1975 Italian Classic Was Banned in 150 Countries

Over 50 years after its release, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, remains one of the most controversial films ever put to the big screen. But in 1975, it wasn't legally possible to screen in most places.

The Italian horror film, directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini and in part based on a 1785 French novel, follows a group of sadistic fascists who trap a group of young men and women and subject them to endless physical and sexual torture. The film was ultimately banned in 150 countries around the world, with some bans continuing today; copies of it were, of course, passed around underground.

"The film's producers had to fight a long and complicated battle with various boards of censorship, as well as the public prosecutors of several cities (including Rome and Milan), before the film could be officially shown in Italy," Naomi Greene writes in a Criterion essay. The film was added to the Criterion Collection in 1993 on LaserDisc, cementing its status.

The film was released in Italy but was quickly banned in Jan. 1976, a pattern that continued in many European countries; it remains banned in many countries for its highly sexual content, including graphic depictions of rape and nudity.

Adding to the controversy and outrage over the film, director Pasolini was found murdered weeks after completing production on the film on November 2, 1975. His body was found on an Ostia beach in Italy. The motives behind Pasolini's death remain a mystery to this day.

The film remains the stuff of high praise by many filmmakers, including Michael Haneke, Brady Corbet, Catherine Breillat, and John Waters. Salò's harshest critics see the film as exploitative, pointless, and straight-up unwatchable, while defenders view it as a deeply political and allegorical tale of human behavior that still resonates over 50 years later.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 12:18 PM.