Were animals harmed in the making?
Browse movies, tv shows, books and more animals were harmed in the making.
This trigger is for viewers who are concerned about the ethical treatment of animals in filmmaking. Some older films or films with unrealistic stunts may have used methods that harmed animals.
Pin to top of search results.
Movie • 1980 Report
Yes
99
No
3
36
Sibelos
It's pretty common knowledge that every animal death in this movie is real.
Movie • 1980 Report
Yes
96
No
1
58
jdpamv
A snake loved by one of the cast members was mercilessly killed for a pointless scene. The killing is entirely on-display.
Movie • 1986 Report
Yes
58
No
7
25
cha0ticneutralsystem
Allegations of animal abuse and the deaths of at least 20 kittens on set
Movie • 1975 Report
Yes
57
No
4
18
EchoGarden1
The open shark is a real shark they caught and killed. Also, the way they got the shark to attack the cage was really bad.
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
49
No
5
20
Bitbat
Possibly, due to the rodeo scene and several animals (horses, bulls) being forced to put on a show.
Movie • 1972 Report
Yes
43
No
1
17
averagehorrorenjoyer
a live chicken was beaten, strangled, and used to rape someone. it died as a result. if you wanna skip the scene, the timestamp in the uncut version is 0:28:40-0:30:19
Movie • 2003 Report
Yes
36
No
1
16
cha0ticneutralsystem
4 Octopus where eaten alive on set to get the scene where he eats the octopus alive
Movie • 1985 Report
Yes
28
No
2
9
oroontheheels
Cow that’s shown dying in the movie was actually dying from a gun wound inflicted on her by director’s orders.
Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
27
No
0
18
it’s a documentary about someone who abuses & kills animals online anonymously, unfortunately the clips are real footage from said videos the person posts
Movie • 1974 Report
Yes
25
No
4
5
hildahildahi
Chicken was put in a tiny ass cage and is bumped into multiple times which makes it swing around
Movie • 1979 Report
Yes
25
No
1
14
Sid
An ox was hacked to death during a religious ritual. As far as I can tell the ritual would have happened anyway so it wasn’t killed specifically for the film
Movie • 2003 Report
Yes
25
No
1
11
cha0ticneutralsystem
Reports of explosions and pyrotechnic displays killing the local marine life
Movie • 1989 Report
Yes
24
No
2
19
Ollie2
The American Humane Association rated this film "unacceptable" because of the rat that was submerged in oxygenated liquid in one scene.
"James Cameron later admitted that four rats had indeed gone through the procedure without problems; the fifth, however, suffered a cardiac arrest. Fortunately, Cameron was able to revive it through careful chest compressions, and later kept it as a pet."
Supposedly, the only purpose for the cuts in the sequence was to avoid showing the rats defecating from panic.
And you need only watch the scene to see a rat in enormous distress.
"James Cameron later admitted that four rats had indeed gone through the procedure without problems; the fifth, however, suffered a cardiac arrest. Fortunately, Cameron was able to revive it through careful chest compressions, and later kept it as a pet."
Supposedly, the only purpose for the cuts in the sequence was to avoid showing the rats defecating from panic.
And you need only watch the scene to see a rat in enormous distress.
Movie • 2005 Report
Yes
24
No
0
8
EamonToPlease
A tank of fish were accidentally killed on the set.
Movie • 1972 Report
Yes
22
No
6
16
Nufsaid
Yes, a real horse was killed but supposedly it was not killed for the movie.
“We didn’t kill the horse,” Coppola said. “Most horses are killed for dog food. So we went to the dog food company, and we looked at the horses before they were slaughtered. I didn’t do it, but the art director found one that looked like the real horse and I said when you kill that horse we want the head.” - https://www.cheatsheet.com
“We didn’t kill the horse,” Coppola said. “Most horses are killed for dog food. So we went to the dog food company, and we looked at the horses before they were slaughtered. I didn’t do it, but the art director found one that looked like the real horse and I said when you kill that horse we want the head.” - https://www.cheatsheet.com
Movie • 2012 Report
Yes
21
No
1
8
cha0ticneutralsystem
Reports of 27 animals (mainly sheep and goats) being malnourished, dying or starvation, drowned or exhausted on set. They were supposedly let off with a warning and weren’t investigated further by the AHA
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
21
No
1
6
the movie is about someone who posted videos of himself .... hurting... cats, unfortunately actual clips of said videos are in this movie.
Movie • 2024 Report
Yes
20
No
2
5
HFan
They kill a real goat and skin it. It is horrible.
Book Report
Yes
19
No
4
Movie • 2012 Report
Yes
17
No
0
17
cha0ticneutralsystem
The tiger used in the movie was abused and mistreated on set and almost drowned during production
TV Show • 2004 Report
Yes
16
No
0
3
justice4animaIs
S1
E1
Dead rat
TV Show • 2010 Report
Yes
16
No
4
4
perunamuusi
S3
E3
A hunting trip results in a dead deer tied to a horse's back and a fishing trip in a big dead fish. Neither killing is not shown, but ofc it doesn’t make any difference to the animals that it wasn’t filmed, they were killed to become props.
Movie • 1987 Report
Yes
16
No
3
12
kotra
A live scorpion is stabbed and then squashed.
From the director’s commentary: “Yes it was a real scorpion. It was a creature which was indeed hurt for this production, but it was only one.”
From the director’s commentary: “Yes it was a real scorpion. It was a creature which was indeed hurt for this production, but it was only one.”
Movie • 1903 Report
Yes
16
No
0
16
SpikeGreene
Literally the entire film's purpose, over 74 seconds, is the real electrocution of a real elephant. It is not only immoral, but absolutely disgusting.
Movie Report
Yes
16
No
1
Movie • 2008 Report
Yes
15
No
0
9
BlueJ
30 puppies were initially bought to use in the film, 25 from an American breeder. 15 fell ill, and 3 died. They were 8 weeks old when an American Humane Safety Representative saw them on the first day of filming and were even younger when they were brought to set, breaking US Department of Agriculture regulations at the time. This group was removed from production. 28 more were bought to replace them, at least 6 fell ill, and 2 died. [source: American Humane Association Statement, March 27, 2007]
Movie • 1977 Report
Yes
15
No
4
10
MagitekVai
Maggots were crushed during the filming of the movie
Movie • 1973 Report
Yes
14
No
2
12
Rory_John14
There's debate around this, but potentially. There is a scene where, in the narrative at least, animals are burned alive. The director has claimed that they weren't really hurt or even in the structure that was burning, but an actor said some did die. A crew member has claimed that the animals were at least in severe emotional distress, with a goat urinating due to fear. During the burning scene, you hear an animal screaming.
TV Show • 2009 Report
Yes
14
No
6
10
CMster
S10
E10
A number of butterflies die during a "stunt" that goes really wrong.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
13
No
4
1
justice4animaIs
S2
E2
Probably real severed pig legs used as props