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- Brokeback Mountain
- Focus Features
The banning of books has long been criticized, yet people still think seem to think that it's a good idea. You'll notice that some of the bans on this list are from within the last five or 10 years even.
Yet, some filmmakers decide to fight back to the criticism being thrown at the novel. They'll make films as equally racy, violent, or challenging as the books they're based on, which then often also receive backlash from the same group of folks. However, that group is usually fairly small when compared to the entire world - so most of the films made from the banned books on this list did quite well at the box office.
Why did they do well? Because these books are some of the great classics of the last century of literature - and great raw material from a book often translates well to the big screen. Which is your favorite banned-book-turned-movie?
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- To Kill a Mockingbird
Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)
Why It Was Banned: This is another book whose reasons for being banned have changed throughout its 60+ year life in the public eye.
Back in the '60s, it was banned in a Virginia county simply for being “immoral.” In more recent years, the book has been challenged or banned in cities in Virginia, California, and Mississippi for the use of derogatory language.
Movie: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Gregory Peck's performance as Atticus Finch was so moving that the movie is still popular to this day. Peck won an Academy Award for his performance, and the movie was highly acclaimed, by both critics and movie audiences, making it a box office hit.
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- Carrie
Book: Carrie by Stephen King (1974)
Why It Was Banned: The story that launched Stephen King into stardom was critically reviewed well, but some people took issue with the violent nature of the main character, Carrie. Others were uncomfortable with menstruation being mentioned, as well as underage sex.
At different times, the book has been banned in Nevada, Vermont, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota.
Movie: Carrie (1976)
Released only two years after King's story, the film created one of the most iconic horror scenes in cinema: the pig blood being dumped on Carrie at prom. Due to the gory nature of the film, it also split viewers.
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- Metaweb (FB)
- Public domain
Book: The Color Purple by Alice Walker (1982)
Why It Was Banned: The Color Purple received critical acclaim upon its release, winning the Pulitzer Prize, for the tale of Celie, a young African-American woman in early 20th-century Georgia. Yet, there were people who took it personally that the book detailed themes of homosexuality, as well as racism and sexual violence.
Even 35 years after the book was released, its motives are still being challenged. In 2017, it was banned from all Texas State Prisons for explicit language and graphic violence.
Movie: The Color Purple (1985)
Marking Whoopi Goldberg's breakthrough role, The Color Purple was received rather well - nominated for 11 Academy Awards.
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Book: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954)
Why It Was Banned: The concept of Lord of the Flies, with children having to govern themselves on an island, has been copied many times in the 70 years since the book came out.
However, this theme is exactly what has drawn the ire of some readers. There are some racial slurs that are said throughout the book - which have been removed from more recent reprints of the novel.
But there is also violence and bullying between the boys - which parents argue isn't fit for their children to read. This has led the book to be the 8th most challenged or banned book in America.
Movie: Lord of the Flies (1963)
While Lord of the Flies has been remade a few times, we're going to look at the original film made in the ‘60s. The film was received well and didn’t seem to rock the boat too much.
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- Lionsgate Films
Book: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume (1970)
Why It Was Banned: Throughout its 50 years of existence, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. has been subject to frequent bans - at one point in the '70s, it was even banned from the primary school that Blume's own children attended.
Many of us know the book as a childhood classic, so why is there so much animosity around it? Apparently, some people don't appreciate the subject matter that Blume touches on, including menstruation, growing breasts, and discovering one's sexual urges. Additionally, the protagonist, Margaret, openly questions her concept of God while being raised by a Christian mother and Jewish father.
Movie: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)
Like the book, the movie has drawn criticism for speaking to the realistic learning experience of a sixth-grade girl. Armed with the star power of Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates, the film doesn't shy away from these controversial topics and pays homage to the book it's based on.
When asked about this criticism, and the banning of her books, Blume, now 85, didn't mince her words:
They're trying to pass laws about what we can think, what our kids can think, what they can know, what they can talk about. There's legislation going on right now that says that girls in elementary school are not allowed to speak about menstruation... I mean, where are we? What country is this?
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- Sophie's Choice
Book: Sophie's Choice by William Styron (1979)
Why It Was Banned: Despite being number 96 on the Modern Library's best 100 books, Sophie's Choice has still managed to become a target by book banners.
The story follows the lives of a writer from the American South, a Jewish scientist, and a Polish-Catholic young woman, Sophie, who survived the concentration camps of World War II.
As far as why it's been banned, some have spoken against the sexual content in the text. But other times, like when the novel was banned in South Africa in 1979, there wasn't a specific reason offered.
Movie: Sophie's Choice (1982)
The film is most remembered for the stellar performance by Meryl Streep, who won the Academy Award for her depiction of the complex character of Sophie.
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