Movies have always had the power to pull strong emotions out of people, and that’s something that audiences want from their experience. Whether it’s being made to laugh, cry, or be scared, people want to feel something. But there are times when filmmakers push the envelope too far to provide shock value to get people talking about the movie itself. This can sometimes create a buzz that can lead people to head to see the film, but often, it becomes so risky and disturbing that people have no interest in watching the whole thing and can end up leaving the theater halfway through.
A Clockwork Orange
The whole point of A Clockwork Orange is to be controversial, and that certainly led to people walking out before finishing it. It’s packed with graphic violence and some disturbing ideas and characters. Many people found it disgusting as they watched it, and the fact that it was banned in multiple countries summed up the problems.
The Exorcist
Many horror movies can provide natural shocks to an audience, and that’s something that people expect heading into. But The Exorcist pushed people to the extreme, with reports of audience members fainting and vomiting as they watched, which is why it’s no surprise that many ended up leaving halfway through. It’s an incredibly intense movie, and the demonic possession was too much for many.
Irreversible
Irreversible is well known for focusing on sexual violence, which is something that many people find too extreme to watch. While movies are supposed to bring scenes to life that viewers wouldn’t want to experience, these went too far and left many uncomfortable.
The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project’s use of found footage significantly disturbed many viewers as they watched it. There is a lot of shaky camera footage throughout this, which is supposed to heighten the film’s intensity. But it led to many people feeling motion sickness, forcing them to leave the building and forget about everything.
Mother!
Mother! was an extremely intense and uncomfortable movie that sometimes shocked many people. While some found it perfect as a horror, others felt that the psychological aspects were too much, so countless people opted to walk out as they watched it.
Antichrist
The purpose of the Antichrist was to provoke people, and that’s precisely what it did. Whether it’s the heavy violence or scenes of detailed sexual content, this movie has no problem going to the limits of what’s acceptable on the silver screen.
The Passion of the Christ
Mel Gibson gave a fantastic performance in The Passion of the Christ, but many missed that as they left the cinema before it ended. Focusing on the final 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life, this one features a lot of violence and suffering. It also has some deeply unsettling visuals, which was too much for many people.
120 Days of Sodom
This movie is often considered to be one of the most disturbing movies of all time, which is why it was something tons of people chose to leave early. It was banned in various countries, with its brutality proving to be too much for lots of authorities.
The House That Jack Built
Telling the tale of a serial killer, most viewers were aware that The House That Jack Built would be intense and challenging to watch. But few expected it to be as graphic as it was, with the level of detail in the violence being a step too far for most.
Spring Breakers
Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers proved problematic for many people due to the visuals. With a focus on youth culture, several people felt it was too intense and skipped out.
The Neon Demon
This film has a lot of disturbing imagery, with some scenes so shocking that people even walked out during its Cannes premiere. Focusing on the fashion world and how obsessive people can become, there were many uncomfortable moments in this one that people opted to skip.
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life has many positive aspects, particularly its visual beauty. But many people felt this movie was frustratingly slow. While not everything can be at a breakneck pace, this one does take a lot of time to get to the point, which annoyed people to the point of choosing to leave.
Blue Velvet
David Lynch has created some brilliant movies over the years, but Blue Velvet divided many people. Its graphic violence proved to be too much for many viewers who felt the level of detail wasn’t needed.
Requiem for a Dream
Focusing on addiction’s impact, this is one of the most raw and influential films ever made. While Requiem for a Dream provides a great message, it doesn’t pull any punches, making it challenging to sit through.
The Witch
Some horror movies aim to make people jump and create obvious fear. The Witch takes a different approach, enhancing the eeriness throughout in a slow-burn manner. Unfortunately, the pacing frustrated some, leading to them just leaving.
Annihilation
Most sci-fi films tend to bring a sense of adventure to the world of outer space. But Annihilation ended up being disturbing instead, leaning into the darker side of the genre that some didn’t appreciate.
Saw 2
While the original Saw provides some gore, it’s a lot more psychological than people give it credit for. But the sequels ramp up the gore aspect, which the franchise is now known for. With tons of blood and some gruesome deaths, this ended up being a step too far for many audiences.
The Human Centipede
The entire purpose of The Human Centipede was to provoke audiences. The concept is disgusting, and it’s clear the idea was to get people talking about its grotesque nature to get people to view it. Many won’t watch it while it has been debated over the years.
