Movies That Were Shocking in the Past!
The things that once shocked us, don't always have the same effect today! So what are some of the most famous controversial Movies that shocked audiences in the past?
Why Do Movies Become "Less Controversial" With Time?
This is linked to how social norms shift, a change in what's accepted or not! Classic Movies from many genres helped to make today's films more open to a wide range of concepts. Take horror movies, for instance! What was scary a few decades ago now feels quite mild compared to some of the gruesome scenes we've become used to today.
What Are Some Popular Shocking Movies That Now Seem Tamer?
controversial movies often challenge our understanding of acceptable content, but these popular movies often show how things can shift:
- The American Pie movie (1999) - While it's raunchy comedy, we're used to that type of teen humor in today's entertainment.
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - This film had many scenes with a unique blend of musical numbers and strong LGBTQ+ themes! What shocked people in the 1970s, has become a well-loved cult classic.
- Midnight Cowboy (1969) - The first X-rated movie that won the Oscar for Best Picture was shocking! Today it's almost unremarkable due to content in the media.
- Dogma (1999) - Religious groups were shocked at the time of its release, as this film contained controversial themes, yet it's viewed as satire, rather than attack.
- The Blair Witch Project movie (1999) - This film's clever use of the "found footage" style had some thinking it was real. Now, viewers see its style as a classic way of adding suspense to films!
- Don't Look Now (1973) - The explicit content in the film would raise eyebrows, especially today, when we see it in much more graphic films.
- Basic Instinct (1992) - This movie was deemed too much, especially for its use of nudity, a concept we often see nowadays! The interrogation scene, even for us, would get a strict rating in today's media!
- The Exorcist movie (1973) - This film's violent content was scary! It took many audience members completely by surprise. Even though we see much darker and gory content today, it's still scary!
- Psycho (1960) - While the scenes featuring the main villain (Norman Bates) seemed controversial, they've lost a lot of their impact in the modern age.
What is Behind the Changing Definition of Shocking?
It's clear that the shocking movies from yesterday have made it possible for filmmakers today to explore themes that might have been completely unthinkable. Many films have made viewers uncomfortable! But there has also been an evolving appreciation of film themes. We have become more accepting of characters and storytelling approaches from movies.
