Explore The Section 3 Nasties & Other Banned Tapes

Published on 5 June 2025
By itsonlyamovie

These are the additional 82 titles that were officially designated Section 3 Nasties under the Obscene Publications Act by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

These titles were liable for seizure and forfeiture by the police, removed from video rental shops and then destroyed; although they were not ultimately prosecuted. 33 of the original non-prosecuted video nasties were subsequently dropped from the list and placed onto the Section 3 Nasties list.

This supplementary list was issued along with the DPP List of 72 Video Nasties, and featured a list of so-called Section 3 Nasties. Titles on the Section 3 list could not be prosecuted for obscenity but were liable to seizure and confiscation under a ‘less obscene’ charge. Tapes seized under Section 3 could be destroyed after distributors or merchants forfeited them.

Films liable for seizure under Section 3 of the OPA

The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith Section 3 Nasty — Mausoleum Section 3 Nasty

Section 3 Tapes in the UK

Expand to View Titles on the S3 Nasties List +

View All Section 3 Nasties >

Other Banned Films in the UK

Expand to view other Banned Films in the UK +

Curfew
Maniac
Mothers Day
The New York Ripper
Silent Night, Deadly Night 2
Straw Dogs
Basket Case
Blood For Dracula
City Of The Living Dead
Macabre
Madman
Night Of The Seagulls
Terror Express

Withdrawn or Unreleased in the UK

The Exorcist

The VRA ultimately brought an end to the video nasties, but it wasn’t just the low-budget horror flicks that fell foul of the Act, there was also a number of high profile films that suffered a similar fate.

The Exorcist, which was originally released on home video in 1981 had to be re-submitted to the BBFC for video classification, due to the fact that it had already been released on video prior to the introduction of the VRA.

The Exorcist has played in UK cinemas since 1974 and already had a cinema certificate, but although not one of the 72 video nasties, it was refused a video certification by the BBFC, and removed from our shelves in 1986.

The Exorcist – Although never officially cut or classed as one of the 72 video nasties, several attempts to release the film on video were thwarted by BBFC censor James Ferman, who cited both the age of the possessed girl (as she was under 12, the film might have had significant appeal to underaged viewers) and reports of incidents of hysteria involving young women (leading to concerns that the film might cause severe emotional problems for those who believed in demonic possession) as obstacles to a home release.

Following a successful theatrical re-release in 1998 and Ferman’s retirement as censor in January 1999, the film was submitted for home video release for the first time in February 1999, and was passed uncut with an “18” certificate. The film had previously been released on video in 1981, uncertified, by Warner Home Video.

“The film was originally given an X certificate in 1974 and has been widely shown since then. In the 1970s, however, incidents of hysteria involving young women led to some concern that the film might cause severe emotional problems, particularly among those who believed in the reality of demonic possession”.
BBFC statement

A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange – Sometimes mistakenly believed to have been banned by the BBFC, it was actually Stanley Kubrick himself who withdrew the film from exhibition in the UK in 1973 on police advice after receiving death threats toward himself and his family, as well as disliking reports found in the British Press that the film was responsible for copycat violence.

After Kubrick’s death, the film was re-released uncut at cinemas in the UK in 2000, and thereafter on both VHS and DVD.

Childs Play 3

Child’s Play 3 – The film became notorious in the United Kingdom when it was suggested it might have inspired the real-life murder of British child James Bulger (a suggestion rejected by officers investigating the case) and the murder of Suzanne Capper.

Last House on Dead-End Street

Last House on Dead End Street – Also known as The Fun House, this film was probably the intended target when the BBFC added the similarly-entitled The Funhouse to the list. Passed uncut with an “18” certificate in 2006.

Another fan theory which seems more plausible, was the reference to ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ on its’ marketing literature which had brought it to the attention of the authorities. Tobe Hooper’s (Funhouse Director) original 1974 masterpiece had already fallen foul of the video nasties fall out, was this a blatant attempt to “cash-in” on the whole video nasties fiasco? Thanks to Gav over at the Pre-Cert Appreciation Society for the extra info!

Scum (1977)

Scum – The original TV film was made by the BBC, but they later decided not to broadcast it owing to the violence and suicides in the film. It was quickly remade by most of the original production team and released in cinemas, and was released on VHS at the height of the Video Nasty media frenzy, quickly becoming associated with them in the media.

Mikey

Mikey – The film was withdrawn from release in the United Kingdom following the James Bulger murder in Liverpool in 1993. The decision was made by the BBFC which refused to issue it with a UK release certificate in 1996. A 4K version of the film has now been released by Treasured Films

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The Official Video Nasties

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itsonlyamovie
Stuart is the creator of Its Only A Movie, a multimedia designer from Manchester, UK. Growing up with a family-run video rental shop in the early 80s fuelled his passion for horror. Childhood memories of The Evil Dead, video nasties and pre-cert video collecting.