30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group

Remember watching something in a movie you wanted to repeat? Well, fiction is not only there for escapism; many writers/filmmakers want spectators to be wiser and adapt lessons characters learned to real life. They convincingly use words, directing, cinematography and music to portray emotions. Of course, not every film has a profound lesson in it. Some are pure entertainment or teach bad lessons. And that's ok.

Anime and gaming fan Micu was thinking about what an "awful message" the musical Grease delivers and asked Reddit "What's a movie that teaches a really bad lesson?" She received over 6k responses. Rom-coms and action movies got a lot of smack in the thread. Scroll down for the best ones, and an interview with Micu.

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30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group just about every rom com that teaches men that 'no' means 'keep trying' instead of 'f&%k off'.

daddyshotmess , His Girl Friday Report

Final score:

307points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

Again not romantic cut it out!

59points

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30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Any movie that teaches the idea that if you're persistent, then you'll get the girl/guy.

JoMiEd , Pride & Prejudice Report

Final score:

279points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

It's not romantic it's creepy!

72points

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Micu herself gave some opposite examples—the good lessons. "I recently watched ‘Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop’ which was about loving yourself as well as all your flaws and accepting love from other people. Also, ‘Dead Poet Society’ teaches you to seize the day."

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Grease : If He cannot "rise" to her level - She should "sink" to his.

BlitheringEediot , Grease Report

Final score:

264points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

I hated the ending of this movie! That they had to change to be with each other and of course the woman was the one to compromise in the end

93points

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30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Fifty Shades of Grey.

It’s a movie about a guy who was ab$#ed perpetuating the cycle of abuse with the thin veneer of “it’s okay because he’s rich and this is how BDSM works.” The f%^k it does; almost all the characters are all sh$^ty people. Period.

Lentra888 , Fifty Shades Darker Report

Final score:

259points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

This franchise was the definition of cringe and should be #1

80points

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30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group 13 reasons why. Not a movie, but is basically plays to the fantasy of any teenager who’s thinking of harming themselves how everyone will run around afterwards trying to piece it all together and they’ll still be a big part of peoples lives when they’re gone.

The sad reality is that this is not true and it’s a terrible message to give to kids.

RavenBrannigan , 13 Reasons Why Report

Final score:

253points

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earringnut 3 years ago

As a suicide surviver I can confirm that people don't grow souls just because someone died. If they didn't care when you were alive they won't care when you're dead. The flip side is anyone who did care is deviated.

140points

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If Micu was making a movie with an unusual moral, she would want to communicate that good isn't always rewarded with good: sometimes the good goes to bad people instead, to give spectators expectations of "just how the world works."

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Cats. It teaches impressionable Hollywood producers that it's a good idea to make a movie like Cats.

flychinook , Cats Report

Final score:

248points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

Cats. Period. No further explanation needed!

44points

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30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group The whole Twilight series. Edward and Jacob are both controlling pricks at best, and Bella is too spineless to put them in their place.

"My love dumped me, so I'm going to engage in reckless behavior."

"My love is dead, so I'm going to commit su&%#de by cop."

"My love is in a relationship with someone else, so I'm going to try to force myself on her so she will change her mind."

If you want some professional input about how bad the relationships are in Twilight, check out Cinema Therapy on YouTube.

DeadpanWords , Twillight Report

Final score:

208points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

Honestly all the characters need therapy! They have serious issues! Probably the writer too!

48points

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30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Any romcom. You're about to get married, but you met a really cool person you had a connection with. Now your fiance seemed... Off. They aren't the right person for you. Leave them for that stranger.

DIDiMISSsomethin , Bridget Jones's Baby Report

Final score:

193points

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matilda 3 years ago

And suddenly your fiance seems to be the worst person ever

73points

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Talking about sending messages, movies are treated as a powerful tool for propaganda. While today's Hollywood is more influenced by the audience, award shows, and other countries' censorship, from 1934 to 1968, the industry was self-regulated by the strict Hays Code.

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Love Story. "Love means never having to say you're sorry!" What the hell were they thinking?

NutsAndOrBerries , Love Story Report

Final score:

190points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

That is the most stupid movie line in the entire movie industry worldwide!!!! By far!!!

92points

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#10

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group The Sex and the City Movie… and series. Big leaves Carrie time and time again over the years. This teaches that if you stick around your toxic relationship the man might finally change and commit to you…even after 10 years!

With that said, I love SATC! Watching it in my 20’s I saw Carrie finally get her man. Watching it in my 30’s I cringe and just wish Carrie would have stayed with Aiden.

mizzo0o , Sex and the City 2 Report

Final score:

178points

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Ellie Rosser 3 years ago

I am 100% team Aiden, but glad he didn't get stuck with Carrie, she would have made him miserable!!

