ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Netflix horror movie that was banned in the US after Donald Trump's comments available to watch in UK

Home> Entertainment> Netflix

Published 15:38 11 Mar 2025 GMT

Netflix horror movie that was banned in the US after Donald Trump's comments available to watch in UK

The President did not give the 2020 film his stamp of approval

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

If you're in search of something new to watch, why not try this horror film which ended up sparking a political row and riling up Donald Trump in the process?

The flick, directed by Craig Zobel, caused quite the splash across the pond ahead of it's eventual release in March 2020.

But if you are a Brit who fancies finding out what all the fuss was about, you will be glad to know that UK viewers can catch it on Netflix anytime you like.

Take a look at the trailer here:

Advert

The Hunt is a film which managed to attract and retain the attention of President Donald Trump for a fair chunk of time - which is something which Zobel still struggles to explain 'how that even feels', he previously told USA Today.

Despite the star-studded satirical horror ending up at the centre of quite the controversy, the director insists ruffling the feathers of US politicians was 'not the goal'.

Still, the entire plot of the black comedy does sort of hinge on the nation's divide over who they want in the White House.

In The Hunt, a dozen 'deplorables' - AKA, working class Americans - are kidnapped from across the US and then chased down for sport by a group of liberal elites. Think Squid Game, but without the constantly growing prize pot.

As the group is picked off one by one - in extremely bloody fashion - Crystal (Betty Gilpin) goes on a mad rampage, turning the hunters very much into the hunted.

The synopsis for the film reads: "Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are or how they got there.

Emma Roberts, Ethan Suplee, Ike Barinholtz and Glenn Howerton all appear in The Hunt (Universal Pictures)
Emma Roberts, Ethan Suplee, Ike Barinholtz and Glenn Howerton all appear in The Hunt (Universal Pictures)

"In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, ruthless elitists gather at a remote location to hunt humans for sport. But their master plan is about to be derailed when one of the hunted, Crystal, turns the tables on her pursuers."

The cast is made up of some incredible talent too, including American Horror Story actress Emma Roberts, My Name is Earl's Ethan Suplee, Bad Neighbours actor Ike Barinholtz and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Glenn Howerton.

According to the director, the film was supposed to showcase how 'people rush to assume something' about someone 'just based on them being 'the other team'.

As well as conspiracy theories, The Hunt also shined a light on just how quickly false narratives can spread on social media and lead to consequences in the real world.

Which is where Trump, 78, and his longstanding rival Hillary Clinton come into this.

The hostages in The Hunt are dubbed the 'deplorables' in an apparent reference to a comment Clinton made during a speech ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

The film appeared to poke fun at both sides of the political aisle (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The film appeared to poke fun at both sides of the political aisle (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

At a campaign fundraising event in September that year, the then-Democratic nominee said: "To just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the 'basket of deplorables'."

So, there's one reason for Trump not to like Zobel's movie. But that's not all.

The Hunt was originally supposed to be released on 27 September, 2019 - however, it's release was pulled following two mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas.

Universal Pictures opted to defer it's release to 13 March, 2020, as it was 'not the right time' for the world to see it.

Trump seemed to support this move - as he took to X to share a scathing post in which he claimed The Hunt was made 'to inflame and cause chaos'.

The President fumed at the time: "Liberal Hollywood is Racist at the highest level, and with great Anger and Hate! They like to call themselves 'Elite', but they are not Elite.

"In fact, it is often the people that they so strongly oppose that are actually the Elite. The movie coming out is made in order to inflame and cause chaos.

UK viewers can catch the controversial horror on Netflix (Universal Pictures)
UK viewers can catch the controversial horror on Netflix (Universal Pictures)

"They create their own violence, and then try to blame others," he continued. "They are the true Racists, and are very bad for our Country!"

Six months later, The Hunt was finally released, despite Trump's comments.

Zobel said his 'heart sank' when he got wind that the politician had something to say about his project.

"I felt like whatever happened, he wasn't tweeting about our movie," the filmmaker said in 2020. "He was tweeting about what someone told him our movie was."

The second date didn't turn out much better either, as most cinemas were shut within a week of it's release due to coronavirus. As a result, it became available digitally just seven days later.

And luckily for us lot, it's available to stream on Netflix right now.

Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Topics: Donald Trump, TV and Film, Netflix, US News, Conspiracy Theory

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

X

@livburke_

Recommended reads

Chilling ‘Ghost Murmur’ device used for first time that can ‘find you if you have a heartbeat’Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Anadolu via Getty ImagesAirports forced to change X-ray machines after reality of what security could see revealedXMinute-by-minute timeline of what would happen in first moments of nuclear bombGetty StockGilgo Beach serial killer shares horrific details of how he killed victims in front of their relativesJames Carbone - Pool/Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • SKY
    9 hours ago

    Harry Potter stunt co-ordinator ‘still blames himself’ for incident that left actor paralysed

    David Holmes was left partially paralysed after breaking his neck during filming

    Entertainment
  • Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images
    11 hours ago

    Nikki Glaser explains why she allows boyfriend to sleep with other women

    "I want a guy that other girls want"

    Entertainment
  • Julian Finney/Getty Images
    12 hours ago

    Tyson Fury responds after dad John said their relationship is ‘completely destroyed’

    The former heavyweight champion will return to the ring this weekend

    Entertainment
  • Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
    12 hours ago

    What Ashley Roberts said about ‘fling’ with Declan Donnelly after I’m A Celeb stint

    The pair hit it off during the 2012 incarnation of ITV's jungle series

    Entertainment
  • 'Terrifying' Netflix horror Something Very Bad is Going to Happen has secret Stranger Things references
  • All exemptions in Donald Trump's new travel law as people from 12 countries completely banned from US
  • US President insists Iran must open 'Strait of Trump' in brazen speech
  • Tiger Woods 'calls Donald Trump' in released bodycam footage from arrest