Movies which have actively brought harm to the world

[Sin Agog]

Not talking about their quality or anything like that.  Just the run-on effects. 

Jaws has apparently inspired hundreds of thousands of shark cullings over the years, especially in Australia.

When Birth of the Nation was released, the KKK were barely even a going concern anymore.  The movie reignited them, and all the strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees were arguably planted by this movie.

It plays pretty campy nowadays, but The Warriors inspired some really gnarly gang wars at the time of its release.

[Delete Delete Delete]

Teenage mutant turtles craze lead to masses of baby turtles being purchased for children then flushed down the toilet.

[Neomod]

Small scale but Quadrophenia helped reignite some bank holiday shenanigans.

[zomgmouse]

Jaws has apparently inspired hundreds of thousands of shark cullings over the years, especially in Australia.

It also arguably helped ignite the phenomenon of the blockbuster film which almost singlehandedly killed the American film industry by earning it a lot of money.

[Lemming]

Star Wars turned a lot of people into dickheads who won't shut up about Star Wars.

[McChesney Duntz]

Star Wars turned a lot of people into dickheads who won't shut up about Star Wars.

Worse than that, if what (I assume) this article (which I haven't read - I get my nerd fix elsewhere, sunshine) says is true: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a25560063/how-fans-ruined-star-wars-the-last-jedi-2018/

[monolith]

Worse than that, if what (I assume) this article (which I haven't read - I get my nerd fix elsewhere, sunshine) says is true: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a25560063/how-fans-ruined-star-wars-the-last-jedi-2018/

I think most fans were annoyed by it being a shit film with a weak plot, a disappointing main villain, gaping plot holes and a main character who is amazing at everything without any training and has no conflict because of this.

If Empire Strikes Back had Luke going to Yoda, beating him at every challenge and then going on to defeat Darth Vader at the end barely breaking a sweat, I think it would have received a similar backlash. Rey is a poorly written character, this would be the case whether she was male, female, trans or a fucking wookie.

Focussing on a handful of asshole trolls on the internet misses the point.

[Lord Mandrake]

I seem to recall the Matrix spawning all manner of trenchcoat wearing maniacs. From the chap who, trying to emulate the films hero Neo - was cut in half by a subway train to mutiple homicides carried out by assailants claiming to be stuck in the Matrix.

[mjwilson]

(I love The Last Jedi.)

A Clockwork Orange was withdrawn after being associated with lots of crimes, apparently, although I don't really know if there was any real link.

[Delete Delete Delete]

(I love The Last Jedi.)

A Clockwork Orange was withdrawn after being associated with lots of crimes, apparently, although I don't really know if there was any real link.

Wikipedie

Although it was passed uncut for UK cinemas in December 1971, British authorities considered the sexual violence in the film to be extreme. In March 1972, during the trial of a 14-year-old male accused of the manslaughter of a classmate, the prosecutor referred to A Clockwork Orange, suggesting that the film had a macabre relevance to the case.[36] The film was also linked to the murder of an elderly vagrant by a 16-year-old boy in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, who pleaded guilty after telling police that friends had told him of the film "and the beating up of an old boy like this one". Roger Gray QC, for the defence, told the court that "the link between this crime and sensational literature, particularly A Clockwork Orange, is established beyond reasonable doubt".[37] The press also blamed the film for a rape in which the attackers sang "Singin' in the Rain" as "Singin' in the Rape".[38] Christiane Kubrick, the director's wife, has said that the family received threats and had protesters outside their home.[39]

The film was withdrawn from British release in 1973 by Warner Brothers at the request of Kubrick.[40] In response to allegations that the film was responsible for copycat violence Kubrick stated:

[Small Man Big Horse]

(I love The Last Jedi.)

A Clockwork Orange was withdrawn after being associated with lots of crimes, apparently, although I don't really know if there was any real link.

It was Kubrick's choice apparently as he was concerned it might have influenced violence. https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2013/08/01/the-disappearance-of-a-clockwork-orange

[Phil_A]

A Clockwork Orange was withdrawn after being associated with lots of crimes, apparently, although I don't really know if there was any real link.

I was curious about this as well, so I did some digging. Wikipedia references three incidents supposedly inspired by or sharing similarities with the film:

In March 1972, during the trial of a 14-year-old male accused of the manslaughter of a classmate, the prosecutor referred to A Clockwork Orange, suggesting that the film had a macabre relevance to the case.[36]

The problem in this case seems to be entirely due to a culture of bullying and violence at the school in question, the film was only referenced in passing by the QC and otherwise had nothing to do with the murder.