94points

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#11

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Most high school movies. There's nothing wrong with wearing glasses. Characters barely ever study etc.

eliterule12 , To All The Boys I've Loved Before Report

Final score:

163points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

But if you don't wear glasses in the movie how you will take them off after and suddenly be the hottest person in the school?🙄

114points

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The Hays Code was influenced by moral panic from spectators and politicians as well, but many of the rules wouldn't fly in todays US. It prohibited things like interracial dating, French kisses, evoking empathy towards criminals, etc. In fact, in one of the movies mentioned in this list, Cinema Paradiso, a filmmaker shares memories of stealing cutout frames of kissing from a small-town cinema in Italy, where they were censored by a local priest.

#12

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group 50 shades of gray. Creepy dude gets viewed as elegant and mysterious just because he’s rich

CaydeWick , 50 Shades Of Grey Report

Final score:

160points

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An Co 3 years ago

While I agree the movie is evil (mainly because the people are scum and it portrays BDSM incorrectly.) But your description of it sounds like a solid preparation for real life. Rich men are perceived as elegant and mysterious even if they are just creepy scum.

40points

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#13

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group 40 days and 40 nights. It's about a girl who's a total slot but she decides to challenge herself not to have sex for 40 days. She's doing fine until her friend makes a website about it and a being pool starts. Suddenly everyone is trying to get her in bed.

Meanwhile she meets this really great guy who teaches her that love doesn't have to involve sex, you can have a great time and even be intimate without f@#king.

Still, she's so horny, you guys. At the end of the 40 days, she literally handcuffs herself to a bed to keep from letting anyone f@#k her.

The pool is up to huge amounts of money now.

Then her ex boyfriend walks in. He sees her tied up, so he ra&#s her. He claims the prize money and literally rides off into the sunset.

The s*#^ty girl is upset because her awesome new boyfriend might not accept her now that she cheated on him by being r&#ed but it turns out he's ok with it.

Oh wait oops I accidentally reversed the genders of all those characters.

Ray_LAC , 40 Days and 40 Nights Report

Final score:

149points

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Susie Elle 3 years ago

I'm confused

45points

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#14

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Lots and lots of romantic movies. Maybe you can just walk up and kiss someone like in The Notebook if you’re Ryan Gosling. In reality, though, get consent first ffs.

Any action movie where someone disarms someone who has a knife. Don’t try that. If possible, run the fuck away.

Fifty shades of grey. Shit writing aside, that’s not how you do bdsm, relationships or anything in between. It’s not romantic. It’s creepy. Why in the fuck did anyone like that movie?

Zeelthor , The Notebook Report

Final score:

135points

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Pamela24 3 years ago

The worst part of the Notebook is when he threatens that he will kill himself if she doesn't go out with him. So toxic, not at all romantic.

52points

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In 1934-1941, as divorce rates grew, Hollywood's screwball comedies, like His Girl Friday, It Happened One Night, and Adam's Rib started incorporating the theme of remarriage, which later was recognized as a subgenre by philosopher Stanley Cavell, who dedicated a whole book to it in 1979 called Pursuits of Happiness: The Hollywood Comedy of Remarriage. It's important to note that female characters in these films were independent and still chose to come back to their husbands, even though these screwball comedies show marriage as a miserable situation.

#15

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Revenge of the Nerds can’t even claim it’s satirical. The nerds are just as bad - if not worse - than the jocks. Yes the jocks started it by running a few pigs through their party. What the nerds do is far worse but really only at the expense of the easier targets - their women.

Other than the humility of losing in what is effectively a few competitions they cheat at (along with some Tigers Balm in their jockstraps), the Lambdas don’t really get revenge on the jocks, they take it out on their women.

First they spy on them in the nude. Then they distribute the nude photos to the school. Finally Lewis r*^es Betty Childs. All because like four girlfriends helped the jocks with the pigs?

And the idea that it’s okay because Lewis is good in bed is beyond disturbing. She doesn’t just accept it, she decides she’s “in love with a nerd.” That movie was written by some serious incels.

AtomicPunk , Revenge of The Nerds Report

Final score:

134points

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Susie Elle 3 years ago

Almost all 90's comedy movies are like this. "I have a problem with this guy so I'm gonna get his girlfriend or wife in bed and then somehow it's all her fault in the end!"

42points

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#16

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Overboard - she has amnesia so he convinces her she is his wife & mother to his 3-4 kids. Then he has sex with her.

So r#^ey.

Sparkle__M0tion , Overboard Report

Final score:

127points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago (edited)

The original story described is from the 80's with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell and not the picture above which is the remake!(edit:picture was changed after my comment) In the remake is the other way around! It was already cringe even for the 80's and i have no idea who decided that this story had any place in today's society!!

