Not all good films have endured, and unfortunately, even though they may once have been a big hit, some are now a big miss with audiences in 2024. Here’s a list of 21 offensive movies that couldn’t be made today.
Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles has been described as a movie that parodies racism and sexist, queer-phobic tropes. Some people say that this was a clever movie that tried to address social issues of racism and homophobia with humor and comedy, while others condemn it as perpetuating harmful narratives.
Whatever way you feel about this movie, its approach to these sensitive issues would be classed as far too offensive to minority groups in 2024, and a film like this couldn’t be made today.
Tropic Thunder
According to some, this is one of the worst movies ever made because it exploited racial tropes and the promotion of discrimination against people with disabilities. There’s no way that people would buy a ticket to see this kind of movie today; the times and appetites of audiences have changed.
Life of Brian
Best described as a movie of religious farce within the theme of Christianity, it is highly unlikely that a film mocking aspects of any faith could be made today as it would be deemed far too offensive.
Female Trouble
The fact that a review on IMDB calls this film “Truly an intentionally offensive, gross film.” says a lot. The movie is about an obnoxious woman, Divine (played in drag by Dawn Davenport), who has an obnoxious child and then embarks upon a life of violent crime. There is lots of vulgar, sexist, politically incorrect content in this film that just wouldn’t and couldn’t be replicated today.
You Only Live Twice, James Bond
In addition to the typically sexist vibes that most Bond movies emit, this film goes on to exploit almost every Asian stereotype that you can think of, including Kimonos, Ninjas, Geishas, and more.
Sixteen Candles
Criticized for its painful stereotyping and the racist portrayal of a Chinese character, which involved a loud gong being hit every time his name was mentioned, make this movie is a total no-go for 2024.
The Toy
This film stars Richard Pryor, and the basic premise is about a rich, spoiled white boy who picks out a black man as his new toy. That’s automatically a solid no from us.
Miss Congeniality
Starring William Shatner and Sandra Bullock, this movie was marketed at the time as having some feminist vibes. However, we don’t think many feminists would agree with that synopsis today. If anything, this movie has been criticized for its misogynistic vibes, especially regarding the scene where a group of males huddle together to rate some female bodies.
The Machinist
Famous for the amount of weight that Christian Bale lost for this role, it was pretty harrowing to see the actor appear so skeleton-like, and we highly doubt that a movie would allow an actor to “method act” to the detriment of his own health on this scale ever again. Especially given the awareness and sensitivity that is now given to eating disorders and impressionable young audiences.
Léon: The Professional
Criticized for the sexualization of Natalie Portman, who was only 12 when she starred in the movie, this kind of film wouldn’t be allowed to grace our screens today. Natalie herself has even spoken out about the damaging effects that making this movie at such a young age had on her.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
The plot of Ace Ventura Pet Detective is built around an unfavorable narrative towards same-gender couples and also individuals in transition, making it highly offensive.
Revenge of the Nerds
This movie has come under fire recently for its depiction of a rape scene in which a nerd has sex with a Sorority girl under false pretenses. A very controversial scene that even the film’s writer, Steve Zacharias, recently told GQ, “I regret that.”
Clueless
This classic chic flick movie from the 90s wouldn’t work today as it glamourized diet culture and has been criticized for promoting disordered eating.
Mean Girls
This movie could almost be the sequel to Clueless in more ways than one. But this movie is also guilty of glamorizing diet culture and, therefore, would not be acceptable to woke audiences in 2024.
Borat
Sacha Baron Cohen plays a journalist from Kazakhstan who travels to America to make a documentary about why America is such a great country. Cue a barrage of racial stereotypes, sexism, and alleged antisemitic remarks that frankly wouldn’t see the light of day in 2024.
White Chicks
Although it’s generally agreed that this was a funny movie, it’s also generally agreed that the racial connotations of any actor now donning whiteface or blackface for a movie role is considered a massive faux-pas and also highly offensive.
The Jerk
There is no way that this movie, or anything like it would ever be allowed to be made today as we’re pretty sure that some of the terms, references, and outright racist scenes could verge on breaking the law.
40 Year Old Virgin
The entire plot of this movie is in its title, and audiences well-received it back in 2005. But that was then, and this is now, and many of the themes in this movie have not aged well. It has been criticized for being offensive and insensitive on many levels.
Planet of The Apes
Although this movie gives retro, sci-fi, and Star Trek vibes, it unfortunately also gives racial inequality, bias, and discriminatory vibes.
Basic Instinct
As ground-breaking and infamous as it may have been at the time, this film was heavily criticized for how it portrayed same-sex couples, and it therefore received backlash from the LGBTQ+ community.
Furthermore, there was that notorious flashing scene, which Sharon Stone claims she never agreed to. The scene in question was called everything from crude to profane and criticized for promoting the degradation of women, and none of those things are acceptable in 2024.
Zoolander
Hailed as one of the best comedy movies ever made, this film has also been criticized for some inappropriate and offensive scenes, particularly one where Ben Stiller dons blackface and others with questionable narratives around sexuality. It’s maybe no coincidence that the 2016 sequel was a flop, which is perhaps a sign that movies like this shouldn’t be made today.
