Beloved Comedies of the Past That Would Be Controversial Today

Movies of yesteryear had a different standard than movies of today. What once was considered acceptable is deemed inappropriate; jokes that were the norm are now socially insensitive. Comedies of the past often relied on outdated and racially insensitive stereotypes that generations of modern times have no tolerance for, and rightfully so. This has led to a shift in recent years in how many funny films get their laughs and it is a marked shift from beloved comedies of the past that would be controversial today.

There can be a fine line between what is offensive and what is funny. The standards of entertainment have shifted. Writers and directors have to be careful when creating dialogue between characters. Every detail, from wardrobe to mannerisms, must be painstakingly attended to, or it risks being canceled by the new generation of filmgoers. Beloved comedies of the past that would be controversial today.

To compile this list of comedies that would never be made today, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment-related sources. These include ScreenRant, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes. (For more movie content, click here to read about the best college movies ever made.)

• IMDb rating: 5.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

Few comedies have made audiences bend over laughing like "White Chicks." The film follows two detectives who are tasked with keeping a pair of sisters safe. To complete the mission, the detectives decide to hide the girls in an apartment. They did so against the girls' will. To keep appearances up, the two men, who are African-American, dress up as the two white girls. They act in the most stereotypical fashion they can.

There's one scene in particular that would have the newer generations up in arms if it were released today. The two detectives are driving on the road with the girls' friends. During the journey, a hip-hop song comes on the radio. Rather than jump over the derogatory words in the song, the group continues singing and belts out the derogatory lyrics. While this was found funny when the movie was released, there's virtually no way they'd get away with this in 2024.

• IMDb rating: 7.0/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 61%

Teenagers will likely always make mistakes and do dumb things while they're getting used to their new hormones. The movie "American Pie" perfectly captures all of the crazy antics young people get into while finding themselves. While it's become an iconic movie for some people, it likely wouldn't fly in 2024. One of the most memorable scenes in movie history is when Jim sees a pie and uses it to pleasure himself. Many found this scene hilarious, but people today would defend him for being curious.

Other parts of the movie unequivocally wouldn't fly today. Jim finds himself filming Nadia changing clothes without her consent. The mere idea of something like that taking place in a movie today is almost laughable. Folks wouldn't appreciate how unserious the issue is taken in the movie.

• IMDb rating: 7.1/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

Imagine filming a movie where a vicious war is taking place. Then, with no training whatsoever, you're hoisted into the battle itself. That's just what took place in the 2008 blockbuster "Tropic Thunder." A group of Hollywood actors decide to film their latest and greatest hit in Asia. However, a massive war is taking place where they film. That's not why people today would cancel the film, though.

Robert Downey Jr. is a beloved actor in Hollywood but in "Tropic Thunder," he uses blackface for part of his character. He plays an Australian who had pigmentation-altering surgery to alter his skin for his character's portrayal of another character, Staff Sergeant Lincoln Osiris. There's no reason something like that would be okay by 2024 standards.

• IMDb rating: 5.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 3%

African Americans have worked long and hard to establish themselves as worthy members of society. Films should be celebrating their accomplishments with characters of substance, not make them out to be less than human. That's exactly the opposite of what happened in the 1980s comedy "The Toy."

Richard Pryor stars as Jack Brown, an African-American man who's purchased by a wealthy white man to be a toy for his son. Brown must obey everything the child demands of him for the week he's owned. The idea of a wealthy white man literally purchasing an African American for his son to play with wouldn't even come close to being okay in 2024. Theater seats would be empty with folks protesting its release.

• IMDb rating: 7.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Young millennials grew up watching Jonah Hill take the big screen. One of his first major hits was playing Seth in "Superbad." It's a film about a group of friends who are graduating from high school. They want to lose their virginity before heading to college. To do so, they attend a party and bring alcohol for everyone to drink.

The amount of teenage drinking and various sexual endeavors make the movie impossible to pass in 2024. Seth attempts to kiss his friend, Jules, while he's intoxicated. While she pushes him off her, the idea of a man being drunk and approaching a woman in a comedic sense wouldn't work in this day in age. Another scene that wouldn't fly is when Seth is dancing with a girl who gets her cycle. Films wouldn't get away with joking about a woman having her cycle at any point.

• IMDb rating: 6.9/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%

Most people love animals. In fact, some claim to love animals more than people. In "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," a detective from Miami is tasked with locating the Miami Dolphins mascot. He must search through thick and thin to locate the beloved creature before it's too late. Along the way, Ventura comes across various people. There are some Ventura becomes more affectionate with than others.

