Top 10 Family Movies That Shockingly Sparked Controversy

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Welcome to WatchMojo.WOLRD  and today we’re counting down our picks for the most controversial blockbuster family films of all time.  These are the movies that may have looked kid-friendly on the surface — but stirred backlash, sparked debate, or left audiences shocked.  Our countdown includes films like “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Shrek,” and more.  🎬 Which surprising family movie do YOU think deserved a spot on this list? Let us know in the comments below!

Transcript

00:00Mom, Uncle Frank won't let me watch the movie, but the big kids can. Why can't I?

00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down the most controversial blockbuster family

00:11films of all time. All of these movies were massive releases, but also raised huge questions.

00:18Don't lose your head, Augustus. We wouldn't want anyone to lose that.

00:24Yet.

00:2510. The Lion King

00:28There's no question that The Lion King is one of Disney's most beloved offerings. Yet upon its

00:34release, it sparked allegations of plagiarism. Critics noted similarities between Disney's

00:52animated feature and the Japanese anime series, Kimba 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.

01:11Perhaps when you have our child, it will be a boy, and you can call it Kimba. Kimba, son of Caesar.

01:19The controversy highlights the thin line between inspiration and imitation in creative works,

01:26but it hasn't diminished its status as a classic.

01:30But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.

01:359. The Harry Potter Franchise

01:38The wildly popular Harry Potter series, based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling series of novels,

01:53faced significant backlash from some religious groups who objected to its portrayal of witchcraft

01:59and wizardry. Critics argued that the books and movies normalized and promoted occult practices

02:05and thus undermined traditional values rooted in religious beliefs.

02:10You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way

02:18to greatness. There's no doubt about that. Despite these objections, the series became a global

02:24phenomenon, praised for its storytelling, character development, and imaginative world-building.

02:30The controversy did little to dampen the enthusiasm of millions of fans worldwide,

02:35who embraced the magical adventures of Harry and his friends.

02:398. The 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.

03:099. The story, set in a parallel universe, follows a young girl, Lyra, on a quest involving mysterious

03:21dust and challenging authoritarian control. Notwithstanding its ambitious narrative and

03:28impressive visual effects, it struggled at the box office, partly due to the controversy.

03:3310. The Magisterium not only seeks to control everyone in this world, but every world in every

03:39universe. The debate around The Golden Compass highlighted the tension between artistic expression

03:45and religious sensitivities, influencing the reception and future adaptations of Pullman's work.

03:51I'm a god knowing good and evil. Asgons. Lyra. The Magisterium wouldn't approve of blasphemy.

03:597. Shrek

04:01The DreamWorks animated smash was lauded for its humor and subversion of fairytale tropes,

04:07but it also raised eyebrows due to its crude jokes and innuendos.

04:11I like an honest fight and a saucy little maid. What he's basically saying is he likes to get paid.

04:16While many appreciated the irreverent take on classic stories, some parents and critics felt the

04:21humor was inappropriate for younger audiences. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man.

04:27You're a monster. Its success, spawning multiple sequels and spin-offs, demonstrated a shift in

04:34entertainment, where content aimed at children could also appeal to adults with more mature humor.

04:39Please keep up on the grass. Shine your shoes. Wipe your face.

04:44Shrek became a cultural milestone, reshaping expectations for animated films and proving that

04:50they could push boundaries while still achieving widespread popularity.

04:54Yeah, that's the place. Do you think maybe he's compensating for something?

04:596. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

05:06Steven Spielberg's E.T. enchanted audiences with its heartwarming story of a young boy befriending an alien.

05:19However, it faced some slight concerns at the time of release regarding its portrayal of government

05:24officials as antagonists, as well as the use of mild profanity. These elements, combined with

05:31emotionally intense scenes, led some to question its suitability for very young children. Even given

05:38these concerns, E.T. became one of the highest-grossing films of its era, and is celebrated for its emotional

05:44depth and universal appeal. Still, it courted more controversy upon the release of a digitally revised

05:5720th anniversary edition in 2002. Spielberg has since expressed regret about the decision to censor out

06:03guns from the original and replace them with walkie-talkies.

06:075. Home Alone This John Hughes classic became an

06:15instant holiday staple with its story of young Kevin McAllister defending his home from bumbling

06:20burglars. Its popularity is undeniable, but it also drew criticism for its depiction of violence and,

06:29most notably, neglect. The idea of a child being forgotten by his entire family and left alone for

06:42an extended period, and all in quite a blase, light-hearted manner, it didn't go down well with

06:48concerned parents. Crushing abandonment and a long history of elaborately cruel booby traps to boot,

07:00it made for the perfect mixture of inappropriateness at Christmas time, according to those who rallied

07:06against it. 4. The Little Mermaid

07:18Disney's The Little Mermaid marked a renaissance for the studio, but was not without its detractors.

07:24Critics argued that Ariel's decision to give up her voice and family for a chance at romance,

07:30and with someone she hadn't even actually met yet, sent extremely problematic messages about

07:36self-sacrifice, gender roles, and dependence on a man. Yes, there was widespread acclaim for the

07:48animation and particularly for the music, but the supposed love story caused waves of the wrong kind

07:55back then, and has only gained more criticism in time. Consider, too, that the original cover of the

08:08movie's VHS release was also recalled due to the presence of apparent phallic imagery in the castle

08:16in the background, and its reputation takes another hit.

08:283. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

08:31Based on Roald Dahl's iconic book, this is a film well-remembered for its imaginative story. However,

08:38there are and were darker elements as well. The mysterious and ominous fates of the children

08:49who disobey Wonka's rules, the parallels between the Oompa Loompas and slavery, plus a title change

08:56reportedly made due, in part, to Charlie also being a derogatory term during the Vietnam War,

09:03it all combined to multiple concerns 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. It's a tale that's certainly endured, but has also raised

09:32significant questions. 2. Aladdin

09:43As hugely successful as it was, Aladdin also caught a lot of controversy for its portrayal of Middle

09:58Eastern culture. Critics and viewers objected to the wide use of cultural stereotypes, as well as many

10:05seemingly lazy 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 lyrics in

10:17the film's opening song, Arabian Nights, which were later altered.

10:22Where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense.

10:25It's barbaric, but hey, it's old.

10:27The 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 path.

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11:021. Pocahontas

11:13Pocahontas faced significant backlash for its historical inaccuracies and portrayal of Native

11:19American culture. The romanticized version of the relationship between Pocahontas and John Smith led

11:26to criticism from historians. In real life, Pocahontas was eventually married to John Rolfe.

11:32Another settler and infamous promoter of colonialism.

11:48She was also made to convert to Christianity. At the time of the events in the film, she was a child,

11:53not a woman. And she ultimately died 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.

12:06Because we invaded their land and cut down their trees and dug up their earth?

12:09It's the gold! They have it, and they don't want us to take it from them!

12:14Regardless of its beautiful animation, the story just doesn't tally at all with what really happened.

12:20Which other movies could have made this list? Let us know in the comments!

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