed by a camera crew, who are recording his day-to-day life as he goes about claiming lives while presenting his perspective on what he does, why, and how.
Many argued that the movie’s mockumentary treatment trivializes something as serious as serial killing and murder. At the same time, the casual discussions of how to dispose of dead bodies and the unhinged violence were frowned upon.
6. Fight Club (1999)
Today, David Fincher’s Fight Club is considered to be a milestone in American cinema. However, its initial release earned a lot of backlash as the audience felt that Tyler Durden’s character glamorized both toxic masculinity and violence.
The fact that the in-universe Fight Club was shown as a violent escape from life’s monotony did not sit right with many. At the same time, dissociative identity disorder and mental illness being a taboo back then did not help the cause.
As a result, Fight Club didn’t meet box-office expectations, as audiences deliberately skipped the movie.
7. Indecent Proposal (1993)
Indecent Proposal made headlines because of its seemingly regressive portrayal of a woman. The narrative follows a woman who agrees to sleep with a rich man in exchange for $1 million to escape financial ruin and save their dream home after losing everything gambling.
The woman and her choices were criticized by the feminists, who argued that it showed femininity in the wrong light when the protagonist sells her body in the name of love and support. Others believe the premise focuses more on the complexities of a woman’s life and the gray decisions she is often forced to make for those she loves.
What do you think?
8. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Reservoir Dogs was not only Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut but also a film that cemented his place in the film industry after the movie’s tremendous success at the Sundance Film Festival.
However, its theatrical release was met with significant backlash, as people were witnessing a Tarantino-style bloodbath for the first time. The infamous ear-cutting torture scene left viewers in shock. Needless to say, the strong language and morally questionable characters who seek humor in violence didn’t help one bit.
But all that’s in the past now, because Reservoir Dogs has a legacy that’s here to stay.
9. Lolita (1997)
Adapted from Vladimir Nabokov’s namesake novel, Adrian Lyne’s Lolita follows a writer, Humbert, who becomes obsessed with a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of his landlady.
The character proceeds to marry Dolores’ mother only to stay close to Dolores, and when the mother dies in a car crash, he doesn’t hesitate to pursue the orphaned child.
The controversy wasn’t only about its storyline but also about its casting of the protagonist, Dominique Swain, who was only 15 when she played Dolores. Although her sex scenes were shot with body doubles, people didn’t approve of Lolita.
10. My Own Private Idaho (1991)
Starring Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, Gus van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho follows two sex workers who become friends and embark on a road trip together from Oregon to Idaho. One is in search of his biological mother, and the other is a wealthy mayor’s son using street life as an act of rebellion against his privileged background.
The narrative received hate only because it centered on two gay men. Sant couldn’t manage to find a studio to back his movie, so he produced it independently.
Being gay was such a taboo back then that Reeves personally delivered the script to Phoenix because the latter’s agent refused to show it to him.
However, all’s well that ends well, because My Own Private Idaho is today a cult classic with its own legacy.
Which of these movies have you watched?