10 Ridiculous International Movie Posters

4. Shame (Hungary)

Shame Hungary Poster
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Though just about every Michael Fassbender movie stars his penis, it takes the leading man part in Steve McQueen's literal 2011 wankfest Shame, as the physical manifestation of the central character's sexual addiction.

The Western promotional poster was suitably suggestive without being overtly sexual, showing a crumpled bed sheet which could have just as easily indicated a lost ironing board as it did an unquenchable erotomania. The Hungarian version was far less subtle. Let's just say whoever designed it had a lot of spunk.

The risqué spot caused an ejaculation of outrage amongst the Hungarian public - putting Shame's distributors in a very sticky situation. The subsequent scandal saw the poster pulled from Budapest bus stops - but not before it got the name of the film on everybody's lips.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.