Netflix Reveals 9 Titles the Government Made Them Remove
Netflix has released a list of movies and TV shows that various governments have demanded the streaming service to remove over the last five years.
In its 2019 Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Report, the company disclosed the nine times content had to be removed from a country's Netflix listings due to government interference.
2020 already has a takedown with Netflix's comedy The Last Hangover removed from Singapore. The movie is a spoof of The Hangover where the apostles wake up after a night of partying to find Jesus missing. In 2019, the country also demanded the removal of Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ after the movie was banned in Singapore in 2015, according to The Online Citizen.
Singapore's last known removals were in 2018 when the country demanded three Netflix originals were taken off. The competition series Cooking on High, the documentary movie The Legend of 420 and the comedy series Disjointed were removed.
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In 2019, a single episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj titled "Saudi Arabia" was removed from Saudi Arabia's Netflix. The host of the show tackles the Saudi Arabian government's cover-up of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "This is the most unbelievable cover story since Blake Shelton won sexiest man alive," Minhaj says in the special, according to NPR.
Representatives of Vietnam demanded Netflix to remove Stanley Kubrick's Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket in 2017. That same year, Germany requested Night of the Living Dead to be removed from the service.
Germany allowed the George Romero classic for years, but supposedly banned it due to a mistake. The country banned the 1990 remake and the 30th Anniversary Edition of the 1968 film, which had some scenes taken out and other material put in. The new version of the 1968 movie is banned, but the original 1968 cut apparently isn't. That's according to Schnittberichte.com, which was translated via Google Translate.
Netflix seemingly confirms that this is the case. The report says on page 6 that Netflix took down the movie because a "version of the film is banned in the country."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/15/why-this-98-rated-horror-game-was-pulled-from-steam-ign-now"]
Finally, New Zealand asked for the documentary "The Bridge" to be removed from the country's service in 2015. The filmmakers recorded more than a year of footage of the Golden Gate Bridge and caught 23 suicides on camera. They then interviewed some of the families and friends of the suicide victims that were identified in the footage. Netflix says that the film is classified as "objectionable" in New Zealand.
This Netflix report comes a few months after Blizzard banned a Hearthstone player for vocalizing support for Hong Kong's liberation. A day after that incident, South Park was banned in China after the show aired an episode appropriately called "Band in China" where, among other things, a character is arrested in China for possession of marijuana and breaks a deal with the Chinese government to murder Winnie the Pooh so he can sell his weed in China and write a movie.
In February 2019, the horror game Devotion was taken off Steam after a Winnie the Pooh joke was found in it. Months later, developer Red Candle Games said that Devotion will not be re-released after the joke "caused immeasurable harm to Red Candle Games and our partner."
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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.
The Witcher: Season 2 Will Reportedly Feature a Familiar Monster From the Games
If you've played the Witcher games or read the original stories, or both, then one of the things you're no doubt thinking about when you watch the Henry Cavill Netflix series is the monsters Geralt faces down and skewers with his silver sword.
In Season 1, the White Wolf vanquished all sorts of creatures, from the Kikimora in the opening scene to the hellacious Striga in the third episode, "Betrayer Moon." And it seems like the trend of ferocious fiends won't stop with Season 1 as another famous beast from the saga's deep lore is heading our way in Season 2.
[caption id="attachment_229979" align="aligncenter" width="720"]
Woodland Spirit (Leshen) from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.[/caption]
Redanian Intelligence is reporting now that one of our heroes will encounter a Leshen, which made a gruesome appearance in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and is based on a monster from Slavic mythology called a "Leshy."
Leshen are towering terrors that derive their power from nature, dwelling in primeval woods, using their magic to control the plants and animals within their territory.
The site's sources say that a Leshen will appear in Season 2, encountering one of the characters and holding "serious consequences."
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Recently, a new character was revealed for The Witcher: Season 2, one who doesn't appear in Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels, while Netflix also announced a new Witcher anime movie, The Witcher: Nightmare of The Wolf, that will be about a young Vesemir.
