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“Everyone Just Laughed It Off”: 26 Movie Scenes That Definitely Didn’t Age Well
When we watch films, we know that we’re not seeing real life. We can suspend our disbelief to accept that bullet holes won't zoom through car doors and humans can simply brush off brutal injuries and continue along with their days. But just because movies aren’t real life doesn’t mean they should be riddled with problematic content…
Cinephiles on Reddit have been discussing some of the most famous films and scenes from years ago that definitely wouldn’t be well received today. From casual examples of racism and misogyny to consent being completely ignored, we’ve gathered some of the most blatantly problematic examples below. So enjoy reading through and being reminded of which movies you don't need to rewatch, and be sure to upvote the films that aged like milk!
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#1
Grease. That scene where Danny is pressuring Sandy in the car. And just his entire behaviour towards her. Ew.
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#2
The way Natalie is constantly body-shamed in Love Actually.
#3
American Beauty. Something about Kevin Spacey trying to have sex with an underage kid makes it tough to watch now.
#4
Jim shares nude video of Nadia on the internet in American Pie. Everyone just laughed it off.
#5
Sixteen Candles. A lot of racism, casually addressing sexual assault, and later an actual date [sex crime].
u/thesecondaqaurius:
16 Candles, the scene where he hands his drunk girlfriend to the geeky freshman and tells him to do whatever he wants... hella problematic.
#6
Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Awful yellow face by Mickey Rooney.
The pigeon 9 months ago
This is one of my favourite films, but his scenes always ruin it for me. Like why did they do this??
#7
When Vince Vaughn is forced to have sex with Gloria in Wedding Crashers.
Dread Pirate Roberts 9 months ago
Just cuz it's a man getting raped instead of a woman doesn't make it funny.
#8
We saw Holiday Inn on Prime and said "It'll be a nice Bing Crosby movie with some Christmas songs," turned it on, and suddenly the cast is there in black face singing some of the most racist s**t I've ever heard.
#9
Blank Check. An adult woman kisses the little boy on the lips for waaaay longer than I'm comfortable with. Imagine if the genders were reversed.
Giraffy Window 9 months ago (edited)
Why would reversing the genders be worse? It's completely disgusting no matter what adult is making out with what child.
#10
Just saw this last night with the ladies in my family... Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Those ginger fellas literally went one by one and abducted the hottest chicks from some town then held them hostage for months until through Stockholm Syndrome the women all fell for them.
#11
Revenge of the Nerds.
Even if you chalk up the spy cams to be "80s College Comedy Hi-jinx" the scene where Lewis has sex with Betty because she thinks he's Stan definitely isn't cool today.
Enlee Jones 9 months ago
There’s a name for that, it’s called “R@pe by Deception”. Not to mention the sceneswhere those gosh-darn wacky nerds put hidden cameras in the girls’ house and watch them naked (oh, and one of the nerds is 12 years old), or put the nude pictures of Betty at the bottom of the pie. Comedy!
#12
That scene in the first Rocky movie where he seduces Adrian by coercing her into his apartment after she's said no, physically blocking the exit when she tries to leave, taking his clothes off without any encouragement, and then kissing her without any consent as she clearly tries to resist.
#13
White Chicks.
Try making a movie with that premise with those kind of jokes today.
#14
A whole segment in Peter Pan with a bunch of Native American people singing a song called 'What Makes the Red Man Red?'
Michael Largey 9 months ago
I saw it when I was a kid in the 1950s. I knew nothing about stereotypes, but - even though this was my favorite movie - something inside me said the equivalent of "Really?" I suspect that what my parents had told me about prejudice against black skins told me it applied to red ones too.
#15
James Bond [commits serious sex crime] on P. Galore in Goldfinger.
Dread Pirate Roberts 9 months ago (edited)
Ngl, there were times in those early Bond movies when I almost wanted the bad guy to win lol
#16
Never Been Kissed. The teacher becomes interested in Drew Barrymore’s character. She’s an adult but “plays” a high school student.
#17
Soul Man (1986) C. Thomas Howell in blackface to get a college scholarship.