33points

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#17

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group a lot of disney channel stuff aimed at teenage girls. the protagonists are bi&$hy and manipulative and use their looks to get what they want disguised as empowerment

Virtual_Smile , Cruella Report

Final score:

126points

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Fabian Meresse 3 years ago

Typically, Richie Rich. Would slap that kid, also uses money to get whatever he wants...including power on women. Really bad bad values there

20points

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On the other side of the world, the first Commissar for Education in the Soviet Union remembered Lenin saying "that of all the arts, the most important for us is the cinema." He recognized the capabilities of cinema as a thought-shaping tool in a country with a large percentage of illiterate people. The Commisar stressed the importance of showing films in remote villages where people hadn't seen any, thus propaganda there would be even more effective.

#18

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Passengers with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. It's okay to develop Stockholm syndrome and fall in love with the guy who basically ruined your life and manipulated you.

misslemon9 , Passenger Report

Final score:

123points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

It IS okay to develop Stockholm syndrome actually! It's not the victim's fault! What HE did was horrible let's judge him not her!

114points

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#19

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group My Best Friend's Wedding - Hey, I know a way to show my support for my best friend. Lets sabotage his wedding to a perfectly lovely girl.

AgreeableShirt1338 , My Best Friend's Wedding Report

Final score:

121points

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Franc Esca 3 years ago

It's a great movie and one of the only realistic ones. A woman realizes too late she lost her love and embarrassing hurts people acting like a complete suitcase trying to win him back. the only unrealistic part is when he forgives her.

42points

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#20

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Not a movie, but the kids' show "Caillou" is fucking terrible. It's made for kids at the age where they copy everything they see, and the main little fucker in the show crys and whines the whole time, so kids who watch it become insufferable.

Bad lesson for kids, good lesson for parents who will learn about "modeling."

Bananagrahama , Caillou Report

Final score:

120points

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Zophra 3 years ago

I agree. I hated this show for my kids.

26points

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What have you learned from movies? Have you learned the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking person? Threw a similar party to Project X? Became concerned about the fabric of reality and privacy after The Matrix and The Truman Show?

#21

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Shrek teaches it's okay to inflate innocent animals into balloons and let them float away to their probable death

RekNepZ , Shrek Report

Final score:

113points

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earringnut 3 years ago

Lol

77points

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#22

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Pretty mild example but Justice League.

The moral of the story is basically that a team is nothing without their strongest member. Basically it’s contradicting the moral of what teamwork even stands for in the first place.

hmansloth , Justice League Report

Final score:

104points

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iBlank 3 years ago

Superman is probably the biggest reason DC suffers in general... he's way too overpowered to be interesting or have any realistic reason to team up with anyone

41points

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#23

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Oft cited, but for good reason - Revenge of the Nerds. R@#ey stalkers are the heroes here.

Old_Year9015 , Revenge of the Nerds Report

Final score:

102points

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Enlee Jones 3 years ago

A year or two ago Cracked.com did an article about this movie and how problematic it is, especially the hero of the movie technically committing rape by deception. An alarming number of commenters saw nothing wrong with this and said they’d do the same thing if given the chance. o.0

31points

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#24

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Didn't want to let the kids see Jackass. Gave in. Ńext day, the very next day, they were sliding down a staircase in a laundry basket.

mediaman54 , Jackass 3D Report

Final score:

98points

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Fabian Meresse 3 years ago

''Don't try this at home'' And chill out, if you let your kids watch Jackass, maybe YOU are the nut one

49points

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#25

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Chicken Little oh my GOD that freaking chicken’s father did not give an f about his son until he was the big star of the town

itsskylerprobably , Chicken Little Report

Final score:

96points

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Brian bell 3 years ago

Hollywood seems to make most fathers into clueless a-holes. Most Dads I know try to do their best even when they are a little clueless. Another shitty movie for that was Inside Out. Made me not like the movie because of how they depict the douchy dad.

30points

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#26

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Not a movie, but Paw Patrol. All the adults are incompetent and require a kid with 5 dogs to deal with their every problem.

7c518c130a4c , Paw Patrol Report

Final score:

95points

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An Co 3 years ago

That is kind of a requirement for any tv show or movie where the kid is the star. Otherwise the first adult they meet should take over the plot and save them.

56points

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#27

Hocus Pocus, Max gets relentlessly harassed and bullied almost the entire movie for being a virgin

RetailDrone7576 Report

Final score:

95points

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glowworm2 3 years ago

I was actually quite surprised when rewatching this movie in college (hadn't seen it since I was a kid) and discovering that the "virgin" bit was so thoroughly emphasized. Especially because it's Max's little sister who keeps bringing it up. Someone who shouldn't even know what a virgin is to begin with at her age.

