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Society and technology will progress but these movies will always stay the same. These movies aged badly due to outdated societal norms, CGI and special FX advancements, and divisive plotlines that would never fly in this day and age. Is your favorite on the list?
Spider-Man - 2002
Toby McGuire and Kirsten Dunst made waves with their roles in the 2002 Spider-Man. Everyone was obsessed with this film and the ones that followed, but now that it's nearly 20 years old, it's beginning to look quite dated.
This scene, for example, with Mary Jane swinging with Spider-Man really shows its age. That is obviously a mannequin Spider-Man that she's clinging to since he literally doesn't move. Practical effects!
Inception - 2010
When you take away all of the bells and whistles, Inception is your run-of-the-mill heist movie. Yes, they got tangled up in the space-time continuum and a love story that's not very fleshed out. It's an entertaining movie and pretty good for 2010, but it did not age kindly.
They made some good decisions when they chose to go with practical FX! Christopher Nolan fans know well that he likes to go over the top for his movies, which he really did with this one.
Raw Deal - 1986
Arnold Schwarzenegger has had a bit of a wild career. Despite playing the role of a Chicago cop, he doesn't even try to hide his accent. He even has to go undercover to infiltrate the Italian mob... with his thick, Austrian accent.
This is a drama, action, thriller flick that has viewers on the edge of their seats because they're trying to understand what is going on. Schwarzenegger himself had a cult following and people loved to watch him on screen. The people of today aren't terribly fond of it though; they rated it 29% on Rotten Tomatoes!
From Justin to Kelly - 2003
Yes, that is American Idol winner and runner-up, Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson. Yes, they did star in a feature film together that consisted of them running around on the beach. Yes, it does have an 8% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Guarini has said it was the worst thing he ever did. Clarkson doesn't talk about it. Yet, people love it, because it's so, so bad.
I Am Legend - 2007
This post-apocalyptic film follows Will Smith and his dog as they navigate life in New York City. In 2007, this was a masterpiece and the CGI was celebrated.
Now, it's more of a "cheesy classic" as most of the CGI and green screen is super duper obvious. It doesn't make it any less of a good film, but it can take you out of the immersion a little bit!
Wild Wild West - 1999
We've got Will Smith and Salma Hayek fighting crime in the Wild West in Wild Wild West. It's definitely not up to par in terms of the other films the two have starred in, but it's not that bad to watch. People loved it at first since it's Will Smith and Salma Hayek, but then everyone kind of collectively realized it wasn't the best movie out there... or in general.
The premise is simple: Two special agents must save the president from a confederate scientist. They must track down the wheel-chair-bound madman all-around 1869 Louisiana.
The Room - 2003
Talk about a cult classic. The Room is the brainchild of Tommy Wiseau, a bizarre character in his own right. The film changes the mood often, the personalities of the characters drastically, and the tone mysteriously.
A lot of the time, Wiseau didn't take any directorial notes and did his own thing while on set. In a way, it was for the best because now it's iconic.
Avatar - 2009
Do you remember how crazy everyone went for this film? People thought it was the movie of the century, and that it completely changed how the world viewed storytelling, CGI, and world-building. In reality (as most have realized now that the film is over a decade old) Avatar really only told the story of industrialism and colonialism.
Movie critics of today have revisited Avatar due to its iconic status only to realize that it was only a product of its time. The general consensus is that the characters were poorly developed, the CGI world was pretty corny, and the main message of imperialism isn't the greatest.
The Doors - 1991
The Doors hit the nail on the head as far as biopics go. The directors accurately portrayed the band's rise to fame and their fall from grace, and audiences loved it. As the film aged, we all noticed how campy the film was and how revolutionary it wasn't.
The "bad trip" scene was actually laughable, and the wig selection on set was less than stellar. Needless to say, it did not age well.
Grease 2 - 1982
Grease transcends time, while Grease 2 makes the franchise as a whole look bad. In fact, when you Google "Grease 2" the first recommended question that comes up is, "Why is Grease 2 SO BAD?"
Although Michelle Pfieffer stars in this flick, it falls short of meeting expectations set from the first film. There was a severe lack of original characters and nods to the original plotline. The directors relied way too much on the popularity of the first flick to really try and make this sequel good.
Old Dogs - 2009
This film was originally rated R but was eventually made into a family-friendly movie due to editing. They literally cut out 19 minutes of raunchy jokes and released it through Disney. Nothing made sense and it still did poorly despite Disney trying to save it.
Garden State - 2004
They wanted this movie to be an indie hit so badly. The directors tried their best to create charming anti-heroes, but they were everything but charming. The audience now struggles to identify or like these bizarre characters as times have changed.