#18
Blade Runner. Hold on, don't get furious yet. The film still is 95% brilliance; the soundtrack, the directing, the acting. But there's that scene where Rachael is trying to leave Rick's home after discovering her life is a lie, Rick refuses to let her leave, holding the door shut and physically handling her until he pins her to a wall and kisses her "passionately". I think it's meant to be taken as "a man taking charge" in the way the 80's loved that, but it comes across as super, super ra**y now. TL:DR Rick Deckard sexually assaults a woman during a severe mental breakdown.
Katie Lutesinger 9 months ago
My ex tried that one on thinking it was sexy. It went over about as well as you would expect.
#19
Tiptoes. For a movie made in 2003, it’s surprisingly offensive toward little people. Having to watch Gary Oldman waddle around on his knees with a fake hump on his shoulder (which is essentially a wadded up T-shirt shoved under the one he’s already wearing) is just too much.
#20
Mrs Doubtfire. Today, Daniel Hillard would never see the world as a free man again.
Katie Lutesinger 9 months ago
Did you know it was actually based on a book? I didn't. It's called Madame Doubtfire and the plot is pretty much the same. I don't remember if it's the same in the movie because I haven't seen the thing in about 25 years, but at the end Daniel gets busted and realises what a selfish a*****e he's been and that he needs to change his ways and stop being unfair to his ex by ignoring her valid criticisms of what an irresponsible slob he is.
#21
TEACHERS with Nick Nolte. Warm fuzzy teacher helps a student get an abortion. She is knocked up by his buddy, the gym teacher, and they all want to keep it quiet. This was just a side story to show how much this teacher cared about his students...so gross....
#22
Animal House, with its [sex crime]-contemplation scene.
Patrick Linnen 9 months ago
The scene where he decides not to and his shoulder devil calls him a f@***t?
#23
National Lampoon's Vacation. If an IRL Clark W. Griswold really did the things in the movie he'd be branded a domestic terrorist, not including the stealing from a hotel and k*****g a dog.
#24
The first Ace Ventura. Its still funny, but there is not way in hell they'd be able to make it now.
#25
Dirty Dancing... P**ophilia isn't as accepted now as it was in the 80s.
Mimi La Souris 9 months ago
We didn’t see the same movie then, because she’s making the decision, not him. she makes it clear that she wants to be with him as he pushes her away
What do you think ?
Aiden Brough 9 months ago
I would argue 'context' for a lot of these as I do whenever I hear the screeches of 'WHY IS HISTORY BAAAD'. But to be honest, most of these films were pretty awful even when they were released...
Sans Serif 9 months ago
I had forgotten about that when I thoughtlessly sat down with my kids to watch it...
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MagicJacket 9 months ago
I hate articles like this so much. Yeah. Things were different back then. PEOPLE were different. Some things are questionable, and some are just way over the line, but as a society we have progressed to where these things bother us now. That is a good thing. We don't have to let these things ruin entertainment where you feel guilty even watching it. Just accept them as products of their era and find the laughs or drama they provide. Watching a 40 year old movie through today's societal lens is silly.
Bina Wei 9 months ago
I don't think it's silly. It's how people can improve and learn. Some like to dissect films and some like to just watch. Personally I'm more the latter, I like escapism fiction but sometimes the former is fun to see others discussing.
Load More Replies... Aiden Brough 9 months ago
I would argue 'context' for a lot of these as I do whenever I hear the screeches of 'WHY IS HISTORY BAAAD'. But to be honest, most of these films were pretty awful even when they were released...
Sans Serif 9 months ago
I had forgotten about that when I thoughtlessly sat down with my kids to watch it...
Load More Replies... MagicJacket 9 months ago
I hate articles like this so much. Yeah. Things were different back then. PEOPLE were different. Some things are questionable, and some are just way over the line, but as a society we have progressed to where these things bother us now. That is a good thing. We don't have to let these things ruin entertainment where you feel guilty even watching it. Just accept them as products of their era and find the laughs or drama they provide. Watching a 40 year old movie through today's societal lens is silly.
Bina Wei 9 months ago
I don't think it's silly. It's how people can improve and learn. Some like to dissect films and some like to just watch. Personally I'm more the latter, I like escapism fiction but sometimes the former is fun to see others discussing.
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