17 Classic Movies That Have Become Problematic

Jake Valentine

July 30, 2025

Times change, and we must change with them. It’s true in everything, including movies.

Take, for example, problematic movie tropes or plotlines that have aged like milk. It’s not just that, though, as we’ll demonstrate in our list of iconic and popular movies that have aged poorly.

American Beauty

I loved this movie, but it’s so hard to watch today.

No, not because Kevin Spacey is the lead actor, but it is because of the plotline where he fawns over his daughter’s high school friend.

Sixteen Candles

It’s a beloved John Hughes classic, but boy, does it ever have problems.

There are elements of racism, harassment, homophobia, and even assault. Maybe there’s a reason it feels like most modern moviegoers have left this one behind compared to Hughes’ other works.

The Breakfast Club

Hey, speaking of John Hughes…

Yes, it’s still a classic today, and yes, I still watch it today, but let’s not beat around the bush.

There are some seriously problematic things happening in this movie, such as Bender’s verbal harassment of Claire, which somehow leads to them kissing. Excuse me?

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Revenge of the Nerds

Okay, let’s get these over with.

I still quote Revenge of the Nerds often, but every time I rewatch it, there are two parts that make me uncomfortable. First, there’s the video surveillance of the sorority girls changing, then there’s the scene at the carnival. Iconic at the time, yes. Aged like milk? You bet.

Animal House

Another frat boy comedy, another scene of watching sorority girls changing. Still problematic!

Equally a problem is the minor drinking at the toga party and being felt up.

Manhattan

Woody Allen’s character, age 42, dates a 17-year-old.

That’s a little too on the nose, eh, Woody?

Dirty Dancing

Baby’s dad was right: she’s 17 and should not be dating her 25-year-old dance instructor.

I’ve noticed a lot of parents, as they get older, relate more and more with the father, whereas they just wanted Baby and Johnny to be together when they were younger.

Never Been Kissed

Okay, so technically, Josie (Drew Barrymore) isn’t a minor; she’s 25 years old.

However, her teacher, yes, I said teacher, Sam (Michael Vartan), doesn’t know this, and yet the two develop feelings for each other! If you can somehow get past the age thing, she’s his teacher!

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Mickey Rooney is a white man playing an asian character.

I understand that it wasn’t so taboo at the time, but my god, this is one of the most racist acting jobs I’ve ever seen.

Tropic Thunder

No, it’s not Robert Downey Jr.’s blackface I’m talking about. Hollywood and pop culture understand what it’s saying and who they’re mocking.

I’m talking about the fake movie Simple Jack, its subject matter, and the use of a certain word to describe mentally challenged people that has become more and more problematic over time.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

It’s a stellar performance from Jim Carrey and one that helped launch him to superstardom, but let’s address the elephant in the room.

The revelation that Ray Finkle disguised himself as Lt. Lois Einhorn and played off as a joke is disrespectful to the transgender community.

The Notebook

Is The Notebook considered one of the most romantic movies of all time? Yes.

Was Noah selfish and problematic when he threatened to kill himself when Allie turned him down? Absolutely.

Gone with the Wind

So here’s the thing about Gone with the Wind: it’s very much a product of its time (1939) and takes place in an even more problematic time (the American South during the Civil War).

You have to watch it and remember the context of its era, but having said that, the racism that exists within the movie is jarring by today’s standards.

Song of the South

Like Gone with the Wind, Song of the South is very much a product of its time, only it goes far more all-in with its racist tropes.

Disney has done everything it can to distance itself from the movie, including rebranding the iconic Splash Mountain ride.

American Pie

I love this movie; it’s still mostly hilarious, but Nadia being broadcast on the internet without her knowledge gives me the ick.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

My potential hot take with the Indiana Jones franchise is that Temple of Doom isn’t as bad as people made it out to be.

One thing that was bad, though, was the portrayal of India. The movie was even temporarily banned in India and saw some people protest its release.

Overboard

A rich woman (Goldie Hawn) falls off her yacht, suffers amnesia, and is told by a middle-class (at best) carpenter that she’s his wife and mother of his children.

Yeah, that’s a little problematic, and no, the gender-swapped remake with Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez didn’t make it any better. At least it can’t get any worse, right?