Science Reveals the Single Most Disgusting Moment in Film History

Almost every moviegoer has that one specific scene etched into their brain—a moment so repulsive that it effectively ruins a snack or warrants a lifetime ban from the “rewatch” list.

For some, it is the visceral intensity of a self-inflicted injury in a survival thriller, while for others, it is the sheer absurdity of a gross-out comedy. Cinema has never been a medium that shies away from testing the limits of the human gag reflex, whether through high-concept horror or low-brow shock humor.

A five-year scientific study sought to quantify this visceral reaction by evaluating over 250 films and gauging the responses of nearly 500 brave participants. Researchers measured the intensity of disgust on a scale from one to eight, hoping to identify which cinematic moment truly reigns supreme as the most stomach-turning.

While modern horror and avant-garde French cinema provided stiff competition, the “crown” ultimately went to a cult classic from 1972 that has spent decades living in infamy. The study concluded that the final sequence of John Waters’ Pink Flamingos is officially the most disgusting scene in movie history.

Participants were asked to clear their minds before being shown thirty seconds of the legendary drag queen Divine consuming actual dog waste. The results were decisive, with an average disgust rating of 6.45 and nearly 85 percent of viewers reporting that the footage repulsed them on multiple levels.

It seems that even fifty years later, the “Duke of Dirt” still holds the title for the ultimate cinematic transgression. As of February 2026, John Waters continues to embrace his reputation as the “Pope of Trash” while staying remarkably active in the cultural zeitgeist.

Now approaching his 80th birthday, the filmmaker is currently touring his new radical comedy show, Going to Extremes, which recently made stops in Provincetown and Boston. Waters has described the show as a sermon that will beg the authorities to drop a net on both him and his audience, proving that his edge has not dulled with age.

While his long-awaited film adaptation of his novel Liarmouth faced production hurdles in late 2024, Waters remains a fixture on the screen in other ways. He recently took on a Rod Serling-inspired hosting role as “The Broker” in the horror anthology Baltigore, which features practical effects from the team behind Killers of the Flower Moon.

Additionally, he continues to support the arts through his annual “filth elder” fundraising auctions, which recently included a chance for a lucky couple to be married by the director himself for a high-value donation to the Provincetown Film Society.

For fans of his classic “trash trilogy,” this year is also proving to be a landmark for physical media. The Criterion Collection is reportedly finalizing 4K restorations of several Waters classics, including Desperate Living, following the success of their Pink Flamingos anniversary release.

Do you think that modern special effects can ever truly compete with the raw, low-budget shock of a real-life stunt like the one seen in Pink Flamingos? Share your thoughts in the comments.