Politicians in Moscow are calling for new powers to prevent foreign films that they feel demonise Russians from being shown in cinemas, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Russians have long been ravenous consumers of Hollywood movies, but with anti-western rhetoric escalating as the conflict in Ukraine develops, politicians believe it is time to outlaw "anti-Russian" material.

Batu Khasikov, a member of the culture committee at Russia's Federation Council, the upper chamber of parliament, told the Interfax news agency: "Specific requirements should be introduced for film exhibition in the country, and movies where everything related to Russia is overtly demonised or shown in a primitive and silly way should be banned from theatrical distribution."

He said such films would include those in which, "at the screenwriter's and director's whim, Russians are portrayed as a threat to humanity", though he did not mention specific titles.

If introduced, the ban would affect new films hoping for a licence to show in Russian cinemas. The move is relatively risk-free for Moscow, because there is little chance of US retaliation: Russian films are not widely consumed in North America. Nonetheless, new laws could potentially result in Russia joining China as a nation where Hollywood fare must pass strict guidelines.

In the meantime, Moscow has published a list of films that it considers are safe for patriotic citizens to view. It includes Cabaret, The Last Emperor and Titanic, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's anti-war epic, Apocalypse Now.