Popular Movies That Would Never Get Filmed Today

Some sentimental films can take you back to a simpler time when jokes had much broader definitions and there was no social media. However, in recent years, revisionist historians have called attention to inappropriate nostalgia and what would be considered offensive subject matter.

Even scenes from old movies featuring women in skimpy clothing are frequently viewed as being “out of touch.” These classic films haven’t held up well to the test of time due to the stark societal differences between now and then, and they most likely wouldn’t be produced today.

The Love Guru (2008)

Mike Myers, a comedic actor, and Jessica Alba star in The Love Guru. Myers plays the role of an Indian love guru while posing as a white Canadian in the plot. Myers’ career was on the verge of being destroyed by the movie’s abject failure on the box office.

Alba’s adoption of Indian garb would probably be viewed as cultural appropriation, in addition to audiences having issues with Myers’ character from the beginning. There is a scene at the hockey game where two elephants interact in a peculiar way.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)

In the comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Adam Sandler and Kevin James play firefighters who pose as husband and wife to obtain insurance. Certainly one that is frequently discussed in today’s society is the healthcare system’s flaws.

However, the storyline of two straight men getting married and acting like a couple today would not be plausible. That even includes the numerous jokes about same-sex marriage that many viewers today would find to be quite offensive.

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Because of Molly Ringwald’s outstanding portrayal of the disappointed girl whose 16th birthday was overlooked by her family, Sixteen Candles has been a fan favorite for ages. It’s a “Brat Pack” classic and one of the 1980s’ most memorable movies.

There would need to be some changes made to this movie, or at least to some of it. The subplot about trying to get a girl’s underwear for a bet and the portrayal of the Japanese exchange student as being fairly stereotypical are two things in particular that wouldn’t hold up well.

Zapped! (1982)

In the movie Zapped!, played by Scott Baio, a young man gains telekinetic abilities. Despite being the protagonist of the tale, he bullies his female classmates for the majority of the movie.

What is his secret? He uses his special abilities to yank the girls’ clothes off as a form of bullying at his school. A movie like this would probably face criticism from everyone in a society where people are actively speaking out against bullying and assault.

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

In Crocodile Dundee, a man from the Australian outback adjusts to life in America in the traditional fish-out-of-water storyline. Rod Ansell’s life served as inspiration for the narrative. Even if someone hasn’t seen the movie, there are many references to it in current popular culture.

Paul Hogan received an Oscar nomination back then for Crocodile Dundee. However, while the stereotypical portrayal of Australians may only be mildly annoying to some, the protagonist’s worldview is likely to be categorized by many as chauvinistic, racist, and homophobic in modern society.

Dogma (1999)

Another profanity-filled comedy from Kevin Smith is Dogma. In contrast to his other movies, this one makes fun of organized religion by following the journey of two fallen angels back to heaven. After this one, Kevin Smith actually received threats to his life.

Despite having an all-star cast that included Chris Rock, George Carlin, Alan Rickman, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Janeane Garofalo, Salma Hayek, and Ben Affleck, the movie was heavily criticized in the 1990s. The film’s satirical tone and overt Catholic jokes would undoubtedly be controversial today.

Porky’s (1981)

One of the films that drew inspiration from the aforementioned Animal House was Porky’s. We will summarize the many reasons why this ’80s raunchy, teen comedy wouldn’t survive in the modern movie business in just one scene.

A group of teenage boys drilling a hole in the school locker room to covertly observe their female classmates is one of the most well-known scenes. A scene about spying on women as they undress just doesn’t resonate as being too funny in today’s world, much like the presumed muse it drew from a few years earlier.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Tom Hanks won his second consecutive Oscar for Forrest Gump. His portrayal of an Alabama man with mental impairment who witnesses some significant historical events has become an iconic movie with a ton of lines that can be quoted.

A lot has been said recently about actors who portray people of different racial or gender backgrounds. It’s likely that even though the film makes you feel a connection with the title character, casting Hanks as a man with mental impairment would raise some eyebrows.

Animal House (1978)

The classic comedy Animal House, created by Matty Simmons of National Lampoon, centers on a group of rowdy fraternity brothers whose fraternity house is on the verge of being shut down by the college dean because of their numerous conduct infractions. It established the tone for later films about college antics, like Old School.

Even though viewers hold this classic college comedy in high regard, if it were to be released today, it would probably face a great deal of criticism. There are many reasons why it would likely infuriate the Internet, but the majority of the rage would most likely originate from a scene in which John Belushi’s Bluto character plays an extremely incompetent peeping Tom.

Back to the Future (1985)

Michael J. Fox’s Back to the Future, one of the best films of the 1980s, is a classic of popular culture. The main character of this film is transported back to 1955 to meet his parents, where he gets trapped, playing on the idea of time travel.

Because the first movie was so well received, a second and third were logical sequels. However, if it were ever to be produced today, the storyline about Marty McFly’s mother trying to have a child with her son would probably have to be dropped by the writers.

Caddyshack (1980)

Caddyshack, a comedy classic, is remembered as one of the funniest sports movies ever produced. Some people even say it’s the funniest sports movie ever made.

However, comedy today must navigate a very fine line to avoid offending viewers. Many of the jokes and banter would probably be a little too much for contemporary audiences, even with an all-star cast that included Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, and Bill Murray.

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

A fraternity of nerds in this classic nerd movie, starring Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Ted McGinley, and Bernie Casey, attempt to exact revenge on the bullies who were jocks and their girlfriends.

By documenting the inside of the offending sorority, they exact revenge. One of the characters even pretended to be someone else to seduce a girl into sleeping with him. Let’s just say that this comedy wouldn’t work today for just these reasons.

True Lies (1994)

Based on the 1991 French film La Totale!, True Lies is an action-comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. It shows its protagonist, a U.S. government agent, attempting to balance his personal and professional lives.

Its main inclusion on this list stems from its use of the stereotype of Middle Eastern actors portraying terrorists. It was a common trope that appeared in many films from the time period, but it probably would have angered some people.

Want to read more fun stuff? Here are the absolute worst-rated movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Airplane! (1980)

Another classic comedy on this list is Airplane! with Robert Hayes and Julie Hagerty. It is renowned for its ability to cram as many jokes as it can into the plot and for parodying the favored disaster films of the day.

While the majority of that humor would be regarded as innocent today, there are a few instances that might not hold up as well. Jokes that haven’t held up too well include the one about the flight attendant “speaking jive,” the creepy pilot, and the scenario where passengers smack the hysterical woman in the face.

Big (1988)

Children frequently have the dream of becoming adults. That is the central theme of the Tom Hanks blockbuster Big, in which the main character grants a wish and instantly becomes an adult.

Even though the movie’s premise is cute and funny and has many memorable moments, when you dig a little deeper, not everything would still work today. People’s concerns about the awkward relationship between a man (who is actually a child) and an adult woman are somewhat similar to those raised by frequently reported news stories.