For more on The Witcher, find out why Netflix decided to adapt the books and not the games, check out our review of the first season and episode ratings, and read about the fantasy elements we can expect in Season 2.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/12/netflixs-the-witcher-who-is-yennefer"]
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Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

The Witcher: Season 2 Will Reportedly Feature a Familiar Monster From the Games
If you've played the Witcher games or read the original stories, or both, then one of the things you're no doubt thinking about when you watch the Henry Cavill Netflix series is the monsters Geralt faces down and skewers with his silver sword.
In Season 1, the White Wolf vanquished all sorts of creatures, from the Kikimora in the opening scene to the hellacious Striga in the third episode, "Betrayer Moon." And it seems like the trend of ferocious fiends won't stop with Season 1 as another famous beast from the saga's deep lore is heading our way in Season 2.
[caption id="attachment_229979" align="aligncenter" width="720"]
Woodland Spirit (Leshen) from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.[/caption]
Redanian Intelligence is reporting now that one of our heroes will encounter a Leshen, which made a gruesome appearance in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and is based on a monster from Slavic mythology called a "Leshy."
Leshen are towering terrors that derive their power from nature, dwelling in primeval woods, using their magic to control the plants and animals within their territory.
The site's sources say that a Leshen will appear in Season 2, encountering one of the characters and holding "serious consequences."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-monster-in-season-1-of-netflixs-the-witcher&captions=true"]
Recently, a new character was revealed for The Witcher: Season 2, one who doesn't appear in Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels, while Netflix also announced a new Witcher anime movie, The Witcher: Nightmare of The Wolf, that will be about a young Vesemir.
For more on The Witcher, find out why Netflix decided to adapt the books and not the games, check out our review of the first season and episode ratings, and read about the fantasy elements we can expect in Season 2.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/12/netflixs-the-witcher-who-is-yennefer"]
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Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Did Netflix Accidentally Leak a Resident Evil Series Description?
Last year, it was reported that Netflix was developing a live-action Resident Evil series. Now, its description has apparently leaked and all but confirms that the horror show will be headed to a streaming device near you in the future.
ResetERA user Jawmuncher spotted the now removed description on Netflix's Media Center. While it can no longer be found there, a quick trip to the Wayback Machine allows you to view the paragraph that gives a glimpse into what this series will be.
"The town of Clearfield, MD has long stood in the shadow of three seemingly unrelated behemoths – the Umbrella Corporation, the decommissioned Greenwood Asylum, and Washington, D.C. Today, twenty-six years after the discovery of the T-Virus, secrets held by the three will start to be revealed at the first signs of outbreak."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/01/25/will-resident-evil-be-netflixs-walking-dead"]
This description aligns with Deadline's report of the existence of the series last January that said it would "explore the dark inner workings of the Umbrella Corporation and the new world order caused by the outbreak of the T-virus."
A Resident Evil Netflix series arriving this year would be a great thing for fans who are already getting the Resident Evil 3: Nemesis Remake on April 3, 2020.
This also isn't the only Resident Evil rumor floating about, as a recent report revealed that Resident Evil 8 may stay in the first-person perspective, star Resident Evil 7's Ethan Winters, and feature werewolves.
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For more on Resident Evil on TV, check out what we want from an RE show and take a look at a cancelled Resident Evil series from 2017.
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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Did Netflix Accidentally Leak a Resident Evil Series Description?
Last year, it was reported that Netflix was developing a live-action Resident Evil series. Now, its description has apparently leaked and all but confirms that the horror show will be headed to a streaming device near you in the future.
ResetERA user Jawmuncher spotted the now removed description on Netflix's Media Center. While it can no longer be found there, a quick trip to the Wayback Machine allows you to view the paragraph that gives a glimpse into what this series will be.
"The town of Clearfield, MD has long stood in the shadow of three seemingly unrelated behemoths – the Umbrella Corporation, the decommissioned Greenwood Asylum, and Washington, D.C. Today, twenty-six years after the discovery of the T-Virus, secrets held by the three will start to be revealed at the first signs of outbreak."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/01/25/will-resident-evil-be-netflixs-walking-dead"]
This description aligns with Deadline's report of the existence of the series last January that said it would "explore the dark inner workings of the Umbrella Corporation and the new world order caused by the outbreak of the T-virus."
A Resident Evil Netflix series arriving this year would be a great thing for fans who are already getting the Resident Evil 3: Nemesis Remake on April 3, 2020.
