- 3 years ago
These raunchy comedies caused major scandals! For this list, we’ll be looking at comedies that attracted negative attention for their depraved tones and dirty-minded subject matter.
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00:00 "Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!"
00:02 "Come on, Lewis, let's go."
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 controversial
00:07 raunchy comedies.
00:08 "Haters 'cause they ain't us."
00:10 "Exactly. They hate us because they ain't us."
00:15 For this list, we'll be looking at comedies that attracted negative attention for their
00:18 depraved tones and dirty-minded subject matter. Of course, that's also why they amassed legions
00:22 of fans. Do you think these raunchy comedies warranted their controversy? Let us know in
00:26 the comments.
00:27 Hey, Mojoholics! For a chance to win cash prizes, play our live daily trivia challenges
00:34 every day at 3pm and 8pm Eastern, only at WatchMojo.com/play.
00:41 Number 10. American Pie
00:42 This All-American comedy, which ironically stars Canadian treasurer Eugene Levy, tested
00:47 the censors when it arrived at the 20th century's tail end.
00:50 "Well, safer than a tube sock."
00:51 Before settling on the R-rated theatrical cut, the MPAA branded the movie with the NC-17
00:57 batch. The filmmakers modified the picture not once, not twice, not thrice, but is thrice
01:02 a word? The point is that they went through four cuts before satisfying the censors.
01:06 "It's gotta be completely perfect. I want the right time, the right moment, the right
01:11 place."
01:12 "Vicky, it's not a space shuttle launch. It's sex."
01:14 The scene that ignited the most controversy was Jim's encounter with the titular pie.
01:18 The MPAA finally agreed to an R-rating on the condition that the number of thrusts into
01:22 the pie be limited.
01:24 "Well, we'll just tell your mother that, uh, that we ate it all."
01:28 Decades later, the iconic pie scene feels pretty innocent, although the webcam sequence
01:32 has received modern backlash from critics and cast members.
01:36 "This is disgusting."
01:37 Number 9. Fritz the Cat
01:39 Two years after Disney delivered the Aristocats, cinema-goers met a different breed of cat.
01:44 "Hello, man. Everybody all busy studying for their goddamn exams and all? Hey, Fuzz,
01:49 how'd it go with Aditi chick, huh? She got some bod, huh? You have to admit. Old shark,
01:54 Charlene, isn't bad either, though, right? Like, wow."
01:56 Based on Robert Crumb's comic, an early reel of Fritz had distributor Warner Bros. up in
02:01 arms, driving one person to leave the screening room.
02:04 With WB wanting less sex and more bankable stars, Ralph Bakshi's film found a new home
02:08 at Cinemation Industries. The animated feature still had to overcome its then-unfounded X
02:13 rating, which led some to believe it was XXX fair.
02:16 Cinemation wore this edgy rating as a badge of honor, however.
02:19 "We shall overcome!"
02:24 One critic wrote, "There's something in Fritz the Cat to offend just about everyone over
02:27 the age of 17." Yet this only helped Fritz to find an audience, guaranteeing raunchy
02:31 animation was here to stay.
02:33 "I've been up and down the four corners of this big old world."
02:36 "I've seen it all. I've done it all."
02:39 Number 8. Revenge of the Nerds
02:41 Whenever people discuss the quintessential college comedies, Revenge of the Nerds is
02:44 bound to ignite passionate feelings.
02:46 "Well, let's get those nerds!"
02:47 "Nerds!"
02:48 "Nerds!"
02:49 "What are we waiting for?"
02:50 "A nerd!"
02:51 "What are we waiting for?"
02:52 "A nerd!"
02:53 "A nerd!"
02:54 The film remains beloved for its underdog story, memorable lines, and classic '80s
02:57 tropes, complete with a musical climax. However, some struggle to get past how far the nerds
03:02 take their revenge, most notably Lewis' deceptive encounter with Betty.
03:05 "Hi, Betty."
03:06 "A nerd? I'm not kissing a nerd."
03:11 "You have to. I paid my money."
03:14 This scene has only grown more controversial with the #MeToo movement. Even going back
03:18 to 1984, a few critics called out the scene for what it is. While this wasn't their
03:23 intention, the filmmakers have come to acknowledge the scene's uncomfortable nature.
