Wait, There’s Torture in Zootopia? Examining the Prevalence of Torture in Popular Movies

• In Event: Media, Terrorism, and Counterterrorism

Brief Overview

We examine depictions of torture across 200 top-grossing movies. The majority of films—including ones aimed toward children—have at least one torture scene. In movies, torture is often effective—though this rate varies based on goal.

Authors

• Casey Delehanty, Florida State University

• Erin M. Kearns, University of Alabama