Anaconda - 1997
The major selling points in Anaconda are definitely Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube, but that's about it. Granted, the film is campy (albeit not on purpose) in the way that a movie about a giant snake would be. The plot basically revolves around a documentary crew and their mortal enemy: the Candiru. The special effects and confusing storyline put it on this list.
Serendipity - 2001
This film totally enraptures the love-sick film fanatics. It's quite literally a movie of cliché's: New York in the snowy, blistering winter, meet-cutes, plans going wrong, and crossing unexpected paths. A lot of people loved it because it was bad.
Tron: Legacy - 2010
Plot holes, plot holes, plot holes. The visual quality of the film totally wowed audiences of 2010. Once you get past that (maybe on the second watch) you start to realize that the actual plot of the film is hard to follow and confusing. Unfortunately, that means that it does not hold up.
She-Devil (1989)
Meryl Streep isn't perfect; she's starred in some flops! Calling She-Devil a flop may be slightly controversial, but (judging by the ratings) it's true! Streep plays a romance novelist who is a classic rich, blonde woman living in her fantasy world. It's a bit cringy.
Be Cool - 2005
Just because something is satire doesn't mean it's completely safe from critique. Be Cool has John Travolta and Uma Thurman as the stars, but they weren't able to carry the plot completely on their shoulders. The Rock and Aerosmith are also involved, but that doesn't make this flick any more watchable. Fans were excited about such a cast.
Center Stage - 2000
To be honest, most movies that are centered around dancers are rough. Center Stage is no different... It truly has it all! Bad acting, bad dancing, bad editing... And yes, even a sex scene that was also a choreographed dance number. So bad that it's good?
Troll 2 - 1990
There is nothing in this movie that makes sense, which is what makes it such a loveable bad movie. It really keeps people on their toes! Trolls 2 follows shape-shifting aliens who pretend to be trolls. They are vegetarian but only dine on plants that used to be humans. Make it make sense!
Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 - 1987
The reason that the sequel of the original film is featured is that half of Part 2 is literally clips from Part 1. For some reason, they took the time to detail every major plot point from the first episode to recreate in the second one. Aside from that, there are major plot issues, campy murders, and cheesy acting.
Powder - 1995
Just from the still image, you'd think this was about some genderless alien, right? Nope. Powder is about a farm boy who has mysterious powers. It's almost like it was trying to somehow rise to the ranks of Hellraiser. Powder definitely falls into the category of "it's so bad that it's good."
Deadly Prey - 1987
Looking for the perfect manly man movie? Look no further than Deadly Prey. This action drama follows mercenaries who kidnap people off of the street and throw them into a "survival of the fittest" sort of camp. This is basically like Rambo in a Battle Royale setting.
Alice in Wonderland - 2010
People are really split on this film. Hardcore Tim Burton fans are obsessed with it, while the more casual fan might not enjoy the major surrealism of it all. It can be a bit rough at times, and Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter feels a little more... off than usual. On the surface, it's impressive, but actually watching it is difficult.
Gigli - 2003
Yes, the start of Bennifer. Gigli is a notoriously bad movie despite breeding the iconic coupling of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. In 2021, the 2003 flick is in pretty poor taste and would never be greenlit due to the bizarre stereotypes it tries to thrive in.
Finding Neverland - 2004
People who know that this film exists probably forget that Johnny Depp is even in this film. Depp has been nominated for an Oscar three times: Sweeny Todd, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Finding Neverland. It's pretty unmemorable and a little cringy and cliché.
Simply Irresistible - 1999
This sounds like satire, but it's not: Sarah Michelle Gellar and a magical crab are the main characters of this movie. Gellar plays a down on her luck chef who eventually finds herself thanks to this magic crab. Naturally, the crab brings her luck in money, love, and career. It's different, that's for sure!
Dangerous Minds - 1994
We all love Michelle Pfeiffer, and the fact that this film is on this list means nothing against her... But, Dangerous Minds aged extremely poorly and we have to talk about it. The film is full of clichés that only exist in the film world, which includes Pfeiffer (unfortunately) playing the role of a "white savior" to these inner-city kids.
Airborne - 1993
We've got movies about skateboarding, BMX, and surfing, why not rollerblading? Airborne tapped into the '90s fad of rollerblading in the best (slash worst) way possible. It's corny but timely. Just ask Seth Green and Jack Black who were both in the movie.
What A Girl Wants- 2003
Any Amanda Bynes movie in the early 2000s is a certified classic. Colin Firth is also in this film, but fans would rather not remember that... Some have said that this role was his worst ever. Once again, this would classify as "so bad it's good."