03:27 "You're that nerd?"
03:29 "Yeah."
03:30 "God, you were wonderful."
03:35 Julie Montgomery, who played Betty, still feels that there's something charming about
03:39 her character's dynamic with Lewis, although she admits the scene could have used one more
03:42 beat.
03:43 Number 7. Tropic Thunder
03:45 "Hell yeah! Ha! Hell yeah! Ha! That's how we all talk. We all talk like this, huh?
03:52 Yes, uh-huh. Yeah, mm-hmm, get some crawfish and some ribs, ha-ha. Yeah! You're Australian!
04:00 Be Australian!"
04:01 Black and brownface have been considered taboo for decades, but it wasn't until recently
04:05 that people started to realize just how widespread this practice has remained, even into the
04:09 21st century. Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as Kirk Lazarus became a go-to example. However,
04:15 many have defended Tropic Thunder as the film that exposed Hollywood's habit of casting
04:18 white actors as people of color, as well as the Academy's tendency to award such roles.
04:23 This came full circle with Downey Jr. getting an Oscar nomination.
04:26 "And why am I in this movie? Maybe I just knew I had to represent. Because they had
04:30 one good partner for a black man, they gave it to Crocodile Dundee."
04:34 "Pump it brakes, kid. That man's the national treasure."
04:38 Ben Stiller's Simple Jack also ignited protest, although the character can be seen as a savage
04:43 takedown of problematic Oscar bait.
04:45 "I'll see you tonight when I go to bed in my head movies. But this head movie makes
04:53 my eyes rain."
04:59 Whether you consider the film offensive or a brutally honest portrait of showbiz, Stiller
05:03 has two words, no apologies.
05:05 "I don't believe you people."
05:07 "What do you mean, you people?"
05:10 John Waters is a titan of trash, demonstrating how tasteless filmmakers and "outdoors"
05:17 can be one and the same.
05:18 Pink Flamingo, starring Waters' mainstay, drag performer Divine, remains his most infamous
05:23 outing, depicting just about every immoral act under the sun and where the sun don't
05:27 shine.
05:28 "A turd, mama, a turd!"
05:29 "Who could have said this? A turd! Oh, a turd! Oh, Babs!"
05:37 You know those underground nightclubs where anything goes? This is the cinematic equivalent.
05:40 "You sure are dressed up, Babs. You look real pretty."
05:44 "Oh, thank you, Cotton. Why, a girl can never tell who she might run into when she's
05:48 downtown. Why, I'm all dressed up and ready to fall in love."
05:52 The film's fearless approach would get it banned across multiple provinces and even
05:56 counties for a period. At the same time, Pink Flamingo's was a cornerstone of the counterculture,
06:01 reflecting a society eager to challenge the norm. Even decades later, it's still considered
06:04 a staple of LGBTQ+ cinema and a beacon of rebellion.
06:08 "Divine, are you a lesbian?"
06:09 "Yes, I have done everything."
06:11 It'll always have squeamish detractors, but as long as there's filth in the world,
06:15 it'll have a fan base.
06:17 Number 5. Porky's
06:18 Even when it came out, Porky's wasn't exactly a critical darling. Many found it misogynistic,
06:24 the notorious shower scene being a key point of contention.
06:26 "Get out of here!"
06:28 "Uh, don't be alarmed, girls. This is just your health department."
06:32 The film was even banned in Ireland, although this would be overturned in less than 20 days.
06:36 Despite negative reviews, Porky's remains one of the highest-grossing R-rated comedies
06:39 of all time.
06:40 "Get him, brother!"
06:41 "Broken headlight. That's a $50 fine in Seward County."
06:48 "Got that right here."
06:50 Before his death, writer/director Bob Clark said that he would pull back a little if the
06:54 film was remade today. Yet Clark argued that Porky's found a large audience because it
06:58 tapped into something honest about college life, saying, "It was the most outrageous
07:02 film of its kind, but it was the truth."
07:04 "You're pulling the chain. Fred the Girl is a virgin."
07:06 "Yeah."
07:07 "Yeah. And the pork's Jewish."
07:09 Inappropriate for sure, but it's hard to imagine the future of sex comedies without
07:12 Porky's.
