7 Most Controversial Netflix Movies Ever
Netflix is by far the most popular streaming service, not to mention the most successful. With its large and impressive library of movies, from drama to comedy to sci-fi, Netflix has become an authority in the ever-changing and growing world of streaming. Sure, other services struggle and some fall to their knees, but Netflix stands, endures, and sometimes even grows.
It's not like Netflix isn't without controversy. In fact, it has often come under intense scrutiny from fans and critics alike for some of its more controversial offerings. Whether they're thrillers, dramas gone wrong, or mostly fictional biopics, these movies are Netflix's most controversial and loathsome originals, and not all of them were famous enough to be good actors.
To the Bone (2017)
Lily Collins stars in Marty Noxon's 2017 directorial debut, To the Bone . This heartbreaking drama follows Ellen, a 20-year-old college student struggling with anorexia. Also with Keanu Reeves, Carrie Preston and Lily Taylor.
To the Bone received mostly positive reviews. Much of the credit went to Collins' career-best performance, and the actress earned the best reviews of her career. However, Noxon's script and the film's focus on an emotional and oppressive central theme generated more polarized opinions. Many have accused To the Bone of treating anorexia as shallow, simplistic and uninteresting.
girl (2019)
Lucas' drama Don't, Daughter has been quite an impressive success in 2018. The film stars Victor Polster as Lara, a 15-year-old trans girl who pursues a career as a dancer. Daughter was recognized at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category , winning multiple awards and becoming a Don't Watch talent.
However, Girld has also received criticism for its questionable portrayal of trans issues, including a cisgender person coming out as a trans woman. The film drew polarized criticism for its portrayal of gender dysphoria and self-harm, with some going so far as to call it "traumatic pornography". And while many consider Girl to be one of the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix, others believe it's a harmful and backward portrayal of trans issues.
Bergelegi (2020)
Perennial Oscar nominees Amy Adams and Glenn Close have teamed up with Ron Howard for the 2020 drama Hillbilly Elegy. Adapted from JD Vance's 2016 memoir of the same name, the film follows a Yale law student who returns in his native Ohio after an emergency phone call and must come to terms with his troubled family history.
Upon its release , Hillbilly Elegy was seen by many as a failed Oscar bait. Many note the right-wing politics and misrepresentation of the Appalachian region, a criticism that goes back to the source material. Adams and Close received polarized reviews for their performances; Loz became the third actress to receive an Oscar and Razzie nomination for the same role, although she also did not win.
The First Temptation of Christ (2019)
The famous comedy troupe Porta dos Fundos produced the 2019 satanic comedy The First Temptation of Christ . The film takes place 40 days after Jesus returns home from the desert and includes some controversial storylines, including Jesus being gay and Mary smoking marijuana.
Religious films are no strangers to controversy. However, the reaction to the first trial of Christ in Brazil was swift and universal. The film was pulled after a court in Rio de Janeiro ruled against Netflix, saying "the right to freedom of expression...is not absolute." However, the decision was overturned by the president of the Brazilian Supreme Court, who argued that "it must not be accepted that humorous satire has the power to undermine the values of the Christian faith."
365 days (2020)
Michel Morron and Anna-Maria Sikluka star in the controversial Polish erotic thriller 365 Days , directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes. The plot centers on Laura, a young woman from Warsaw, who is kidnapped by a Sicilian gangster and sentenced to 365 days.
365 days are universally appropriate. Criticism was directed at the film's screenplay, direction and performances. It is one of the rare films with 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, receiving criticism for glorifying sexism, rape, kidnapping, and sexual assault. Although controversial, the film was a huge success and spawned a trilogy, with each sequel receiving as much derision as the first.
Yellow (2022)
The once underrated Ana de Armas landed her first role as Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominick's psychological drama Blonde . Based on the controversial 2000 novel by Joyce Carol Oates, Blonde offers a fictional account of Monroe's life and career, from her troubled childhood to her death.
Upon its release, Blund impressed critics and audiences alike. De Armas' performance received almost international acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first Cuban in the category. However, the film was heavily criticized for its brutality and intolerance towards Monroe, her portrayal of abortion, and her relationship with John F. Kennedy.
Beautiful (2020)
There's no better Netflix movie than Cuties , the 2020 directorial debut from Maïmouna Doucouré. Fathia Youssef plays Amy, an 11-year-old Franco-Senegalese girl who must reconcile her values with her new identity after joining the school dance team.
although cute While it was praised by critics for its subtle depictions of childhood and adulthood, it received strong criticism from audiences who saw it as vulgar and inappropriate. Many US politicians condemned the film: Tulsi Gabbard went so far as to call it "child pornography" and suggested that it "helps fuel the child sex trade". The Cuties controversy remains Netflix's biggest, and even though it's dated, many still follow the movie when they try to blame the little ones anyway.