The film was also linked to the murder of an elderly vagrant by a 16-year-old boy in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, who pleaded guilty after telling police that friends had told him of the film "and the beating up of an old boy like this one". Roger Gray QC, for the defence, told the court that "the link between this crime and sensational literature, particularly A Clockwork Orange, is established beyond reasonable doubt".[37]

There is more of a direct link in this case, but the perp in question didn't act as part of a gang and hadn't even seen the film or read the book. Just a horrible little cunt that kicked an old man to death for no reason.

The press also blamed the film for a rape in which the attackers sang "Singin' in the Rain" as "Singin' in the Rape".[38]

I've come up blank on this one, there's no contemporary source provided and the information is just a link to an article that also doesn't have any sources.

Incidentally, Kubrick withdrew the film because he and his family received multiple death threats, not because of the supposed copycat incidents.

[kaprisky]

The Conqueror (1956). I've never seen it but it apparently was produced by Howard Hughes, starred John Wayne as Genghis Khan and not so much brought harm to the world as brought harm to its cast!

[St_Eddie]

Teenage mutant turtles craze lead to masses of baby turtles being purchased for children then flushed down the toilet.

That's a good thing, surely?  If all of those baby turtles hadn't been flushed down the toilet, then they would never have grown up in the sewer ooze and we wouldn't now be living in a world where hundreds of crime fighting ninja turtles roam the streets at night, protecting us from mask-clad villains.  On the other hand, there's a direct correlation between that the 50,000% increase in pedestrian fatalities, due to the overwhelming volume of Domino's Pizza delivery motorists, whizzing about at all hours of the day and night.  Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.

[Small Man Big Horse]

Ghoulies (1984) - Made me afraid to do a poo.

[bgmnts]

The Crow got a man killed so that must count.

[Brundle-Fly]

Teenage mutant turtles craze lead to masses of baby turtles being purchased for children then flushed down the toilet.

Similarly, after Finding Nemo (2003) there was a rush on clownfishes that were eventually flushed down the toilet by rich spoilt brats who'd moved onto Harry Potter and owls.

[Sin Agog]

At least the turtles and fish were in their element.  Think about all the owls flushed down the toilet after Harry Potter came out.

[St_Eddie]

At least the turtles and fish were in their element.  Think about all the owls flushed down the toilet after Harry Potter came out.

So, that's what the incessant distressed hooting sound, emanating from my new flat's toilet bowl is all about.  I did wonder.

Should I flush some mice down there or something?

[Sin Agog]

No need.  They're still chowing down on the Stuart Little batch.

[ZoyzaSorris]

Never understood the idea of flushing unwanted aquatic animals down the toilet. Given it means certain death, why not just decapitate them and get it over with?

[Small Man Big Horse]

Never understood the idea of flushing unwanted aquatic animals down the toilet. Given it means certain death, why not just decapitate them and get it over with?

You're wrong there, they end up in the sewer with all of the other flushed animals and toys and meet a lovely old man and have a great old time together. Which may sound like madness but that's the plot of Love & Peace and Sion Sono wouldn't lie to me, would he?

[St_Eddie]

Never understood the idea of flushing unwanted aquatic animals down the toilet. Given it means certain death, why...

Because people are unthinking twats.

[NoSleep]

It plays pretty campy nowadays, but The Warriors inspired some really gnarly gang wars at the time of its release.

It was the other way round, wasn't it? The film is based on the existence of street gangs in NY.

There was some vandalism (and three deaths) involved with people coming or going to showings of the film at the time.

Walter Hill explains:

I think the reason why there were some violent incidents is really very simple: The movie was very popular with the street gangs, especially young men, a lot of whom had very strong feelings about each other. And suddenly they all went to the movies together! They looked across the aisle and there were the guys they didn't like, so there were a lot of incidents. And also, the movie itself is rambunctious — I would certainly say that.

The documentary 80 Blocks From Tiffany's (released in the same year as The Warriors) follows two such gangs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn3lkp7IHQw

[Blumf]

Was it Animal House that brought a resurgence in college fraternities?

[buzby]

The Crow got a man killed so that must count.

On that front The Twilight Zone is worse - John Landis got a man and two children killed in that.

[NoSleep]

Was it Animal House that brought a resurgence in college fraternities?

It was doughnut impressions.

[Shit Good Nose]

It was the other way round, wasn't it?

Indeed it was.  I've mentioned on here a few times how I always used to think The Warriors was a bit naff and lame, until I saw the doc Rubble Kings, which covers the history of New York gang culture, and yeah - The Warriors is pretty much exactly what happened.

[Dex Sawash]

The Dogs (2015) caused some bother for badmin

[NoSleep]

Indeed it was.  I've mentioned on here a few times how I always used to think The Warriors was a bit naff and lame, until I saw the doc Rubble Kings, which covers the history of New York gang culture, and yeah - The Warriors is pretty much exactly what happened.

It was the same gang culture that Hip-Hop emerged from (actually as a means to redirect that energy away from the violence). Note that one of the Warriors is their graffiti artist.