37 Iconic Movies That Aged As Poorly As Unrefrigerated Cottage Cheese

    I'm shocked by how many messed-up things happened in Sixteen Candles.

    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. Horrible Bosses (2011)

    A woman saying, "You're gonna fuck my slutty little mouth," and a man responding, "Do you hear the words you say sometimes? I mean, who talks like that?"
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    "Dale's boss's main character trait was that she sexually harassed Dale at work all the time, and every time he vented his friends joked about it and said he should just sleep with her because she was an attractive woman."

    —crizzy444

    2. Wedding Crashers (2005)

    Vince Vaughn's character being tied to the bed
    New Line Cinema

    "Vince Vaughn's character was woken up in the middle of the night, tied to the bed, and then raped by Isla Fisher's character for comedic purposes. The fact that a woman forcing a man to have sex with her under duress is used as a comedy trope in this film is unacceptable. It's so problematic."

    —zoeredhart

    3. 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

    4. 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

    5. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

    Jessica taking her shirt off and an envelope being passed between hands
    Carousel Productions

    "It was so inappropriate how Jessica sent the preteen she babysat for nude pictures as a graduation gift."

    —realgenius88

    6. The Notebook (2004)

    Noah saying, "You leave me no other choice then," and Allie screaming
    New Line Cinema

    "Noah threatened to kill himself when Allie initially rejected him."

    —marissad415

    7. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

    A teenage girl flashing an older man
    Buenva Vista Pictures

    "There was a scene where Kat flashed her teacher to get Patrick out of detention, and the teacher stared a little too long at her chest."

    —asiahq

    8. 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

    9. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

    Christian and Andy in Paris while he forcibly kisses her
    Fox 2000 Pictures

    "When Christian Thompson took advantage of an inebriated Andy and refused to take no for an answer several times. She said no several times, but he continued to try to kiss her anyway. Then she said she's had too much to drink, but he kept going until she felt like she had no other choice. The whole thing is far beyond not OK. It made me scream at the TV when I saw it."

    —frontrow333

    10. Miss Congeniality (2000)

    The detective talking with two other pageant women about eating pizza and saying that if they eat it the girl's going to throw it up anyway
    Warner Bros

    "There was a scene where the pageant contestants contemplated eating pizza, and Detective Hart justified it with an eating disorder joke."

    —lindseys12

    11. 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

    12. 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

    13. 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

    14. Overboard (1987)

    A woman telling a man she doesn't remember, and the man forcing a kiss on her to try to get her to remember
    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

    "The entire plot revolved around Dean abducting Joanna after she got amnesia, and he tricked her into thinking they were married."

    —jburnickas

    15. 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 toward some sort of catharsis."

    —justheretosay

    16. 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

    17. Soapdish (1991)

    Whoopi's character outing Montana onstage
    Paramount Pictures

    "Rose outed Montana as a trans person in front of millions of people on TV, and then David started gagging because he was so disgusted that he hooked up with her. Outing someone is never appropriate, and also the way everyone reacted to Montana being trans was so terrible."

    —zbearnak

    18. 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

    19. 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

    20. 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

    21. 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

    22. 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

    23. 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

    24. 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

    25. 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

    26. 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

    27. Top Gun (2022)

    Tom Cruise walking into a women's restroom after a lady and saying, "I came in here to save you from making a big mistake with that older guy"
    Paramount Pictures

     "Tom Cruise's character literally followed Charlie into the women's bathroom to try to make a move on her."

    —rachelk4b0a45da3

    28. 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

    29. 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

    30. 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

    31. 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

    32. Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

    A group of men installing cameras 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

    33. 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

    34. 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!"

    —tessv4dd03363a

    35. 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

    36. 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

    37. And lastly, Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

    Micky Rooney 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

    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.