10 Controversial Movies That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Controversy has trailed many memorable films, sometimes threatening to sink them. Yet a number of these titles not only survived the uproar but are now celebrated for their craft. This roundup highlights 10 films whose reputations have only improved with time. When Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond in Casino Royale, longtime fans balked at his looks and stature, dubbing him “James Blonde.” The film, which follows Bond on his first mission to bankrupt terrorist financier Le Chiffre, proved the skeptics wrong: Craig’s performance was widely praised, he returned for four more films, and many see him as the closest to Fleming’s original vision.

William Friedkin’s The Exorcist shocked 1973 audiences with graphic imagery so intense people fainted, vomited, and—according to reports—suffered heart attacks and even a miscarriage. The film reshaped the horror genre and remains a blueprint for filmmakers.

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