1. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Ah, John Hughes—the king of ’80s teen movies. While Sixteen Candles still tugs at nostalgia-loving hearts, there’s no denying some major issues. The movie includes a subplot where the popular girl gets drunk and is essentially passed around without consent, played off as comedic. Long Duk Dong, the foreign exchange student, is reduced to an offensive Asian stereotype—gong sound effects and all. What might have been harmless humor in the ’80s feels cringeworthy today. It’s hard to ignore these moments, even when Molly Ringwald’s charm carries the story.
2. Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
At its core, Revenge of the Nerds feels like a classic underdog story—geeks triumphing over jocks. But look a little closer, and there’s some deeply problematic content. The most glaring issue? A scene where one character tricks a woman into sleeping with him by pretending to be her boyfriend. Today, that’s not just creepy—it’s assault. The film also leans heavily on racial stereotypes, and its humor often comes at the expense of women. While it was groundbreaking for its time, modern audiences would definitely pause before calling it harmless fun.
3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Indy’s second adventure is packed with action, but it’s also packed with cultural insensitivity. The depiction of Indian culture in Temple of Doom veers into offensive territory with exaggerated rituals, like the infamous monkey-brain dinner scene. Short Round, Indy’s sidekick, is a walking trope of the plucky, accented Asian kid. The female lead, Willie, is written as little more than a screaming damsel. Even Steven Spielberg himself later admitted the film’s tone went too far. As beloved as Indy is, this chapter would raise serious eyebrows today.
4. Soul Man (1986)
The plot of Soul Man is a hard sell even for ’80s standards: a white student pretends to be Black to win a scholarship. Yikes. The film tries to position itself as satire, but the execution misses the mark by a mile. Rather than critiquing systemic issues, it leans into Blackface and offensive jokes. The character’s struggles as a “Black man” are played for laughs, undermining the very real discrimination people of color face. It’s a relic of its time—one that most people would agree should stay there.
5. Mannequin (1987)
Mannequin is a lighthearted romantic comedy about a man who falls in love with a mannequin that comes to life. Cute, right? Well, not exactly. Hollywood’s habit of caricaturing LGBTQ+ characters takes center stage here with the portrayal of Hollywood Montrose, the flamboyant window dresser. Played for comic relief, the character feels one-dimensional and rooted in stereotypes. While the film’s central love story is quirky and sweet, it’s hard to ignore the dated representation. A modern audience would likely see it as tone-deaf.
6. Big (1988)
Tom Hanks’s performance in Big remains iconic, but some plot points are questionable when you think about them. The story involves a 12-year-old boy who wakes up in the body of an adult man—and then enters into a romantic relationship with an adult woman. The film treats it as innocent fun, but viewed through a modern lens, it’s a little unsettling. Consent and power dynamics are huge conversations today, and the idea of a child in an adult relationship, even unknowingly, doesn’t sit right. It’s a charming movie with an undeniably awkward undertone.
7. The Goonies (1985)
For many, The Goonies is the ultimate childhood adventure—but not everything ages well. The character Data, the group’s tech-savvy kid, is yet another example of Asian stereotyping common in ’80s films. The movie also has a fair share of fat-shaming directed at Chunk, whose character arc revolves around being clumsy and overeating. While The Goonies delivers laughs and excitement, it doesn’t always do so kindly. Modern audiences might find themselves torn between nostalgia and discomfort.
8. Short Circuit (1986)
This family-friendly flick about a sentient robot seems innocent enough—until you notice the character Ben Jabituya. Played by a white actor in brownface (Fisher Stevens), Ben is depicted as an Indian engineer with an exaggerated accent and mannerisms. It’s a glaring example of Hollywood’s history of whitewashing roles and perpetuating stereotypes. At the time, few questioned it, but today, the portrayal would rightfully spark backlash. While Short Circuit has its charm, Ben’s character is a definite misstep.
9. Porky’s (1981)
Porky’s was a smash hit in the early ’80s, pioneering the raunchy teen comedy genre. But it hasn’t aged well—at all. The film revolves around teenage boys obsessed with spying on naked women, including a scene where they drill holes into a locker room wall. Today, that’s not just a prank—it’s invasive and criminal behavior. The humor also relies heavily on objectifying women and making inappropriate jokes. While it set the stage for later comedies, its tone feels way out of sync with modern sensibilities.
10. Crocodile Dundee (1986)
That’s not a knife—this is a knife! Crocodile Dundee gave us plenty of memorable lines, but it also gave us a handful of problematic moments. One particular scene involves Dundee grabbing a transgender woman’s crotch to “confirm” her gender—played for laughs, of course. The film’s humor often relies on stereotypes of Indigenous Australians and city-dwelling women alike. While it’s a quintessential fish-out-of-water story, modern viewers would find these jokes tone-deaf and offensive.
11. Trading Places (1983)
Trading Places is a beloved comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, but parts of it definitely wouldn’t fly today. Aykroyd’s character appears in Blackface during one sequence—a scene that lands with a thud for modern audiences. The film also pokes fun at socioeconomic divides without always critiquing them in a thoughtful way. While Murphy’s performance remains stellar and the movie has a strong comedic core, some of its choices haven’t aged gracefully.
12. Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)
In this teen rom-com, the main character, played by Patrick Dempsey, pays a popular girl to pretend to date him so he can climb the social ladder. While the movie tries to deliver a message about the superficiality of high school popularity, it misses the mark when it comes to consent. The premise itself is questionable, and the female lead’s lack of agency feels unsettling. The movie also includes cringeworthy racial stereotypes and gender dynamics that feel outdated. It’s one of those films that might leave you saying, “Well, it was the ’80s.”
