Pakistan started banning films in 1962, with restrictions tightened in 1979 when Zia-ul-Haq implemented an Islamization agenda and an even stricter censorship code. A ban on Indian films (which had been in place since 1965 but was not always strictly enforced) was lifted in 2008, with the compromise that cinemas in Pakistan must equally share screening time between Indian and Pakistani films, but was later enforced again in 2019.
2006 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2006 The Da Vinci Code HollywoodBanned due to protest by the Christian community in Pakistan.
2010 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2010 Lahore BollywoodBanned as the censor board objected to some dialogues and scenes in the film. 2010 Tere Bin Laden BollywoodBanned for fear that the title could be misconstrued by Islamist extremists as a reason to attack.
2011 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2011 Slackistan Independent Director refused to make cuts requested by the Central Board of Film Censors. 2011 The Dirty Picture Bollywood Banned by authorities. However, it was later cleared for release only a week after the Indian premiere. 2011 Delhi Belly BollywoodNot allowed to be screened by the censor board.
2012 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2012 Ek Tha Tiger BollywoodIt was not released in Pakistan, due to concerns over the portrayal of Pakistan in the film. 2012 Khiladi 786 BollywoodRenamed as Khiladi for release but promos and ads of the film were banned in Pakistan. 2012 Agent Vinod BollywoodFor controversial references to the Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency.
2013 +DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2013 Bhaag Milkha Bhaag BollywoodBanned because it depicts Pakistan Sports Authorities using unfair means. It depicts the country in a wrong way. 2013 Raanjhanaa BollywoodBanned because the film portrays an image of a Muslim girl (played by Sonam Kapoor) falling in love with a Hindu boy and having an affair with him. 2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation HollywoodBanned due to the film's depiction of Pakistan as an unstable state and the fictional portrayal of a "foreign invasion of Pakistan’s nuclear installations".2013The Line of FreedomBritishBanned due to the controversial depiction of its security forces in the Insurgency in Balochistan. Subsequently contributed to a national ban of the Internet Movie Database.
2014 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned2014Children of War BollywoodBanned for its portrayal of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War contrary to Pakistan's view. 2014 Haider BollywoodBanned as it depicts the Kashmir insurgency, a sensitive issue in the country. 2014 Noah HollywoodBanned due to the portrayal of Noah by an actor.
2015 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2015 Calendar Girls BollywoodBanned by Pakistan due to objections to one of the dialogues in the film. 2015 Phantom BollywoodDemanded to be banned by Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa . Phantom is about 2008 Mumbai attacks based on the book Mumbai Avengers by S. Hussain Zaidi. The Lahore High Court banned the movie on 20 August 2015 as Government of Pakistan wanted the petition by Hafiz Saeed to be dismissed due to its uselessness and the government doesn't want to be involved unnecessarily because no one in Pakistan asked for NOC to screen the film. LHC judge Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan asked the government what it could do to stop the movie CDs from being sold in the market after the ban. 2015 Baby BollywoodBanned due to portray of Muslims as terrorists. 2015 Bangistan BollywoodA film about two suicide bombers banned by Pakistan's Central Board of Film Censors.
2016 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2016 Dishoom BollywoodBanned because the movie talks about an Indian cricketer getting kidnapped before an India and Pakistan match and that caused the country to think it is against Pakistan. 2016 Udta Punjab BollywoodBanned due to use of abusive language. 2016 Shivaay BollywoodBanned because of India-Pakistan border conflict. 2016 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil BollywoodBanned because of India-Pakistan border conflict. 2016 Neerja BollywoodBanned for allegedly showing the country in a bad light, a fact denied by Sonam Kapoor, who portrays slain flight attendant Neerja Bhanot in the film. 2016 Ambarsariya PollywoodBanned due to direct references to Indian intelligence agency R&AW inside the movie.
2017 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2017 Viceroy's House BritishBanned for allegedly misrepresenting Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Founder Of Pakistan). 2017 Tubelight BollywoodBanned to prevent hampering the release of local films 2017 Tiger Zinda Hai BollywoodThe film was not given a No Objection Certificate by the Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan, stating the reason as "The image of Pakistan and its law enforcement agencies" has been compromised. 2017 Dangal BollywoodBanned when actor-producer Aamir Khan refused the Pakistan Censor Board's demand to remove scenes with the Indian National Flag and Indian National Anthem. 2017 Naam Shabana BollywoodBanned because it portrays Pakistan in "bad taste". 2017 Jolly LLB 2 BollywoodBanned because the film makes references to the Kashmir issue. 2017 Raees BollywoodBanned due to its "objectionable" content, as "the content undermines Islam, and a specific religious sect, (It also) portrays some Muslims as criminals, wanted persons, and terrorists".
2018 DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2018 Pad Man BollywoodThe Central Board of Film Censors, Pakistan, refused to give a No Objection Certificate to the film and said, "we cannot allow a film whose name, subject, and story are not acceptable yet in our society." They disallowed the Pakistani film distributors IMGC and HKC to purchase the film rights and stated that they were "ruining Islamic traditions, history, and culture." 2018 Pari BollywoodPromotes black magic. 2018 Raazi Bollywood Showed an intelligence agent who spied on Pakistan for India. 2018 Gold BollywoodFor fears regarding the depiction of the Partition of India. 2018 Veere Di Wedding Bollywood For depicting obscenity and vulgar dialogues by female characters. 2018 Mulk Bollywood The movie shows an Indian Muslim family accused of treason and ties with the Pakistanis. 2018 Aiyaary Bollywood Banned for portraying Pakistan in a negative light. 2018 Race 3 BollywoodBan imposed so that four big banner Pakistani films and other smaller regional language releases on Eid do good business without competition from Bollywood movies. 2018 Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Bollywood Banned for references to Pakistan's nuclear tests and establishments.
2019-present Since February 2019, Pakistan has banned the screening of all Indian films amid border tensions between the countries.
DateMovie NameCountryFilm IndustryThe Reason Banned 2022 I'll Meet You There HollywoodFor "negatively depicting" Muslim and Pakistani culture. 2022 The Lady of Heaven BritishFor negatively depicting important Muslim figures and portraying historical inaccuracies.
See also Jaal movement, 1954 protest in West Pakistan to ban Indian films Maalik (2016 film), Pakistani film banned by the federal government, released after the supreme court intervened
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