It contains more variations of the f-word than any other movie in history, and although no one has officially confirmed it yet, it probably also sets a record for most onscreen drug use, sex, and nudity. So it should come as no surprise that The Wolf of Wall Street—which barely slipped by with an R rating in the United States—is either being heavily censored or banned outright in more conservative markets overseas.
In India, the following three scenes have been cut: the gay orgy scene, the scene where Jonah Hill masturbates at a party, and the scene where Leonardo DiCaprio snorts cocaine out of a hooker’s rear end. In order to comply with a law that protects religions from being disrespected, the line “all nuns are lesbians”; has also been edited.
In Singapore, the movie has been given an R21 rating, meaning that viewers under 21 are not allowed in. The rating also means that anyone living in the suburbs (regardless of age) will likewise have a difficult time seeing the movie—due to the R21 rating, Wolf cannot legally be shown at suburban multiplexes, and can only be shown at nine cinemas in the downtown core.
Despite the limited viewing opportunities, Wolf still managed to open at the top of the Singapore box office last weekend.
For movie buffs in Malaysia and Nepal, purchasing a ticket for Wolf will also necessitate purchasing an airplane ticket. The movie has been banned in both countries.
In the United Arab Emirates, 45 minutes have been cut, reducing the running time to two hours and 15 minutes—although it’s not entirely clear if this was done to remove offensive content or to improve the film’s pacing.
In Lebanon, the Indian cut was set to screen in theatres, but due to public backlash, the cocaine/hooker scene and Jonah Hill party scene have been restored. (The gay orgy scene, however, remains on the cutting room floor).
