“It Ends With Us” Banned in Qatar Over Kissing Scenes

Blake Lively’s latest romance drama, It Ends With Us, has been banned in Qatar due to its content, specifically scenes involving kissing. The film, which is rated PG-13 and produced by Sony Pictures and Wayfarer Studios, was set for a theatrical release but has now been blocked by the country’s censorship committee, as reported by sources close to the film.
Reasons for the Ban
The censorship committee in Qatar has strict rules regarding content in films, particularly concerning romantic and sexual scenes. It Ends With Us includes several kissing scenes and a non-graphic sex scene where the characters remain partially clothed, which led to the decision to ban the movie from being shown in theaters.
Qatar’s History of Film Bans
This isn’t the first time Qatar has blocked the release of an American film. The country has a track record of banning movies that it deems inappropriate according to its cultural and religious standards. Other PG-13 films that have faced similar fates include Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, the animated superhero movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Eternals.
Even more family-oriented films like Pixar’s Lightyear and Onward have been banned in the past due to content involving LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The country also blocked the R-rated comedy No Hard Feelings, featuring Jennifer Lawrence, for its nudity.
Impact on Global Release
While It Ends With Us faces a ban in Qatar, it continues to be released in other regions, where audiences are eager to see Blake Lively’s performance in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Despite the ban, the film is expected to perform well in markets where it is released, adding to the ongoing conversation about global censorship and the varying standards for film content around the world.