20 Most Controversial Movies Of All Time

9. Birth Of A Nation

Birth of a Nation
DW Griffith Corp

D.W. Griffith is undoubtedly one of the foremost pioneers of cinema as a serious art form. But his most (in)famous film, 1915€˜'s Birth of a Nation is also riddled with racism, bad history, and Ku Klux Klan hero worship. Birth of a Nation did introduce a wealth of evolving, modern film techniques and devices to audiences, and films after it would never be the same. It€™s influence is undeniable.

But the film also features incredibly offensive portrayals of African Americans, and depicts the KKK as heroes, saviors of the ways of the old south. This (obviously) caused massive uproar from the NAACP, and riots followed screenings in Boston and Philadelphia.

Worst of all, the film is credited with helping to restart the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s.

Contributor
Contributor

David Braga lives in Boston, MA, where he watches movies, football, and enjoys a healthy amount of beer. It's a tough life, but someone has to live it.