8 Times Movie Censorship Backfired

A more open-and-shut example of Disney+ censorship is Splash. This 1984 Ron Howard-directed rom-com starred Tom Hanks opposite Daryl Hannah, the latter of whom plays a mermaid who washes up to the surface. Splash has always been in Disney's catalogue, with the film being produced under the Touchstone banner, making it an obvious candidate for inclusion on Disney+ when it launched in 2019.

Somewhat hilariously, though, the version of Splash that was on Disney+ from 2020 through to 2022 included a bizarre case of censorship. In a scene early in the movie, during the original cut, Hannah's Madison runs towards the ocean fully nude, with her butt exposed to the camera. However, for the version screened on Disney+, CGI hair extensions were added to cover Hannah's bottom half. It's a properly awkward addition, with the CGI hair almost glued in place, and it's no surprise that it received a lot of mocking attention.

What's so funny about the hair change to Splash (apart from the obvious) is that it reinforced some of the biggest stereotypes of the modern Disney brand. You've got prude Disney going out of its way to censor a tame, PG example of on-screen nudity, and you also have evil corporate Disney diving into its back catalogue to retroactively change something without a director's input. It's a bad, frankly hilarious look all around.

As per CBR, Disney did finally reverse its CG Splash antics for the film's 4K update in 2022, removing Hannah's butt-covering locks and restoring the scene as it was originally shot.