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27 Iconic Movies That Have Kinda Passed Their Shelf Life

I'm shocked some of these movies were even made.

Ajani Bazile-Dutes
by Ajani Bazile-Dutes

BuzzFeed Staff

We've asked the members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us what older, popular movies are actually very problematic. Here are their most eye-opening responses:

Note: Some submissions include topics of sexual assault.

1. Sixteen Candles (1984)

Jake talking about how he could take advantage of his drunk, passed out girlfriend and Long Duk Dong saying "No more yanky my wanky" while drunk on a lawn
Universal Pictures

"It has aged terribly. The dream boy, Jake Ryan, talks about the ways he can take advantage of his girlfriend. Also, Ted repeatedly climbs on top of Samantha despite her protests and it’s depicted as funny and innocent because he’s a little nerd. There's also the racism, sexism, and LGBTQ slurs that riddle the rest of the film."

—maryrwight


"Long Duk Dong is an incredibly racist caricature that seemed to add nothing to the film apart from making a cheap and unfunny joke about Asian stereotypes. Then there was obviously the part where it's alluded to that Ted had raped an intoxicated Caroline. How this film became a cult classic is beyond me. It's not a product of its time — it's lazy and irresponsible writing."

—rachaelehayes93

2. She's All That (1999)

Laney's before and after her makeover and then kissing Zack at the end of the film
Miramax Films

"I used to love the movie when I was in middle school, but it's super degrading and sexist toward women. The whole makeover trope is so played out and misogynistic. It basically told young girls that they need to change everything about themselves in order to land a man. There's also a scene where a man tries to assault a woman and it's played off like a joke. I haven't been able to watch it again since I was in college."

—egc26

3. Never Been Kissed (1999)

Sam telling Josie that when she's his age, guys will line up for her
20th Century Fox

"Sam had a thing for Josie even though he was her fucking teacher! Even though she was an adult pretending to be a student, he didn't know she wasn't underage! It's disgusting and rivals even Ezra and Aria from Pretty Little Liars!"

—tigresssss13

4. Superbad (2007)

Seth making obscene, sexual gestures about Jules when she isn't looking
Sony Pictures Releasing

"Did I cry-laugh when it came out? Yes. Did I quote it to death in high school? Yes. Did I rewatch it recently and spend most of the time with my hand over my mouth in horror at how much the world has changed? BIG YES. So many things wrong with that film and its 'humor.'"

—Turnip Cake Dreams

5. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

Larry telling Chuck they need to make their trash gayer and Chuck suggesting they throw Larry's son in the garbage
Universal Pictures

"I couldn’t get through it."

—mj2005

6. Shallow Hal (2001)

Mauricio seeing Rosemary for the first time and referring to her as a rhino
20th Century Fox

"It came out in 2001 and I watched it recently, and the first thought that came to mind was, 'This did not age well.'”

—ARenee123

7. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Bender asking Claire graphic details about her sex life while she's in shock and them kissing at the end of the movie
Universal Pictures

"I totally get that it’s nostalgic to so many '80s kids, but I didn’t see it until I was an adult and was honestly kind of horrified. Bender straight-up sexually harasses Claire — verbally and physically — and the movie treats this as just a bump in the road towards some sort of catharsis."

—justheretosay

8. Pretty Woman (1990)

Edward and Vivian
Buena Vista Pictures

"Edward hires a sex worker then just changes her into a housewife. It’s just weird to me."

—alanamapp

"This movie does not come close to representing the reality of the sex work industry. In fact, much was taken out of the script that would have come way closer to being an accurate representation."

—phoeberoseturner

9. Rush Hour (1998)

Carter telling his boss that he is going to drop Lee off at Panda Express
New Line Cinema

"Carter made so many racist remarks toward Lee throughout the films."

—katchichlp

10. Cruel Intentions (1999)

Kathryn telling Sebastian that she'll sleep with him if he wins the bet
Columbia Pictures

"It was just so creepy to watch a stepbrother and stepsister betting on if he could get the new girl to give him her virginity and if he won, his stepsister would let him sleep with her."

—kiarac2909

11. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Anastasia saying she wants to leave and Christian saying her body tells him something else
Universal Pictures

"That movie and all its sequels are super toxic portrayals of a BDSM relationship. Not only does it make people who practice BDSM look like complete freaks, but it also made it seem OK to ignore safe words."

—canunotmywaywardson

12. Sex and the City 2 (2010)

Charlotte asking Carried what the currency is in Abu Dhabi and Cari joking that it's loose rubies
HBO

"It was majorly problematic from the start. I don’t understand how it ever got made."

