Ben-Hur (1959)

In 1959, William Wyler’s Ben-Hur managed to win 11 Oscars and was promoted by the film producers as the entertainment experience of a lifetime. At the time of its release, the movie created a lot of buzz for not only having the largest filming sets, but for also being the most expensive film of its time, with a budget of $15 million.

Based on a Jewish royal who is betrayed by a friend and sold into slavery, the film’s religious sentiment proved to be a sticking point for China. Under the People’s Republic’s then-leader, whose government was vehemently against religious beliefs, the film was promptly banned.