15 Most Controversial Films Of The Decade (So Far)

7. Zero Dark Thirty

What's It About? Katheryn Bigelow's critical and commercial smash hit Zero Dark Thirty sets out to recreate the events leading up to the death of Osama bin Laden in his military compound in Pakistan at the hands of Navy SEALs. Covering the decade-long manhunt largely from the perspective of fictional CIA intelligence analyst Maya (Jessica Chastain) it depicts scenes of torture which is claimed to have proven essential for the success of the mission. Why Was It Controversial? Bigelow is no stranger to accusations of peddling government propaganda in her movies, but the controversy around Zero Dark Thirty was based on far more solid evidence than The Hurt Locker. Critics lambasted the film for giving the impression that torture was necessary and effective and it's difficult to disagree with them when even the acting director of the CIA is on record saying, "The film creates the strong impression that the enhanced interrogation techniques ... were the key to finding bin Laden. That impression is false."