Harold and Maude. Loved that movie, saw it many times. But the “suicide” scenes would probably be a no go now.
I’ve never found that scene even mildly amusing, but I didn’t care much for the movie in general, didn’t hate it, but I find Mel Brooks funny only sporadically.
Loved that one and have seen it many times. I think the intimacy between a teen and an old woman would raise more eyebrows than the “suicide” scenes.
I don’t believe that any of the movies posted are beyond being made today; they would just attract or repel different audiences.
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He’s presented as an adult, though. Not sure he is a teen. His mom is trying to get him married off.
Edit: google says he’s supposed to be 19. So, yes, a teen. But an adult.
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I accidentally watched revenge of the nerds (never planned on watching the whole things, it’s been decades since I watched it last. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, but there were so many things that stood out as not being funny today (hidden cameras in sorority houses, college sponsored heavy drinking contests). It really ended up being a feel good movie, but many aspects would need changing.
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The Reader was made in 2008, I think art house films still have some leeway there. To me it’s more the mass market and comedy films that are constrained in what they include.
You left out the worse of all when the main protagonist tricks a woman into having sex with him thinking he was her boyfriend and only reveals his identity things are very far along. They spin it as okay because she decides she likes him but that was assault by any rational definition, played for laughs and with sympathy for the attacker.
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When I watched it I could’ve written a book listing what is wrong with that movie today. And I watched it alone so I couldn’t really comment and have a discussion.
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Pretty sure that any movie made over 100 years ago would be problematic. I think OP was referring to movies actually made in our lifetime which we have seen in the not distant past but now appear offensive.
This thread is really interesting because movies are so representative of the time in which they were made.
We often watch a movie set in the destination we are headed to on vacation. For example, we watched The 3rd Man when we went to Vienna. (Still a great movie btw.)
We were headed to Amish Country and decided to watch Witness with the kids. Wow, was it dated and boring. Add the cringeworthy bath scene complete with a storm and I doubt it would ever be made now. Needless to say, it did not enhance our visit to Pennsylvania. Mind you, this criticism isn’t an indication of offensiveness in the way some other movies mentioned are.
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One of my favorite all time movies…All the Presidents Men. I doubt that could be made now…
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Great movie, but why would you say this?
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Judging by how another thread in the Cafe is going, The Blind Side could not be made today. 
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I streamed all the original Airport movies recently. They would be different movies today in a lot of ways but one of the things that stood out was the portrayal of the men vs the women. Even when the women were major protagonists like the fight attendant who had to take over flying the plane when the pilot and copilot were out of commission, they play her as dependent and extremely emotional (hysterical they would have called it) until her pilot boyfriend has to basically yell at her to focus over the radio and tell “sweetheart” she can do it – but only because her strong man is talking her through it. The wives are all “shrews” who belittle their men for foucsing on life or death emergencies over their emotional needs. The leading men all are having affairs with more sympathetic mistresses than the wives. The only woman in 3 movies who is a strong character is the “old lady” stowaway played for laughs.
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I will freely and unashamedly admit I’ve seen Animal House at least 15 times. I agree 100% that the age of the mayor’s daughter is really inappropriate. It was even then. But the movie will always make me laugh. Especially this:
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I haven’t seen it in a long time. But also can’t recall anything problematic.
For some of the movies mentioned, could they be made today without the problematic stuff and still be entertaining in the way that they were supposed to be, or was the problematic stuff so integral to the movie that they could not be anywhere close if made today without the problematic stuff?
For example, the 1915 The Birth of a Nation would be in the latter category. But would every other movie mentioned here be?
Why don’t you think that a movie which demonizes Black people who are in positions of even a little power, glorifies the KKK as heroes, and pushes the false narrative of “the Lost Cause” wouldn’t work today?
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Helen Hayes, who won an Oscar for the role
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It would not work for major brand that wants to be able to market current and future movies to wide audiences.
Of course, such a movie could be made by a fringe producer dedicated (and limited to) to the racial conservative viewership, but that is a far cry from the mainstream popularity that the original one had. Lots of people are racist, but no longer want to be that blatant about it (even if the dog whistles are more obvious than they think).
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