19 famous movie moments that aged poorly

Movies have always been a reflection of the society and culture of their time. However, as societal norms and values evolve, certain iconic movie moments that were once celebrated or overlooked can take on new, problematic meanings. These scenes, dialogues, or portrayals may become cringe-worthy or offensive when viewed through a modern lens. From controversial character portrayals to jokes that no longer land, these moments serve as a reminder of how far we've come as a society. Here's a list of 19 famous movie moments that aged poorly.

19) Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Saturday Night Fever is remembered for its iconic dance scenes and soundtrack. But the movie had several moments that wouldn't be acceptable today. One specific scene in the movie that has been heavily criticized involves Annette (Donna Pescow). After being rejected by Tony, Annette gets drunk and is later sexually assaulted by Tony's friends in the back seat of a car. This scene is deeply troubling because it is treated casually, and the gravity of the assault is not fully addressed within the film.

18) The Conqueror (1956)

The Conqueror had many issues that would not be accepted today. For example, John Wayne, known for his American Western roles, was cast as Genghis Khan, a Mongolian leader. This choice was criticized for being culturally insensitive and not authentic. Furthermore, the film used white actors in makeup to portray Mongolian characters, which is offensive and inappropriate by today's standards.

17) Revenge Of The Nerds (1984)

Revenge Of The Nerds is considered a classic comedy but it still had several moments that should be considered criminally offensive. For example, the nerds secretly installed cameras in the women's sorority house and recorded them without their consent. This is a serious invasion of privacy and would be considered illegal today.

16) The Breakfast Club (1985)

Apart from following the high-school stereotypes of the 70s-80s, The Breakfast Club had several other moments that did not age well. For example, at the end of the movie, Claire gives Allison a makeover, transforming her into someone who fits more conventional standards of beauty. This can be seen as problematic because it suggests that Allison needs to change her appearance to be accepted and valued by others, reinforcing societal pressure.

15) The Nutty Professor (1996)

The humor of this beloved 90s comedy starring Eddie Murphy did not age well. Its humor often revolved around the protagonist, Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy), being overweight. While Murphy's performance is widely praised, some of the jokes can be seen as fat-shaming, making light of serious issues related to body image and self-esteem

14) Aloha (2015)

Aloha, starring Emma Stone, Bradley Cooper, and Rachel McAdams, faced significant criticism for several reasons. One of them is the portrayal of a character of Asian and Hawaiian descent by Emma Stone, which upset many people because the role should have gone to an actor with that background. This is a classic example of whitewashing in Hollywood.

13) Sixteen Candles (1984)

Sixteen Candles is a classic teen comedy, but it has several problematic moments that have been widely criticized. The character Long Duk Dong, a foreign exchange student, is portrayed using a variety of Asian stereotypes. His character is often played for laughs in ways that are offensive and perpetuate negative stereotypes about Asian people.

12) Gone with the Wind (1939)

Gone with the Wind might be a classic film, but it has several elements that have been criticized over the years. For example, the film's portrayal of African American characters, particularly the loyal slaves, is seen as highly stereotypical and offensive. Characters like Mammy and Prissy are depicted in ways that reinforce negative stereotypes of Black people, presenting them as subservient and content with their position.

11) There's Something About Mary (1998)

There's Something About Mary, while a popular comedy, has several moments that have been criticized for various reasons. The film features several jokes at the expense of people with disabilities. For example, the character Warren, who has a mental disability, is often the subject of crude and insensitive humor.

10) Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast is a classic tale, but it has several elements that have sparked debate and criticism. Some critics have argued that the relationship between Belle and the Beast resembles Stockholm Syndrome, where a hostage develops feelings for their captor. Belle is initially imprisoned by the Beast and, over time, starts to develop a romantic relationship with him, which can be seen as problematic.

9) Never Been Kissed (1999)

This beloved rom-com of the 90s had a few problematic moments of its own that drew criticism. By framing the relationship between a teacher and a supposed student as a sweet love story, the film can be seen as normalizing and trivializing inappropriate and potentially harmful relationships.

8) Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

Just like the first movie, Horrible Bosses 2 has its own fair share of problematic moments. The comedy did not shy away from touching sensitive topics like gender stereotypes, racism, and homophobia in the name of humor. There are scenes where characters use racial stereotypes to disguise themselves. This type of humor is often seen as insensitive and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

7) Grease (1978)

Grease is considered as one of the most beloved classic musicals. But it isn't without any problematic moments. The film reinforces traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Danny Zuko, played by John Travolta, is portrayed as the cool guy who must maintain his tough image. In contrast, Sandy Olsson (played by Olivia Newton-John) changes her appearance and behavior to be accepted by Danny and his friends. This sends a message that one must change who they are to fit in or be loved.

6) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

This Harrison Ford film, otherwise considered an iconic adventure film, had its own questionable moments. The movie was heavily criticized for the depiction of Indian Culture. It portrayed the Indian characters as either villains or helpless victims. Furthermore, they also showed inaccurate customs related to Hinduism, which many Hindus found offensive. The infamous banquet scene where characters are served dishes like monkey brains and snake surprise has been criticized for perpetuating exotic and grotesque stereotypes about Indian cuisine.

5) Star Wars Episode I- The Phantom Menace (1999)

This fan-favorite movie franchise had to remove one of the characters because of criticism. The character of Jar Jar Binks was introduced in the movie Star Wars Episode I- The Phantom Menace for comic relief. However, viewers of the movie noticed that the character's physical appearance and speech patterns were based on the racial stereotypes of the African-American people. Because of the backlash, the franchise had to scrap the character of Jar Jar Binks.

4) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

Remembered for its slap-stick memory and Jim Carrey's performance, multiple moments in the film can be found to be problematic today. Apart from the blatant misogyny and insensitive jokes, the transphobia in the film is troublesome. When it is revealed that the character of Lois Einhorn is transgender, the movie does not shy away from using this as a punchline. There's even a scene where Jim Carrey's character expresses disgust after learning about her gender. These depictions in popular movies can be harmful to the already stereotyped trans community.

3) Love Actually (2003)

This British Romantic Comedy movie has its own problematic moments. Although it's a Christmas comfort film for many, it still has questionable moments. Apart from casually body-shaming one of the characters, another iconic scene needs to be addressed for its creepy elements. The said scene is where Andrew Lincoln's character Mark confesses his love for his best friend Peter's (Chiwetel Ejiofor) wife Juliet, played by Keira Knightley, with the help of placards, is wrong on so many levels.

2) The Notebook (2004)

Ryan Gosling may have won many hearts for his portrayal of the character Noah Calhoun in the 2004 movie The Notebook. Based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks, it couldn't manage to survive the test of time as there are moments in the movie that did not age well. For example, the scene where Noah dangles himself on the Ferris wheel while threatening Allie (played by Rachel McAdams) to say yes to his proposal or else he will jump is problematic.

1) The Lion King (1994)

This 1994 movie helped Sir Elton John and Hans Zimmer win Oscars and was a commercial hit. But what sparked controversy was the Hyenas- Shenzi and Banzai's accents. Actors Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Martin voiced these characters as villainous outcasts. This reinforces negative stereotypes against the African American community. The use of certain accents for the bad characters promotes harmful associations and biases, suggesting that people who share similar accents are untrustworthy or dangerous by nature.