This also isn't the only Resident Evil rumor floating about, as a recent report revealed that Resident Evil 8 may stay in the first-person perspective, star Resident Evil 7's Ethan Winters, and feature werewolves.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-resident-evil-game-review-ever&captions=true"]
For more on Resident Evil on TV, check out what we want from an RE show and take a look at a cancelled Resident Evil series from 2017.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
30% of Nintendo Switch Lite Owners Already Own a Switch
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has confirmed that about 30% of the people who bought a Switch Lite already own a Switch.
In a Q&A for Nintendo's investors, Furukawa said that the percentage of previous Switch owners purchasing a Lite was even greater before the holidays. From its release on September 20 to the start of the holiday season, approximately 43% of Switch Lite owners already owned the console.
Furukawa said that a common factor among new Switch Lite owners was that they previously played Pokémon on handheld systems. He also said the other popular trend among buyers were women purchasing the Switch Lite as their first Switch console.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/26/nintendo-switch-lite-review"]
As for the original Switch model, the release of Ring Fit Adventure supposedly helped Nintendo reach out to its female audience and a wide variety of different age groups.
Nintendo knows that its characters are beloved by all types of people from all over the world, so it understandably wants more interactivity with its products. In the same Q&A, representative director Shigeru Miyamoto commented on the upcoming Mario movie and how he hopes it will do its part to expand Nintendo's brand.
"...it's not so much that I wanted to make a Mario movie, but that I felt Nintendo should have more video content," Miyamoto said. "More people will have access to our IP with video content, and so the number of people who will come into contact with Nintendo IP will continue to grow in the future."
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Miyamoto also said that mobile apps such as Mario Kart Tour and Fire Emblem Heroes have "dramatically increased" the amount of people who experience Nintendo products.
The Nintendo Switch Lite has succeeded in that field considering 70% of the audience is buying a Switch for the first time. The Switch Lite is a slightly less-powerful Switch that is handheld-only without detachable controllers. It also costs $100 less than the other model.
In our review of the Switch Lite, we called Nintendo's newest creation "a wonderful alternate take on an already awesome system." If you're one of the new owners, check out our list of the best games on the console.
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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.
30% of Nintendo Switch Lite Owners Already Own a Switch
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has confirmed that about 30% of the people who bought a Switch Lite already own a Switch.
In a Q&A for Nintendo's investors, Furukawa said that the percentage of previous Switch owners purchasing a Lite was even greater before the holidays. From its release on September 20 to the start of the holiday season, approximately 43% of Switch Lite owners already owned the console.
Furukawa said that a common factor among new Switch Lite owners was that they previously played Pokémon on handheld systems. He also said the other popular trend among buyers were women purchasing the Switch Lite as their first Switch console.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/26/nintendo-switch-lite-review"]
As for the original Switch model, the release of Ring Fit Adventure supposedly helped Nintendo reach out to its female audience and a wide variety of different age groups.
Nintendo knows that its characters are beloved by all types of people from all over the world, so it understandably wants more interactivity with its products. In the same Q&A, representative director Shigeru Miyamoto commented on the upcoming Mario movie and how he hopes it will do its part to expand Nintendo's brand.
"...it's not so much that I wanted to make a Mario movie, but that I felt Nintendo should have more video content," Miyamoto said. "More people will have access to our IP with video content, and so the number of people who will come into contact with Nintendo IP will continue to grow in the future."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=a-close-up-look-at-the-nintendo-switch-lite-gamescom-2019&captions=true"]
Miyamoto also said that mobile apps such as Mario Kart Tour and Fire Emblem Heroes have "dramatically increased" the amount of people who experience Nintendo products.
The Nintendo Switch Lite has succeeded in that field considering 70% of the audience is buying a Switch for the first time. The Switch Lite is a slightly less-powerful Switch that is handheld-only without detachable controllers. It also costs $100 less than the other model.
In our review of the Switch Lite, we called Nintendo's newest creation "a wonderful alternate take on an already awesome system." If you're one of the new owners, check out our list of the best games on the console.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.
Ridley & Holland Movie to Be Released 2 Years After Original Date
The Daisy Ridley-Tom Holland sci-fi film Chaos Walking finally has a release date of January 22, 2021.
