My vote goes to the 2000s, especially the middle part. This was when torture porn films (Hostel, Saw) were at their peak, as well as video games like Manhunt and The Punisher. And this was also the peak era of metalcore and screamo.
I think contrary to what boomers might think, we've actually kinda chilled since. I think the whole decline of 2000s edgelord/mall-goth culture resulted in violence for the sake of violence in media becoming less popular. Nowadays, many people online are sensitive to gore, whereas in the 2000s people were obsessed with it. Even Happy Tree Friends aired on TV briefly in 2006.
But what do you guys think? Any different opinions? Love to hear your thoughts on this.

I don't know....

I just feel bad that nobody replied. ::)

K, briefly this is what I think. Every modern decade (1970s to 2010s) had violent media. Except of course the 1950s and before. I truly believe it started in the 1960s.

I don't know....

I just feel bad that nobody replied. ::)

K, briefly this is what I think. Every modern decade (1970s to 2010s) had violent media. Except of course the 1950s and before. I truly believe it started in the 1960s.


This is manifestly inaccurate. In fact, the early days of sound movies were so graphically violent (and sexual) that the famed Hayes Code had to be put into effect.

Wikipedia has this to say about pre-Hayes code movies:

"Some films in the late 1920s and early 1930s depicted or implied sexual innuendo, romantic and sexual relationships between white and black people, mild profanity, illegal drug use, promiscuity, prostitution, infidelity, abortion, intense violence, and homosexuality. "

Now, while there is nothing wrong with a number of things in that list above (i.e. sexual relationships between white and black people, homosexuality, etc.) it's not the type of thing people tend to think of when they think of movies of that era.

Read more here:

Pre-Code Hollywood:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Code_Hollywood

Even in the first season of the 1950s "Adventures of Superman" series such graphic things as a woman in a wheelchair being pushed down a flight of stairs can be seen. And women, particularly Lois Lane, getting slapped in the face. Of course the Lois Lane of the first season, portrayed by the great Phyllis Coates, was spunky as all hell and she always fought back, punching men and hitting them with shoes.

People in general need to stop fantasizing  about a genteel 1950s that didn't really exist.

This is manifestly inaccurate. In fact, the early days of sound movies were so graphically violent (and sexual) that the famed Hayes Code had to be put into effect.

Wikipedia has this to say about pre-Hayes code movies:

"Some films in the late 1920s and early 1930s depicted or implied sexual innuendo, romantic and sexual relationships between white and black people, mild profanity, illegal drug use, promiscuity, prostitution, infidelity, abortion, intense violence, and homosexuality. "

Now, while there is nothing wrong with a number of things in that list above (i.e. sexual relationships between white and black people, homosexuality, etc.) it's not the type of thing people tend to think of when they think of movies of that era.

Read more here:

Pre-Code Hollywood:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Code_Hollywood

Even in the first season of the 1950s "Adventures of Superman" series such graphic things as a woman in a wheelchair being pushed down a flight of stairs can be seen. And women, particularly Lois Lane, getting slapped in the face. Of course the Lois Lane of the first season, portrayed by the great Phyllis Coates, was spunky as all hell and she always fought back, punching men and hitting them with shoes.

People in general need to stop fantasizing  about a genteel 1950s that didn't really exist.


But it's not the same type of violence. It became worse with time? Blah blah blah... This is so boring. ::)

I was NOT inaccurate. Movies became more violent in the 1960s. *sigh*.

But it's not the same type of violence. It became worse with time? Blah blah blah... This is so boring. ::)

I was NOT inaccurate. Movies became more violent in the 1960s. *sigh*.


Your exact quote was "every modern decade (1970s to 2010s) had violent media. Except of course the 1950s and before. I truly believe it started in the 1960s."  I gave you clear examples of cases of violent media well before the 60s. You didn't say it got MORE violent in the 60s, you stated it STARTED in the 60s. Ergo, your statement was inaccurate.

There were a lot of violent movies in the 1950s and before. The 1930s were all about mafia and crime movies. The 1940s were all about the Westerns and cowboy shootouts. I think the only reason they don't look violent is because they didn't have the special effects, big budgets and the realistic acting that we do now.

My vote goes to the 1980s for all its slasher films. I find them unwatchable.

The 2000s had a lot of gorey movies too but it was so comical and unrealistic that it was hard to be offended by it. The 2010s had shows like Game of Thrones where very realistic rape and torture scenes were depicted on screen. I found that to be a lot more disturbing even if blood didn't cover the screen.

I'm going to say the 2000s.

There were a lot of violent movies in the 1950s and before. The 1930s were all about mafia and crime movies. The 1940s were all about the Westerns and cowboy shootouts. I think the only reason they don't look violent is because they didn't have the special effects, big budgets and the realistic acting that we do now.

My vote goes to the 1980s for all its slasher films. I find them unwatchable.

The 2000s had a lot of gorey movies too but it was so comical and unrealistic that it was hard to be offended by it. The 2010s had shows like Game of Thrones where very realistic rape and torture scenes were depicted on screen. I found that to be a lot more disturbing even if blood didn't cover the screen.


Agreed. I'm going with the 80s too. All those teenage slasher films set a bad precedent. And they were subtly moralistic too. "Be a bad teenager and look what happens to you". Typical 80s kind of conservatism.

Early millennials had a huge fascination with self-harming :o during the 2000’s there were TV shows like Jackass, Fist of Zen or Scarred where people used to compete for the most dangerous and stupid act of the show. Also Emo culture was all about the glorification of self-harming and depression.
But above all, how can we forget about the rise of torture porn in cinema where Saw, Hostel and Final Destination were incredibly popular, even the bloody religious film The Passion of the Christ became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
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