One of the people Ventura gets handsy with is Detective Lois Einhorn. The detective is actually Ray Finkle, a character who commits murder. Ventura and Einhorn share a kiss at one point during the movie. When it's revealed that Einhorn is actually Finkle, Ventura is filled with disgust that he kissed a "man". Ventura then makes Einhorn get naked to prove whether or not he's a man. In 2024, the idea of someone being so disgusted by kissing the same gender wouldn't fly one bit.

• IMDb rating: 7.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Plenty of high school kids feel like they don't fit in among their peers. They try everything they can, yet, for whatever reason, they don't click. Some act as though it's not a big issue to be considered an outsider. Others think it's their classmates' fault for not fitting in. They decide it's time to take out their frustrations on their peers. "Heathers" is a comedy about a teenager who's plotting to shoot up the school they attend.

Even in the 1980s, the movie made some audience members feel uneasy. That was before school shootings became a common occurrence. Given the shaky plot, it's impressive that the writers made this film into a successful comedy. In 2024, society would be in an uproar it a writer and producer decided to find humor in school shootings. Far too many folks have lost loved ones because of senseless acts of violence.

• IMDb rating: 6.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%

In the 1980s, being a stay-at-home dad was nearly unheard of. Men were supposed to be the breadwinners and provide for their families. More often than not, moms stayed at home. They took care of the house and their kids. Some mothers had jobs and brought home extra money for their families. The men staying at home was so unheard of, that the idea became a comedy movie.

"Mr. Mom" follows a stay-at-home dad who takes care of the home while his wife brings home the bacon.In 2024, more women are passing up men on the earnings scale. Women are becoming more educated and self-sufficient than ever before. Some men are opting to be stay-at-home dads while their wives make the money. No movie would make fun of a man for staying at home. Women out-earning men isn't a joke anymore.

American actress Sandra Bullock attends the 1995 MTV Movie Awards, held at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California, 10th June 1995. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

• IMDb rating: 6.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%

Women were once supposed to be soft, docile, and agreeable. That's exactly the opposite of what happens in "Miss Congeniality." Gracie Hart works in the FBI where she took on any mission that's given to her. The newest one is stopping a bomb threat that's made to a beauty pageant in Texas. To get as close as she can to the action, she enters the pageant as a contestant herself. Her partner, Eric Matthews, took credit for all of the good ideas Hart came up with.

After finding out who the perpetrator of the bomb threat was, Hart took matters into her own hands. She successfully saves everyone at the pageant. Writers would be challenged to come up with a script that makes a man take credit for all the work a woman does. They also would find it difficult to make jokes out of a woman being a tomboy. There are plenty of women in 2024 who align themselves with what is typically reserved for men.

• IMDb rating: 6.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

There's always going to be a healthy battle between nerds and jocks. The movie "Revenge of the Nerds" took audience members into the desires of nerds. They wanted to even the playing field with the jocks while growing up. However, not every scene is suitable for 2024.One clip shows a nerd dressed as a popular girl's boyfriend to sleep with her.

The lack of consent and secretly going behind someone's back would seemingly force millennials and Gen-Zers to boycott the movie. Any movie that lacks consent is going to likely struggle in the current social climate.

• IMDb rating: 7.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

"Blazing Saddles" was transformative at the time it was released. The western flick revolved around the first African American sheriff in an 1800s town. At first, the people didn't think Bart was up for the challenge and change of pace of life. However, he proved himself to be a quality sheriff and protected the citizens from vicious thugs. While the movie is considered one of the most important in history, it wouldn't fly by today's standards.

There are numerous racial slurs uttered during the film. A sexual assault took place at one point. The scene is seemingly glossed over and not taken seriously whatsoever. In 2024, people would be furious at the use of the slurs and lack of interest in the assault. During the 70s, the film was considered progressive. Today? Not so much.

• IMDb rating: 7.0/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

Mostly everyone grows up and dreams of what their 16th birthday will be like. There's a new level of independence that comes from hitting the benchmark year, an age when most teens can legally get jobs, drive cars, and take on many other adult responsibilities. "Sixteen Candles" follows a young woman preparing to turn just that – 16.

She has to decide whether she wants to pursue her crush on the most popular guy in high school while at the same time fending off the attention of the geekiest kid in school. The movie has many stereotypes in various parts during the film. It's normal to see Asian stereotypes burst through in this movie. Society in 2024 can't stand when stereotypes are purposefully shown and pushed.

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