Principal photography was completed in November 2017, but extensive reshoots were required. Holland was filming Spider-Man: Far from Home and Ridley was filming Star Wars Episode IX during summer 2018, so reshoots for Chaos Walking couldn't happen until the end of 2018 or early 2019. The movie was taken off its March 1, 2019 release date and wasn't given a new release date until now.
The script is credited to the original book's author Patrick Ness and Spider-Man: Homecoming writer Christopher Ford. Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman is helming the movie with a cast that includes Mads Mikkelsen, Demián Bichir, Kurt Sutter, Nick Jonas, David Oyelowo and Cynthia Erivo.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/28/2020-movies-we-cant-wait-to-see"]
Lionsgate reportedly spent $90 million to $100 million on this movie during its original production, according to THR. The studio is hoping for a new franchise.
Chaos Walking is a series of three young adult novels with the movie adapting the first novel "The Knife of Never Letting Go." The story takes place in a world where almost all women have been killed by a virus and all living creatures can understand each other's thoughts. Holland's character finds Ridley's character and the two plan an escape.
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If Lionsgate fails with this, then they at least have a sequel to Knives Out to look forward to. Ridley can be seen in theaters now with Star Wars Episode IX crossing $1 billion in ticket sales and Holland will show up in the Russo brothers new movie as a heroin-addicted bank robber.
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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who recommends Edge of Tomorrow.
Ridley & Holland Movie to Be Released 2 Years After Original Date
The Daisy Ridley-Tom Holland sci-fi film Chaos Walking finally has a release date of January 22, 2021.
Principal photography was completed in November 2017, but extensive reshoots were required. Holland was filming Spider-Man: Far from Home and Ridley was filming Star Wars Episode IX during summer 2018, so reshoots for Chaos Walking couldn't happen until the end of 2018 or early 2019. The movie was taken off its March 1, 2019 release date and wasn't given a new release date until now.
The script is credited to the original book's author Patrick Ness and Spider-Man: Homecoming writer Christopher Ford. Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman is helming the movie with a cast that includes Mads Mikkelsen, Demián Bichir, Kurt Sutter, Nick Jonas, David Oyelowo and Cynthia Erivo.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/28/2020-movies-we-cant-wait-to-see"]
Lionsgate reportedly spent $90 million to $100 million on this movie during its original production, according to THR. The studio is hoping for a new franchise.
Chaos Walking is a series of three young adult novels with the movie adapting the first novel "The Knife of Never Letting Go." The story takes place in a world where almost all women have been killed by a virus and all living creatures can understand each other's thoughts. Holland's character finds Ridley's character and the two plan an escape.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=25-young-adult-would-be-movie-franchises-that-failed&captions=true"]
If Lionsgate fails with this, then they at least have a sequel to Knives Out to look forward to. Ridley can be seen in theaters now with Star Wars Episode IX crossing $1 billion in ticket sales and Holland will show up in the Russo brothers new movie as a heroin-addicted bank robber.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who recommends Edge of Tomorrow.
Next-Gen Console Watch: How Powerful PS5, Xbox Series X May Be
With both the Xbox Series X and PS5 set for launches this holiday season, IGN is proud to introduce Next-Gen Console Watch 2020, a new weekly show breaking down the latest next-gen news and rumors with expert analysis, viewer polling, and much more.
This week's episode focuses on how powerful the PS5 and Series X may be given recent reports. Watch the video below to check out the full episodes, and check out the galleries further down for our look at the power levels of past generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles. While these levels don't tell us everything about the power of each console, it does give us a rough idea of how power levels have increased from one generation to the next.
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This week's episode of Next-Gen Console Watch 2020 opens up with a discussion of EA executives recently discussing that Xbox Series X and PS5 will be "substantially greater" in power than this generation.
Following that, we break down PlayStation's new PS5 website and what it does and doesn't tell us about the console. We also take a look at recent statements made by Sony executives about PS5's price and how it will compete in the industry.
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Following that, we dive into the alleged revelation of what Xbox Series X's mystery port will be, before offering poll results and introducing our newest poll, which you can vote on below!
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Be sure to check out the first episode of Next-Gen Console Watch 2020 as well, and stay tuned every Friday morning for new episodes in the lead-up to the PS5 and Xbox Series X's launches.
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