—crazykitteh

13. Groundhog Day (1993)

Phil grabbing a woman, kissing her, and leaving her shocked
Columbia Pictures

"It used to be funny, but then I watched it again recently and realized it was just Phil Connors sexually harassing women because he could get away with it. He was portrayed as lovable and got the happy ending despite the constant groping and manipulation of Rita Hanson. This film would never get made today."

—louisegoulder

14. The Hangover (2009)

Alan telling Mr. Chow that he's on his side because he hates Godszilla too
Warner Bros. Pictures

"Racist, sexist, homophobic, and on and on."

—maggiem45481cd39

15. Big Daddy (1999)

Sonny judging his roommate's fiancé for working at Hooters in the past
Sony Pictures Releasing

"It was my favorite Adam Sandler movie, but looking back, it was all awful. They all hung out at Hooters but judged the women who worked there, stereotyped the homeless as people who made bad choices, made fun of people with disabilities, and all the women were one-dimensional."

—Rachel501

16. Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan wearing a War Bonnet and dancing with Native Americans who are depicted with red complexions
Disney

"That scene around the campfire where they're all singing 'What Made the Red Man Red,' and all of the Native Americans are portrayed with extremely offensive stereotypes. It just disgusts me."

—person192829

17. Love Actually (2003)

Annie referring to Natalie as "the chubby girl" while talking to the Prime Minister
Universal Pictures

"I can't bring myself to watch the movie because I've read about the blatant anti-fat bias littered throughout the movie. I have a lot of self-image issues, and movies like these certainly don't help. I don't get why so many people loved this movie, when I'm just scratching the surface of its many problems."

—hiitsnicetomeetyou

18. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

Ace Kissing Lois, later realizing she is a trans woman, and immediately throwing up
Warner Bros.

"It is so misogynistic and anti-trans. And it also makes me wonder how all the animals were treated during filming."

—paigeb4ddb2c3bd

19. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Micky Rooneey as Mr. Yunioshi
Paramount Pictures

"The horribly stereotypical Asian character played by a white man. I went to watch it for the first time and couldn't get through it."

—yourmotherschesthair

20. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

A woman referring to Hank by the r-word
New Line Cinema

"It's considered more of a cult classic, but the r-word was sprinkled pretty liberally in there."

—smileyk

21. Ghostbusters (1984)

Pete ignoring Dana's rejection of him and vowing to pursue her
Columbia Pictures

"I rewatched it with my daughter recently and did not realize in my childhood just how creepy Bill Murray’s character is with Sigourney Weaver."

—catsfordaysss

22. Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)

The three wise men and one of them with a face painted black
Cinema International Corporation

"There is a scene with blackface, which is BAD."

—Catladysara

23. The Waterboy (1998)

The football players mocking Bobby's stutters
Buena Vista Pictures

"Think about it. Bobby seems to have some sort of disability and is emotionally manipulated by his teammates to play football, all while constantly belittling him as he’s taking college classes. There's also so much use of the r-word and so many jokes at Bobby’s expense."

—fisher21

24. Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Stephanie telling Tony she doesn't want him hitting on her and him saying "Why not?"
Paramount Pictures

"The main characters are the textbook definition of toxic masculinity, and homophobia and misogyny are rampantly used against female and queer characters to make the main characters seem tough."

—fisher21

25. Animal House (1978)

A man spying on a woman changing her clothes in her bedroom through the window
Universal Pictures

"I don't even know where to start. There was statutory rape, a 13-year-old girl getting drunk and passing out at a frat party, men spying on women getting changed and from beneath bleachers to see up their skirts, a college professor sleeping with students, mild-to-moderate racism, mild-to-moderate homophobia, and so much more."

—plumjo

26. Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

A group of men installing camera's in a woman's home and then watching her change on a TV
20th Century Fox

"The women are objects that the 'heroes' commit sex crimes against to get back at the jocks they 'belong' to."

—tanyaf43091fd20

27. And Grease (1978)

Danny's friends asking if Sandy put up a fight when he tried to hook up with her
Paramount Pictures

"I never understood why people think it’s still relevant. There’s a line in the song 'Summer Nights' where Danny's friends say, 'Tell me more, tell me more / Did she put up a fight?' as a way of asking if Sandy resisted Danny's attempts to sleep with her. Also, the ending where Sandy changes everything about herself so that she’s attractive to Danny sends the completely wrong message!"

—tessv4dd03363a

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

What other popular movies haven't aged well? Let us know in the comments.