9 Iconic Movies That Aged Horribly (No. 7 Will Break your Heart)
A look back at some of the most bizarre movies from Hollywood's uncomfortable past. Fair warning: some of these might just ruin your childhood memories.
It's very much true that we’ve been blessed with some absolute gems from 10, 20, and even 30 years ago. But for every timeless classic, there's a movie that makes us cringe and completely shocked at the fact that it was once considered acceptable.
Nostalgia is a liar. That's why today I’m looking at some of those badly aged movies that would definitely not be allowed to see the light of day now. From horrible racial stereotypes to problematic jokes, these movies definitely haven't stood the test of time.
-
Sixteen Candles (1984): A Problematic Coming-Of-Age Story
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Sixteen Candles has 81% from critics and 85% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Sixteen Candles is rated 7.0/10.
I absolutely love Molly Ringwald, but hate the movie and I don't think that even nostalgia can fix that.
It’s everything you don't want in a movie. It treats its characters not as real people, but as vessels for the most pointless racist and sexist jokes ever. The movie is most notorious for treating its Asian character (Long Duk Dong) with utter disrespect.
But Sixteen Candles did at least accomplish one thing. It showed us what not to do when making a movie.
-
Johnny Mnemonic (1995) Is Hilariously Bad
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Johnny Mnemonic has 20% from critics and 31% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Johnny Mnemonic is rated 5.6/10.
If Sixteen Candles was a complete mess, Johnny Mnemonic is less dramatic. It's more of an unintentionally hilarious reminder of what we thought the future would look like.
The special effects are exactly what you'd expect from a mid-90s sci-fi (absolutely cheese-tastic). On a side note, it seems that Keanu Reeves has been tiptoeing around the Johnny Silverhand character for some time now. So if you're a Cyberpunk 2077 fan, this is a must-see (albeit a bad one).
-
Blank Check (1994): Nobody on the Set Had Good Judgment
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Blank Check has 9% from critics and 35% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Blank Check is rated 5.3/10.
Disney really went there and boy do I wish they hadn't. It's as disgusting as it sounds.
On the surface, Blank Check seems like every kid's dream. Who wouldn't want to suddenly become a millionaire? But I could close my eyes on a child casually spending stolen money. But I can't think of anything that would redeem the romantic subplot between a kid and an adult FBI agent that somehow made it past several rounds of approval.
-
Revenge of the Nerds (1984): A Comedy That Lost Its Track
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Revenge of the Nerds has 70% from critics and 73% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Revenge of the Nerds is rated 6.6/10.
Revenge of the Nerds was supposed to be the ultimate underdog story. Instead, it became the ultimate example of how not to write a comedy about college life.
On paper, it's about outcasts fighting back against bullies. In reality, it's a disturbing case of assault and violations of privacy, all played for laughs. Our “heroes” engage in activities that would land them in jail.
-
Soul Man (1986): A Comedy That Should Have Never Been Made
_37122.webp)
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Soul Man has 17% from critics and 35% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Soul Man is rated 5.3/10.
Perhaps no movie on this list has aged as badly as Soul Man. The fact that a movie about a white student who puts on blackface to get a scholarship was not only made, but was commercially successful is absolutely insane. I don't even have to say much. It's just bad.
-
American Beauty (1999): A Disturbing Mid-Life Crisis
- On Rotten Tomatoes, American Beauty has 87% from critics and 93% from the audience.
- On IMDb, American Beauty is rated 8.3/10.
I know that American Beauty is a movie that a lot of people hold close to their hearts, but that doesn't change the fact that it's problematic.
It's a story about a middle-aged man lusting after his teenage daughter's friend, which is super uncomfortable to watch. The film's themes of suburban life and conformity are still solid, but the whole package feels pretty icky in 2025.
-
The Blind Side (2009): The Sad True Story Behind the Feel-Good Drama
- On Rotten Tomatoes, The Blind Side has 66% from critics and 85% from the audience.
- On IMDb, The Blind Side is rated 7.6/10.
This may be the most heartbreaking because it is based on real life. It was marketed as an inspiring story of a foster family helping a child achieve his dreams. But the reality wasn't so good.
While Sandra Bullock's performance won her an Oscar, it turned out that the real Michael Oher, on whom the movie was based, was under the conservatorship of the Tuohy family. It was all about money.
-
Never Been Kissed (1999): Great Actors, Icky Storyline
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Never Been Kissed has 55% from critics and 69% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Never Been Kissed is rated 6.0/10.
The plot revolves around a 25-year-old journalist going undercover as a high school student.
While Drew Barrymore's charm is undeniable, watching it today feels awkward and out of place. The romanticization of teacher-student relationships (even with the “twist”) is particularly troubling.
-
Shark Tale (2004): A Movie Even Will Smith Couldn’t Save
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Shark Tale has 35% from critics and 46% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Shark Tale is rated 6.0/10.
It's strange to think that Shark Tale comes from DreamWorks, the same studio that gave us Shrek. While trying to capitalize on the success of Finding Nemo, they created something that feels like a cheap rip-off with dated pop culture references and uncomfortable racial stereotypes.