48points

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#28

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Any movie where a couch or car door is used as cover in a firefight.

That's concealment really...

A .22 will go through a car door or a couch.

A car isn't even cover like in Jon Wick or anything. Rifle rounds will zip right through unless it's a solid engine block hit.

Kunkyskunts , John Wick Report

Final score:

91points

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Dina Simoné 3 years ago

Good to know. I will use that knowledge in any upcoming firefight.

50points

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#29

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group Christmas with the Kranks teaches us that adults should not be allowed to spend Christmas however they like, and they must bow to peer pressure and do what other people want them to do.

QuietlySmirking , Christmas with the Kranks Report

Final score:

83points

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C. D. McCullum 3 years ago

Free Frosty!! Such crap, what if you don't celebrate, will your crazy neighbors harass you every December?!

15points

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#30

30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group The intern - teaches if your boyfriend cheats on you because he can't stand how successful you are, it's your fault and you should forgive him

misskitten1313 , The Intern Report

Final score:

83points

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Susie Elle 3 years ago

That's not the message I got from that movie at all. To me, it's when needs in a relationship aren't met for a prolonged period of time, or when people lose themselves in the flow of a relationship that they actually feel trapped in, people can make bad decisions, for which they ultimately can be forgiven for, if the appropriate effort is done. (emphasis on 'can' and not 'should')

61points

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Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

What do you think ?

Troux 3 years ago (edited)

The Little Mermaid: Want to win the man of your dreams? Be attractive, naked, and silent. Also, it's totally acceptable to completely and suddenly abandon your home, family and friends in pursuit of this one person.

37points

Zedrapazia 3 years ago

Don't forget to mention she's only seen said man once, has never actually spoken to him and doesn't know him at all.

19points

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Susan Trevaskis-Owen 3 years ago

Ursula was the one who pushed the "you'll have your looks/men don't like a lot of blather" agenda onto Ariel. Prior to that, Ariel very clearly states what she wants: to be where the people are & to see them dancing, to spend the day warm on the sand, to ask questions and get answers, to be understood & not reprimanded for being herself, to explore a world that she currently cannot be part of.

4points

Meami 3 years ago

The little mermaid drives me nuts.

0points

Shine Caramia 3 years ago

This movie is cited so often but I completely disagree. Ariel wanted to be human well before she knew anything about Prince Eric. She fled her home after her father destroyed her most precious belongings in a violent rage. She was willing to give up her voice but learned just how much she needed it. No, The Little Mermaid is full of great messages.

Daria B 3 years ago (edited)

I might get schooled and downvoted for this, but - no, I'm not going to defend any of these films, I dislike most of these tropes just as much as everyone else - I just think we should change our approach to how we see the entertainment industry. It's entertainment, not documentary. We shouldn't expect a work of fiction to teach us anything. If it does teach something good, besides being entertaining, that's wonderful, but not every film is there to teach anything. So many nice films have been ruined by this approach because people taught it "was teaching a bad lesson", while really, no, the film was just supposed to make you reflect upon what you just saw, possibly making you create your own new thoughts. And, before you school me on how sensitive is the youth, I was always taught that fiction is no reality and thus need not be emulated in real life. Heck, there are things that are funny BECAUSE you wouldn't do them in real life.

22points

So, yes, please, change the cliché tropes, but let's not get all self-righteous about it. End of my Ted Talk. *bows*

18points

pusheen buttercup 3 years ago

I think your side and the other side both have good points. :) We shouldn't view entertainment all the time as an "example of how the world is." However sometimes no matter how we try to prepare, things will rub off on us simply by hearing the same message over and over. I think the media is somewhat responsible for using certain tropes less. (You might feel the same?) For example, I know I do not need to look perfect. But even knowing this fact hasn't entirely protected me from the brain-washing. Despite all evidence and knowledge that I am ok, I still feel like I do not measure up to standards.

3points

Random Anon 3 years ago

Yup, I see movies as entertainment. Nothing more nothing less. If I want reality I watch the news. I don't even care if there is no lesson "learnt" as long as it's... entertaining. Now if someone gained any insight from a show that rocked their world, all the power to them. But personally I think it is a terrible idea to use movies as a source of inspiration in this matter.

Randolph Croft 3 years ago

Any movie where the protagonist is suddenly thrust into a new adventure and expects to become a super-pro in a stupidly short period of time. As opposed to taking years to learn the art/craft/skill needed to succeed.

14points

Jane Doe 3 years ago

Ha. South Park ep where Stan had to learn to ski to win a race against rich high school kids. Stan: dude, I’m 8, I’ve never been skiing before! Montage song about becoming an expert in ten minutes.

1point

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30 Movies That Teach Terrible Lessons, As Pointed Out By People In This Online Group

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