11 Popular Movies With Terrible Messages

My Best Friend's Wedding | Outrun Gaming

Just because the masses like a movie doesn’t mean its message is one worth taking home.

Some of the most beloved films of all time are filled with terrible messages and even worse characters. Take the popular romantic comedies of the 90s, where all you need to get the guy is a new personality and a makeover! Yeah, that’s not exactly a good message.

It got us thinking: what are other examples of popular movies with awful messages? Here are the ones that immediately came to mind.

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire
Image Credit 20th Century Fox

Everyone loves this movie, but let’s be honest: Robin Williams isn’t winning any parent of the year awards.

Deceiving your kids by sneaking back into their lives through a hidden identity while posing as your ex-wife’s boyfriend should put you in jail. Don’t worry, though, because since he loves his kids, he gets off scot free.

Fatal Attraction

Michael Douglas as Dan Gallagher and Glenn Close as Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987).
Image Credit Paramount Pictures

Yes, Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) is crazy, but let’s not pretend that Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is a saint here.

He’s the one who had the affair with Forrest, and he gets a happy ending with his family?

The Santa Clause

The Santa Clause 
Image Credit Walt Disney Pictures

Speaking of bad parents, let’s talk about Scott Calvin.

Yes, technically, he is indeed Santa Claus, but he needs to focus more on telling Charlie to shut up about it. Again, though, because of some Christmas magic, he gets to see his kid while getting along with his ex-wife and her new partner (that he hates for most of the movie, mind you).

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Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
Image Credit Walt Disney Productions

Many view Disney movies as the gold standard for romance, but they aren’t immune to problematic messages.

Take, for example, Beauty and the Beast. Beast is abusive and keeps Belle trapped in his castle, but somehow still wins her over because of true love or something.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid
Image Credit Walt Disney Productions

Speaking of Disney, can we talk about the plot surrounding The Little Mermaid for a second?

Ariel is a child who runs away from home to be with a man she has never actually met.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

My Best Friend's Wedding
Image Credit Sony Pictures Releasing

Julia Roberts is the movie’s protagonist, but are we seriously rooting for her to break up a wedding just because she has the lead billing?

Never mind the fact that her love interest, a 28-year-old sportswriter, is engaged to a 20-year-old college student.

Are we supposed to be happy for the couple just because Julia Roberts had a change of heart? Nobody is likable in this movie!

Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman
Image Credit Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

I guess we’re going back to back with Julia Roberts movies.

Yes, it’s an iconic film, but it perpetuates the notion that a young, beautiful woman can be rescued from her situation by a wealthy man. A woman’s value is not tied to her financial status.

Top Gun

Top Gun
Image Credit Paramount Pictures

Iceman was always right about Maverick. He’s reckless, he’s dangerous, and he’s cashing checks his body can’t cash.

He 100% should have been kicked out of Top Gun. The sequel only reinforced this fact.

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street
Image Credit Paramount Pictures

I work in sales for my day job and have for nearly a decade.

The number of things this movie glamorizes in terms of sketchy, unethical behavior is impressive. Younger salespeople are taking the wrong messages from this movie.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Image Credit Universal Pictures

Andy seems pretty happy most of the time, aside from the fact that he’s, you know, a virgin.

I understand that it’s played for laughs that his friends change who he is to help him finally get the girl, but you shouldn’t have to change who you are.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Image Credit Videocraft International

Remember, kids: Rudolph was constantly bullied his whole life until Santa himself could exploit his shiny nose.

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Jake Valentine

4 responses to “11 Popular Movies With Terrible Messages”

  1. […] 11 Popular Movies With Terrible Messages […]

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  4. […] off the success of 1990’s Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts stars in 1991’s Sleeping with the Enemy, based on the Nancy Price novel of the same […]

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