Movie posters have become increasingly more controversial in the past decade, or else people have become a lot more sensitive. Either way, it seems like there’s a new and controversial movie poster or billboard being banned somewhere. Usually it’s for one of two reasons: sex or violence, with violence being far more popular. One of the first sexually banned posters I could find was 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, which featured an A-frame design that was banned. It wasn’t so much the vaginal roof as it was the exposed buttocks, so they had to release a retouched version that covered more derriere.

It’s been more than 25 years since that poster was sent back to the drawing board, so why do posters keep getting banned? Marketing people know that controversy can turn into a marketing campaign of its own, so maybe they’re pushing the boundaries in the vein of “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.” With that in mind, here’s a look at controversial movie posters from the past several years. Prepare your innocent eyes and take a look after the break.

Click on thumbnails to see the full posters

Zack And Miri Make A Porno

Most people never would have even heard of this controversy if the MPAA hadn’t banned it right in the middle of the Toronto Film Festival. Which is even weirder because Canada didn’t have a problem with it. The image is more funny than offensive… and is it even offensive? As a result Kevin Smith came up with the stick figure drawings that you see everywhere now, which is a clever way to get around the censors and “stick” it to the MPAA. Now I’ve reached my bad pun quote for this post.

Choke

The poster for this Chuck Palahniuk adaptation not only cleverly combines the activity that XXX uses to solicit money from strangers, but it also comments on his obsession with sex and women. Plus, it recalls the cover of the famous June 1978 cover of Hustler magazine that featured a nude woman going into a meat grinder. Well, at least she has high heels on in the Choke poster.

Wristcutters

This poster caused controversy even before it was released, and had groups of parents protesting because they thought it glorified suicide. While I’m not sure how the image of a wrist with a red line through it on a yellow warning sign makes suicide look glamorous… but where were these poeple when M.A.S.H. decided to use “Suicide is Painless” for the theme song? For shame, protesters.

Ali G Indahouse

This poster was withdrawn in the United Kingdom after more than 100 people complained about it being viewable in public where kids could see it. Even though his hand covers more than most modern-day bikinis. It didn’t hurt the film though, it was ranked #1 in the UK when it was released. Despite that, the distribution company was told they’d have to have all of their posters pre-screened for the next two years. Ouch.

Shoot ‘Em Up

The UK also didn’t like two of the movie posters for Shoot ‘Em Up, saying that they glorified violence and the use of guns. Did they even see the movie, or anything involving a gun in the past umpteen years? Specifically, groups objected to the lines in Giamatti’s poster that read “Just another family man making a living.” Even though the distribution company argued that the guns weren’t pointed at the viewer, they still got yanked.

Teeth

Even X-ray images aren’t safe from censorship, as proven by the movie poster for Teeth. If you know what the film is about, then this poster makes a lot of sense (and is funny, to boot) but if you had no idea then this poster probably would make you more curious than concerned. Unless you’re an x-ray technician, in which case you normally see stuff like this.

Captivity

These billboards were yanked down in Los Angeles and removed from taxi tops in New York after the “wrong files were sent to the printer.” That sure is hard to swallow. You mean there’s no way to check or proof work between sending a file to a printer and then spotting it on an enormous billboard? Lionsgate blamed Distribution partner After Dark for the gaffe, went with the ant farm version, and they both went on to see the movie tank. I guess there is such a thing as bad publicity.

Wanted

Anti-violence struck again in the United Kingdom when it decided that posters for this Angelina Jolie / James McAvoy movie glorified violence. Again, it’s not just the depiction of guns, but also the slogan “Six weeks ago I was just like you… and then I met her… and my world was changed forever.” Apparently the British Advertising Standard Authority thought that meant life is better as a high-paid assassin, and not just getting to hang around with Angelina Jolie.

Dying Breed

Not to be outdone by the UK, Australia recently banned posters for this film from bus stands around the country. People that they were just a bit too graphic, and it probably isn’t the first thing you’d want to see on your way to lunch. Still, it’ll be visible in cinema foyers, online, and just about everywhere else.