Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell (2017)

The casting of Scarlett Johansson as Major Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell (2017) ignited a global whitewashing firestorm, becoming the film's defining legacy. Despite the source material's Japanese setting and protagonist, producers cast a white American actress, sparking accusations of erasing Asian representation. The controversy dominated the marketing cycle and contributed to a staggering $60 million box office loss on a $110 million budget. This decision remains far more damaging to the film's reputation than the #2 Heath Ledger controversy, which at least was ultimately vindicated by performance. Johansson's casting drew comparisons to other whitewashing examples, but the backlash was uniquely intense, with the film grossing only $40 million domestically, less than half of what was needed to break even.