Netflix revealed 9 movies and TV shows it's taken down after government requests

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Netflix revealed 9 movies and TV shows it's taken down after government requests
full metal jacket
  • Netflix released its first-ever "Environment Social Governance" report on Friday.
  • The report included the nine movies and TV shows that it had removed around the world due to government requests.
  • Most of the requests came from Singapore, including several marijuana-themed programs like its original series, "Disjointed."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Netflix has become a global juggernaut, but that hasn't come without its share of issues with various governments.

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On Friday, Netflix shared for the first time a list of the content it had removed across the world due to government requests.

Of the nine movies and TV shows Netflix had taken down since 2015, most came from requests in Singapore, including for the removal of Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" and several marijuana-themed programs like Netflix's original series, "Disjointed."

The list was revealed in Netflix's first annual "Environment Social Governance" report.

"As more people join Netflix from different countries and cultures, we want to ensure that our workforce is as diverse as the communities we serve," the report said. "We also understand that as we grow, we have a responsibility to be more transparent about our impact on society and our governance structures."

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Another impacted TV show was "Patriot Act." Netflix took down an episode of the show in Saudi Arabia last year about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and only removed this episode in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request - and to comply with local law," Netflix said in a statement at the time.

The streaming giant has faced international backlash for other shows and movies not on the list.

Recently, a Brazilian judge ordered Netflix to remove the comedy special "The First Temptation of Christ," which depicts Jesus as gay, after a conservative Catholic group filed a legal complaint. However, Brazil's Supreme Court overturned the ruling.

Netflix's first Indian original series, "Sacred Games," faced legal heat in 2018 after a petition was filed with Delhi High Court for Netflix to delete any scenes that reference the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991.

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Netflix pushed back on the request at the time, but agreed to a new code of conduct in India last year to avoid a censorship crackdown as it tries to grow in the region.

Below are the nine movies and TV shows Netflix has been forced to remove and the reason why, according to Netflix's report:

Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.Generation Z from Business Insider Intelligence

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2015: "The Bridge" — removed in New Zealand

2015: "The Bridge" — removed in New Zealand

"In 2015, we complied with a written demand from the New Zealand Film and Video Labeling Body to remove The Bridge from the service in New Zealand only. The film is classified as 'objectionable' in the country."

2017: "Full Metal Jacket" — removed in Vietnam

2017: "Full Metal Jacket" — removed in Vietnam

"In 2017, we complied with a written demand from the Vietnamese Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI) to remove 'Full Metal Jacket' from the service in Vietnam only."

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2017: "Night of the Living Dead" — removed in Germany

2017: "Night of the Living Dead" — removed in Germany

"In 2017, we complied with a written demand from the German Commission for Youth Protection (KJM) to remove 'Night of the Living Dead' from the service in Germany only. A version of the film is banned in the country."

2018: "Cooking on High," "The Legend of 420," and "Disjointed" — removed in Singapore

2018: "Cooking on High," "The Legend of 420," and "Disjointed" — removed in Singapore

"In 2018, we complied with a written demand from the Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to remove 'Cooking on High,' 'The Legend of 420,' and 'Disjointed' from the service in Singapore only."

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2019: The episode of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" titled "Saudi Arabia" — removed in Saudi Arabia

2019: The episode of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" titled "Saudi Arabia" — removed in Saudi Arabia

"In 2019, we complied with a written demand from the Saudi Communication and Information Technology Commission to remove one episode—'Saudi Arabia'—from the series 'Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj' from the service in Saudi Arabia only."

2019: "The Last Temptation of Christ" — removed in Singapore

2019: "The Last Temptation of Christ" — removed in Singapore

"In 2019, we received a written demand from the Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to remove 'The Last Temptation of Christ' from the service in Singapore only. The film is banned in the country."

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2020: "The Last Hangover" — removed in Singapore

2020: "The Last Hangover" — removed in Singapore

"In 2020, we complied with a written demand from the Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to remove 'The Last Hangover' from the service in Singapore only."