Hollywood has long been exalted as glamorous, but in recent years the dark side of the business has come to light. The smiling faces and dazzling lights seen on-screen were facades, not just because they were injected into fictional stories, but because many actors have opened up to reveal the awful truth of what occurred behind the scenes. This is why the Hollywood of today looks different, with intimacy coordinators advocating for actors during scenes that in previous years led to abuse.
With the changes implemented on movie sets, many of the films that were released in previous decades wouldn’t make it to the silver screen today. In some films, it’s the subject matter that would be halted well before production. In others, the well-being of the actors would take precedence. Finally, in other cases, a director would know that a film just wouldn’t be well-received by modern audiences, which are significantly more progressive than they’ve ever been. (Don’t forget to also check out Old TV Shows That Would Never Be Made Today.)
“Carousel” (1956)
- Directed By: Henry King
This musical is highly regarded but would not be made in modern times. It centers around Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan who fall madly in love. Bigelow is an abusive man who hits Jordan. Jordan, instead of recoiling, accepts the abuse, even saying, “It is possible that someone may beat you and beat you and not hurt you at all.” The complexity of domestic violence cases isn’t aided by romanticizing abuse. In modern times, abuse is called out for what it is and women are encouraged to seek help as they work on extricating themselves (and their children) from dangerous environments and dizzying delusions.
“The Breakfast Club”(1985)
- Directed By: John Hughes
In the 1980s, this film represented the youth. In modern times, the youth would be appalled by the language, gestures, and belief systems of the characters. It follows five teenagers who learn they have more in common than they thought when they’re stuck in weekend detention. The cliques are clear, each character epitomizing a stereotype. The film touches on important issues, including parental neglect and suicidal thoughts. But it’s also littered with sexist jokes and bullying/harassment, which wasn’t considered inappropriate at the time. Instead, it’s glossed over because it’s part of the norm for the decade and today, those norms are no longer.
“Irreversible” (2002)
- Directed By: Gaspar Noé
The appeal of this film is how it is told, in reverse chronological order, unveiling the events of a single night full of tragedy. The main character, played by actress Monica Bellucci, is violently raped in an underground pass. The scene is shocking and disturbing, lasting a total of nine minutes. The shot is unbroken and the sadism and gore (including in other scenes) would never make the cut in a film today.
“Airplane!” (1980)
- Directed By: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
This comedy movie is about an ex-fighter pilot, a crew with food poisoning and passengers who are trying to get back on land safely. Modern sensibilities would prevent much of the dialogue in this film from making it out of the writer’s room. Additionally, the treatment of animals would come into question, and props or CGI would be used instead. Children in the film deliver lines on sexual topics and there’s appalling violence when a male passenger attacks a woman. Though meant to be a comedic parody, the scenes and language would shock audiences in modern times.
“Tropic Thunder” (2008)
- Directed By: Ben Stiller
This film included some big names in Hollywood like Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. Although it was full of mockery and satire aimed at Hollywood, there were parts of it that missed the mark. Surprisingly, the blackface character portrayed by Downey Jr. didn’t cause too much controversy at the time (it would likely cause an upheaval today). There were other elements in the film that wouldn’t be included in modern times as well, like derogatory slurs or how a disabled character is portrayed.
“Revenge of the Nerds” (1984)
- Directed By: Jeff Kanew
This film follows a crew of outcasts who have been dealing with bullies. The premise sounds empowering for a group of misfits, but there are some problematic aspects of the film that would prevent it from making it onto the big screen now. For example, it incorporates revenge porn, non-consensual sex, homophobia, and racism — all wrapped up in a film that is meant to celebrate the underdogs. With a modern lens, it’s easy to spot all the moments that tell of a society far removed from the one we’re living in today.
“Sixteen Candles” (1984)
- Directed By: John Hughes
Like other films by the same director during the 80s, there are some themes in this teen film that wouldn’t be accepted today. The movie is about a teenager’s sixteenth birthday — except instead of a celebratory affair, she experiences an awful day. You hear several racial and homophobic slurs throughout the film and there’s harassment of women, with one character, Ted Hall, implying that he sexually assaulted someone who was passed out (after teen drinking). Crudeness is congratulated in the film, which is not how it would be treated today.
“Soul Man” (1986)
- Directed By: Steve Miner
Whereas other films on this list have a plot that sounds innocent enough, with this movie, the plot is already an issue. It’s meant to be a comedy/romance and follows a privileged teen who pretends to be a black man so he can reap the benefits of a scholarship and attend his dream school, Harvard. The white actor was plastered with dark makeup so he could impersonate a person of another race. This was a decade when societal norms would raise an eyebrow from a modern lens. Still, eyebrows raised at the time, and this film was widely criticized after its release.