07:13 Number 4. Team America/World Police
07:16 Matt Stone and Trey Parker essentially invited Iraq to ban the South Park movie. The real
07:20 war, though, was between the creators and U.S. censors.
07:22 "We don't know what all the fuss is about."
07:24 "The fuss is about taking our citizens. It's about not censoring our art. It's
07:28 about... it's about... what's so goddamn funny?"
07:31 With Team America, Stone and Parker saw another opportunity to have fun with the MPAA. The
07:36 duo was nonetheless frustrated when they were met with an NC-17 rating.
07:39 "Ah, you breaking my bars here, huh? You breaking my bars."
07:42 In addition to the demise of Hans Blix, the MPAA took issue with the legendary puppet
07:47 sex scene. Parker found this ridiculous, arguing that kids do this sort of thing with Barbie
07:51 and Ken dolls. Regardless, the scene was tweaked no less than nine times before attaining an
07:55 R rating.
07:56 "God help it. This just feels so right, and I don't want anything to mess it up."
08:02 North Korea also unsuccessfully requested that the Czech Republic ban the film, although
08:06 Kim Jong-il's response could have been much worse.
08:08 "It will be 9/11 times 2,356."
08:11 "My God. That's... I don't even know what that is."
08:19 "Nobody does."
08:21 Number 3. The Interview
08:22 "You want us to assassinate the leader of North Korea?"
08:26 "Yes."
08:27 "Whaaaaaa?"
08:28 Ten years after Team America made fun of Kim Jong-il, The Interview took aim at the fruit
08:33 of his loins. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg initially intended Kim Jong-il to be the subject
08:37 of this dark satire, but with his death in 2011, they shifted their target to Kim Jong-un.
08:42 "You know what's more destructive than a nuclear bomb? Words."
08:48 Following multiple delays and edits to satisfy North Korea, a group called Guardians of Peace
08:52 hacked Sony Pictures. With further threats to attack cinemas, the film's wide theatrical
08:57 run got axed with most seeing it through streaming.
08:59 "How many times can the US make the same mistake?"
09:02 "As many times as it takes."
09:04 In all honesty, the assassination premise probably led people to believe that The Interview
09:07 was edgier than it was. In this day and age, though, folks don't need to see a film to
09:11 be outraged.
09:12 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:13 "Stop saying that."
09:14 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:15 "They don't hate us because they hate us."
09:16 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:17 "They don't hate us because they hate us."
09:18 "I'm used to it. They hate us because they hate us."
09:19 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:22 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:23 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:24 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:25 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:26 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:27 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:28 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:29 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:30 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:31 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:32 "They hate us because they hate us."
09:33 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:34 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:35 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:36 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:37 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
09:38 "Stop it. Stop it. Don't say it again."
10:07 This isn't to say that Mel Brooks didn't clash with the studio over the film's content
10:11 in the 70s. He did, and audiences voiced their criticisms as well. Blazing Saddles has nonetheless
10:16 endured as a comedy classic that thankfully came out at just the right time.
10:28 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
10:32 about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all
10:37 of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
10:44 Number 1 – Borat
10:45 "My name is Borat. I like you. I like sex. It's nice."
10:52 From Bruno to the Dictator, controversy is part of the package whenever Sacha Baron Cohen
10:56 comes out with a new comedy. Nothing could prepare the world when Borat arrived in theaters,
11:01 however.
11:02 "You are like a movie star at Dirty Herald. Come on and make my day."
11:09 This mockumentary was shocking for a variety of reasons, being heavily censored in some
11:13 countries and banned in others. Ironically, the film perhaps caused the biggest uproar
11:17 in the United States. In addition to villagers in Romania, several American participants
11:22 pursued legal action against Cohen and company.
11:37 Beyond those featured in the film, various audiences took offense to the film's depiction
11:40 of pretty much everyone. For all of his controversial antics, though, Cohen put a mirror up to the
11:45 average American, reflecting an image arguably even more shocking than a naked wrestling
11:50 match.
11:51 "You're gonna film me travel across the US and…"
11:53 "I don't know what you're saying, man! That's cool!"
11:59 "Let's get drunk!"
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