Violent scenes in the James Bond movie Spectre triggered the highest number of complaints to film censors in 2015.

Some 40 viewers complained to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) about scenes of brutality in the spy thriller, tying it for the fourth most complained-about film of the decade so far.

attending the World Premiere of Spectre, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday October 26, 2015. See PA Story: SHOWBIZ Bond. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Wire
Daniel Craig (Matt Crossick/PA)

One scene involving an eye-gouging was edited before the film’s release to comply with a 12A classification, but a brief implication of what happened remained in the final cut.

Fans were also disturbed by a torture scene, with the BBFC writing in its annual report: “Although the idea is unpleasant there is limited detail depicted. Given the lack of detail in the scene and the context of an action film featuring a larger-than-life hero character who always defeats his enemies, this moderate violence is acceptable at 12A.

“Another scene, showing the bloody aftermath of a suicide, was similarly reduced.”

Daniel Craig arrives for the World Premiere and Royal Performance of Casino Royale, Odeon Leicester Square
Daniel Craig at the world premiere of Casino Royale in 2006 (Ian West/PA)

Daniel Craig’s first Bond film, Casino Royale in 2006, garnered 82 complaints, while Quantum of Solace in 2008 prompted just six.

The Woman in Black from 2012 is the most complained about film of this decade, receiving 134 complaints.

Men in Black 3, from the same year, earned 50 while The Hunger Games, also from 2012, got 43.

Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the premiere of The Hunger Games at the O2 in London.
Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the London premiere of The Hunger Games in 2012 (Ian West/PA)

Black Swan, from 2011, garnered 40 complaints, to tie with Spectre.

Spy film Kingsman: The Secret Service, prompted 38 complaints in 2015, mainly about the violence in the 15-rated movie.

A fight scene in a church was considered particularly extreme, even though the film was edited down to achieve the 15 certificate.

Colin Firth attending the world premiere of Kingsman: The Secret Service at the Odeon Leicester Square, London
Colin Firth at the world premiere (Ian West/PA)

The report said: “While there are some strong moments of violence in the film, they are relatively brief and do not ‘dwell on the infliction of pain or injury’ to the extent they require an 18 classification. The BBFC therefore classified the film 15.”

The U-rated animated comedy Minions, a spin-off from the Despicable Me franchise, garnered 16 complaints, primarily about a scene set in a medieval-style torture dungeon.

Sandra Bullock with Minions Kevin, Bob and Stuart attending the world premiere of Minions at the Odeon Leicester Square
Sandra Bullock with Minions Kevin, Bob and Stuart attending the world premiere of Minions (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

The scene shows the Minions stretched on a rack, where they remain uninjured, before they slip unharmed through a noose and play with gallows.

The report said: “The scene takes place in an unrealistic, comic and slapstick manner which is likely to be familiar to young viewers, who expect the Minions to survive. The realistic risk of harmful imitation is very low indeed.”

Other complaints concerned a chase scene involving a pale-faced man holding a chainsaw, and a clown juggling bombs.