“Léon: The Professional” (1994)
- Directed By: Luc Besson
Natalie Portman, who starred in the film, has commented about how she was sexualized as a young actress. When she was cast, she was only 11 years old. The film centers around the unusual relationship her character has with Léon, a trained assassin. She clings to him after her family is murdered and he takes her in, eventually teaching her what he knows. However, you can’t help but notice the sexualization of Portman’s character as she’s costumed in adult female garb, including outfits mirroring those worn by Madonna and Marilyn Monroe.
“Heathers” (1989)
- Directed By: Michael Lehmann
This film is full of stereotypes, with a clear line of division between the popular girls and jocks and the rest of the students. It trivializes serious topics, including murder and suicide. There’s bullying throughout the film, which culminates in a violent way. The dialogue takes you by surprise as well, with some characters verbalizing brutal scenes. Somehow, it’s all depicted as casual, which wouldn’t fly on screen today.
“Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993)
- Directed By: Chris Columbus
It’s a classic film that the late Robin Williams starred in alongside Sally Field. Families watched it and laughed, but when you look at it from today’s perspective, you can see there are some problems with the film. There is stalking, the breaking of a court order and manipulation, which are now understood and regarded as serious improprieties. In the film, however, you’re led to root for the father of the family who behaves wildly and is completely out of line.
“Blazing Saddles” (1974)
- Directed By: Mel Brooks
It’s a film that audiences almost missed as it was almost unreleased. Though there are those who defend it and still laugh at the off-color jokes, it doesn’t take long in the movie before you stiffen uncomfortably at the dialogue. First, you hear an Asian slur and shortly after, the first n-word uttered by a white man. Then there’s another slur, except this time it’s aimed at gay people.
“Mean Girls” (2004)
- Directed By: Mark Waters
This movie depicts life in high school for the new girl at school, Cady Heron. She’s quickly swept up by The Plastics, the popular girls at the school. The teen film was classified as a comedy, but a closer look reveals some serious issues played off as funny. For example, Coach Carr is a sexual predator. The movie touches on but doesn’t address eating disorders and classifies students into cliques while using slurs and offensive language.
“The Kentucky Fried Movie” (1977)
- Directed By: John Landis
This film reflects the decade in which it was filmed, which is a far cry from the perspectives of today’s culture. It’s a movie full of parody skits that are purposely irreverent. It certainly garnered laughs at the time with its silly aspects, but it’s also full of profanity, sexual topics and violence. It’s a shocking film with no real storyline and those with delicate sensibilities would not appreciate sitting through it today.
“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” (1994)
- Directed By: Tom Shadyac
Like the other films in this list, what was once considered funny is now noted as incredibly offensive. The movie incorporates homophobic and transphobic moments and ableist comments. At the time, these issues were overlooked but a movie today would cater to a more progressive audience.
“Gone With the Wind” (1939)
- Directed By: Victor Fleming
If a movie is made today about the topic of slavery, there is going to be a lot of thought that goes into it. With this film, the thoughts didn’t include modern-day conscientiousness and instead romanticized the inhumane savagery of slavery. This whitewashed perspective of a horrible time wouldn’t make it on screen.
“White Chicks” (2004)
- Directed By: Keenen Ivory Wayans
If you ask Marlon Wayans, who starred in the film, he calls it a “buddy cop comedy.” However, some of the themes in the movie have raised eyebrows (like the use of white face makeup to change the race of two African-American actors). Many call it racist, while some consider it satire. Either way, if Hollywood wants a blockbuster this year, they won’t remake this film.
“Bright Eyes” (1934)
- Directed By: David Butler
In this film, five-year-old actress, Shirley Temple, is adopted by a rich and arrogant family. There are many scenes in the film where she’s surrounded by adult men as she performs for them. Considering everything we’ve learned about Hollywood, this film would not be made today.
“Angel” (1984)
- Directed By: Robert Vincent O’Neil
This film is about a 15-year-old high school student who moonlights as a prostitute. That alone lets you know why it wouldn’t be made today.
“Requiem for a Dream” (2000)
- Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
This film is about the lives of four heavily drug-addicted people from Coney Island. It’s a graphic movie with scenes that depict non-consensual sex as well as coercion. It’s certainly a warning that trying a little bit of any addictive substance can turn your life upside down but it’s hard to watch, especially when viewed through today’s cultural lens. (To jump into a different genre of film, explore Old Horror Movies That Are Still Terrifying Today.)