20 Movies We Weren't Allowed to Watch as Kids... but may have anyway.
These are the 20 forbidden flicks our parents banned us from watching as kids—movies so wild, terrifying, or hilariously inappropriate that just hearing their names felt like unlocking a secret level of adulthood.
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
Most kids have some movies that have been off-limits during their growing-up years, not because they were Oscar-worthy but because they were strictly forbidden. Whether they are bone-chilling horrors, scandalous comedies, or too mind-bending for innocent little brains, such movies are the ones that our parents deemed too scary, inappropriate, or both for us to be allowed to watch. Yet, forbidding them made the act itself the most significant rite of rebellion and discovery.
1. The Exorcist (1973)
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This film was the stuff of parental nightmares: spinning heads, projectile vomiting, and Satan himself guest-starring. Adults feared it would summon demons into the house—or worse, make you copy Linda Blair’s foul mouth. If you were lucky enough to sneak a peek, you probably didn’t sleep for a week anyway.
2. Pulp Fiction (1994)
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This was no ordinary movie; it was an extraordinary, swearing bible of chaos. Between gory mishaps, overdoses with drugs, and that mysterious suitcase, every scene seemed designed to scandalize your parents. Don’t even mention the Gimp—our little curious minds would have exploded.
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
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Freddy Krueger was the literal reason nightlights were created. Parents thought this film would show that you’d never sleep again, as if caffeine-fueled insomnia was the end. But it didn’t hurt that in this film, teens learned that there’s one universal rule: do not nap.
4. Basic Instinct (1992)
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A mystery thriller? Sure. But then there’s that scene—the infamous leg-crossing moment that probably caused more awkward conversations than actual crimes. If this was on, your parent’s dove for the remote faster than you could say “R-rated.”
5. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
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Chainsaws weren’t just for loggers anymore, and suddenly, family road trips through the countryside felt much riskier. Parents feared it would scar us for life—or worse, make us think Leatherface was a Halloween costume idea. As a kid, one accidental viewing made you look sideways at your neighbor with power tools.
6. Showgirls (1995)
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You didn’t have to know why it was out of bounds to understand this: The title alone seemed scandalous. It was a movie so bad that that it was not only banned from family night, but even your parents refused to watch it. The funny thing is that it makes you more curious since nobody allowed or should have seen it.
7. It (1990)
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Tim Curry’s Pennywise made clowns terrifying long before we even had a chance to enjoy them. Parents knew you’d never attend another birthday party again if you saw that. Besides, the idea of a sewer-dwelling demon was one flush away from giving you bathroom trauma.
8. American Pie (1999)
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It’s a movie about teenagers discovering all the wrong ways to be teenagers. Parents feared its crude humor and questionable pies would corrupt our innocent minds. Let’s be honest; it wasn’t just the kids who weren’t mature enough for this.
9. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Orion Pictures from Wikipedia
Cannibals? Creepy basements? It was like a documentary on why not to talk to strangers. Parents never had to explain why Hannibal Lecter ate liver with fava beans—nor why he didn’t seem to care.
10. Friday the 13th (1980)
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Camp Crystal Lake ensured that nobody willingly signed up for summer camp. Parents thought Jason’s machete-fueled vengeance might cause bad dreams or, even worse, destructive behavior. Ironically, you still probably saw it at your friend’s sleepover.
11. Scarface (1983)
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“Say hello to my little friend!” wasn’t exactly a phrase your parents hoped you’d yell. Between all the heavy drug use and gunfights, this was a giant neon “No.” Still, as a kid, you just wanted to see that epic ending.
12. Scream (1996)
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This film wasn’t scary: it mocked all those scary movies your parents were already shielding you from. They’re convinced you’ll develop paranoia or start prank-calling the neighbors. You’ll never view cordless phones quite the same way again.
13. The Matrix (1999)
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. from Wikipedia
It is not so much banned for being inappropriate, but because parents are worried it would confuse you. Philosophical questions about reality and red pills weren’t strictly elementary school material. Nobody wanted to explain what “jacking into the Matrix” meant.
14. The Shining (1980)
Warner Bros. Inc. from Wikipedia
Parents looked at “Here’s Johnny!” and decided that was a hard pass. A creepy hotel, ghostly twins, and Jack Nicholson going bonkers didn’t scream “family fun.” Also, who wants their kid to ask what “redrum” means at dinner?
15. Natural Born Killers (1994)
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A dark, satirical road trip of mayhem and murder, this movie felt like it was designed to be banned in suburban households. Parents didn’t want you to think Mickey and Mallory were #CoupleGoals. It was like Bonnie and Clyde on steroids—and too much for their nerves.
16. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
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It’s hard to remember this film showing any more graphic material, but it scared adults almost as much as it scared kids. Getting lost in the woods would be bad enough, but a shaky camera made it impossible to enjoy snacks. After this, you couldn’t pay your parents to take you camping.
17. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
IMP Awards from Wikipedia
A profoundly haunting exploration of addiction, this wasn’t banned for gore but for sheer trauma potential. Even adults struggled to sit through it without needing a hug and some fresh air. Parents figured it was best for everyone’s mental health to pretend this movie didn’t exist.
18. Kill Bill (2003)
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Quentin Tarantino was most over-the-top, and this blood-splattered revenge saga was way too intense for family movie night. Parents didn’t want to explain why the Bride was so mad—or how she fought 88 people without breaking a sweat. If you somehow saw this, you probably spent weeks practicing samurai moves with a broomstick.
19. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
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An R-rated cartoon felt like a cruel prank to kids everywhere. Parents who saw its foul-mouthed songs clutched their pearls and slammed the VCR off. Meanwhile, we just wanted to laugh at Cartman saying bad words.
20. Blue Velvet (1986)
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David Lynch’s surreal, disturbing tale of small-town secrets was 100% not for kids. Between creepy Frank Booth and all the adult themes, your parents probably acted like this didn’t even exist. Watching it as an adult, you finally understood their decision and wish you could unsee it too.