18 Classic Movies From Our Childhood That Look Plain Ridiculous And Insulting Today

As much as we millennials want to believe that the 1980s and 1990s were the ideal decades to grow up in, we have to recognize that some of the things that came out of those decades simply do not hold up in the twenty-first century.

Film studios were continuously churning out new ideas and distinctive concepts due to the rapid improvements in technology at the time – it was all about experimentation. Some things worked, while others didn't, and some things that worked at the time now appear completely absurd.

While there are some films from our childhoods that we hold dear just for the nostalgia effect, many films from that era simply don't sit well in 2021. Some movies from the 1980s and 1990s that we enjoyed at the time are just plain cringe-worthy now that we're adults, whether it's because the graphics and special effects are clunky and unsophisticated or because the topics and themes are so antiquated and absolutely not PC.

That doesn't mean we won't watch them again; after all, there's nothing like a nice '80s movie marathon on occasion. But, at the very least, we can accept that Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo aren't the best films ever made.

Are you unsure of what we're talking about (or refuse to admit it)? Take a look at the 18 movies listed below to understand what we mean.

How do old movies hold up today?

Twentieth Century Fox/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

'Weekend at Bernie's'

We thought this 1989 comedy was really amusing, regardless of how inappropriate it was for us to watch as children. What could be more amusing than two guys flinging a corpse around? But it's now simply plain strange.

The only thing that comes to mind is how stinky the body would have been.

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'Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi'

Fans of Star Wars can criticize us all they want, but Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi, released in 1983, was more of a triumph of commerce and marketing than a tribute to the film industry. It seemed like a huge advertisement. They even attempted to sell a book on 'the making of' the film.

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'Risky Business'

We adore a young Tom Cruise and will always do so, but the whole idea of Risky Business was to teach us all how much fun it is to be a prostitute. In 2021, we don't think it's appropriate to glorify sex work.

To each their own, but now that we know that many women, including girls, are forced into prostitution, our enjoyment of the film is tainted.

Warner Bros.

'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

Although we adore Ferris Bueller's Day Off, we won't be introducing it to our own children anytime soon. It sets a bad example, and now that we're parents, we can't help but imagine how angry we'd be if our own children did something similar.

Paramount Pictures

'Mommie Dearest'

Our parents may have forced us to see Mommie Dearest, starring Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford, in order to terrify us into obedience. Yes, we understand that it was based on a genuine narrative of abuse and suffering and that corporal punishment was still commonplace at the time.

'Mannequin'

We really want to overlook all of the sexism and misogyny in Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall's 1987 film Mannequin because we adored it, but the premise is actually quite frightening. Because he can't seem to find the 'ideal' woman, he falls in love with a mannequin?

Don't even get us started on the fact that this blonde woman is meant to be an ancient Egyptian.

'Over the Top'

In 1987, much of America was willing to watch anything featuring Sylvester Stallone, but Over the Top was a preposterous display of macho and masculine ego that we could have easily done without. Surprisingly, similar incidents occurred in real life around the country. We're lucky these days that we have the internet to keep us occupied.

Warner Bros.

'The Three Musketeers'

In 1993's The Three Musketeers, we got Charlie Sheen in a film adaptation of a classic tale, which was a lot to take in. We all watched it — sometimes multiple times — but it's actually rather dull, especially for such an action-packed narrative.

Buena Vista Pictures

'Hackers'

This one makes us laugh a little because, back in 1995, the idea of someone getting into the internet seemed so intriguing and mysterious. In fact, it's now a common occurrence in our culture, and it's something that many individuals can do and even more can prevent.

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'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie'

Was there ever a kid growing up in the 1990s who didn't think Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was the coolest movie ever? But the truth is that it was and is awful. The special effects are terrible.

Nearly three decades later, everything appears cheap and uninspired.

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'Spice World'

The Spice Girls were all the rage in 1997, so it didn't matter that their film Spice World was terrible. Regardless, it was popular.

It's no longer interesting now that the British pop group is no longer relevant and we're aware of all the drama and destructive relationships that its members underwent.

'Rush Hour'

When Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan starred in Rush Hour in 1998, it was the thing to do to see it in the theater that fall. At the time, it was about as much minority representation on film as we'd get, but watching it again, the racist jokes made us cringe a lot.

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'You've Got Mail'

When You've Got Mail (featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan) was released, we were just kids, and while we couldn't relate to the film, grown-ups appeared to enjoy it. However, we now live in a time when online dating is the norm, and AOL is no longer relevant in our daily lives.

Warner Bros.

'Batman Forever'

Despite the fact that the film's director, Joel Schumacher, was a top Hollywood talent, Batman Forever is undoubtedly the weakest adaptation of the original DC superhero plot. We used to enjoy it, but it's almost ludicrous now that we're adults.

Given Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, which has come to define the Batman story, it's a far too silly rendition.

Amazon.com

'The Net'

Remember when the internet was referred to as 'the net?' When it was released in 1995, this film starring Sandra Bullock was a tremendous hit, owing to the fact that it was about the perils of the internet and piqued people's interest in it.

However, now that it is such an integral part of practically everyone's lives, the film has lost its power.

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'The Mask'

We still enjoy most of Jim Carrey's films, but The Mask has become strange. The film's cutting-edge visuals and special effects don't stand up today, and the film's over-the-top type of comedy doesn't resonate with today's audiences, who are more accustomed to dry, sarcastic humor.

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Old movies represent sexism as something normal, and that’s the biggest issue. In the modern world, movies and shows with sexism are, in fact, critiques of society, not light comedies.

These movies show how much we have progressed as a society. So, if you think that we’ve accomplished nothing in the past 30 years, just compare the movies.