The Sixth Sense - 1999
This may seem out of pocket, and it is! This film isn't bad, but what the film bred is. M. Night Shyamalan is the king of twists in his films... With that title comes the flops, too. The Sixth Sense has a fantastic twist ending that no one saw coming and a star-studded cast, but the movies that came after it was disappointing. The Sixth Sense was the prototype for Devil and The Happening which left a lot of disappointed fans in their wake.
Desert Hearts - 1985
Desert Hearts takes place in the '50s where the main characters' relationships would be totally taboo. This film was revolutionary at first but then the plot holes started to develop as it aged. The worst part is that the story is left on a pretty high cliff-hanger, which is never a fun way to end a movie.
Crash - 2004
At the time, this film wasn't too bad. People seemed to like the "depth" of it all, which was pretty deep for 2004. As the film aged, people seemed to realize that its "deep" meanings of multiculturalism and interconnectivity became extremely stereotypical and slightly pandering.
Rent - 2005
People are pretty split on Rent. Some love it, others hate it. This is obvious due to the 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This musical wasn't quite made to be a movie, and that disconnect is obvious during the duration of the film.
Quicksilver - 1986
Upon viewing, it's almost as if Quicksilver tried to be a bad movie. The pacing is of the story is uncomfortable and we can't really tell where the location is. Kevin Bacon and Jami Gertz did have a dance scene together (a Flashdance nod, no doubt). You can't help but love this bad movie.
Masters of the Universe - 1987
Who wouldn't love a movie with Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella? Well, most people. The original direction of this film was to continue what the animated TV series did, but it completely flopped. Some viewers appreciate the campy-ness of it all, while others despise the film. To each their own!
Demolition Man - 1993
We've got Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes prancing around the future together. Who wouldn't love that? Unfortunately for this film, they focused a little too much on the fact that it was set in the future and it became super corny super fast. People get frozen, people live in virtual reality, and people time travel. It's a lot to handle.
Great Balls of Fire - 1989
Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, and Alec Baldwin did not do this movie justice whatsoever. The nonsensical biographical film was a little too wild for most audiences, especially since the main character Jerry Lee Lewis (yes, the real rocker) was the center focus of the entire plot. People liked it at first because timely, but then everyone sort of realized why it's the worst movie ever...
She's All That - 1999
Unfortunately, this fan-favorite flick played into one of the most overdone and played-out tropes ever. The entire premise of the film is that a young woman has to change herself to become more attractive to the person she was crushing on. In 1999, that was popular. In 2021, it's a bit much.
Ghostbusters - 1984
Ghostbusters will never not be a total classic. The special FX wasn't terrible for the '80s... If anything, the editing gives the film a lot of its charm! Another part of Ghostbusters that aged poorly was the relationship between Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver's characters... It was a bit creepy, and she was very obviously not into him.
Shallow Hal - 2001
Yes, that is Gwenyth Paltrow in a fat suit. Although she isn't the best role model nowadays, she does say that she regrets doing this film and wasn't even comfortable doing it in the first place. As a young actor, it's hard to say no to things when the people you trust are telling you to do it. Either way, Shallow Hal wasn't received well by 2001 audiences due to the plot, not the body shaming.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry - 2007
To be fair, this is an Adam Sandler and Kevin James flick... Of course, it won't hold up. The basic premise is two straight men attempt to get married in order to get domestic partnership benefits. Obviously, the idea of the plot on its own is problematic, but it was pretty popular since it was released in 2007.
Breakfast at Tiffany's - 1961
If you've seen this movie, you know why it's on this list: Mickey Rooney. He plays an Asian character through a vicious stereotype that was apparently entertaining for the early '60s.
Sixteen Candles - 1984
There are a lot of redeeming qualities of this film that helps it keep its cult classic charm. John Hughes added the character of Long Duk Dong who only portrayed a hurtful stereotype and offered no real substance to the film other than "comic relief." If you deleted all of the footage with him in it, nothing would change. That would be an easy way to make this film timeless!
Superbad - 2007
A raunchy comedy about teen boys is bound to make some people uncomfortable. Unfortunately, there were some jokes made in poor taste that even Seth Rogan wishes he didn't write. This film makes light of a few too many intense topics for it to have aged well... Seems like a theme for movies from 2007.
Love Actually - 2003
If Love Actually was released in 2021, it would not have the same reaction. A lot of die-hard fans of the film have realized just how many fat jokes there are. The bizarre love triangles and cheating scandals coupled with the fact that it barely passes the Bechdel Test would put this movie in the category of "aged poorly."
Drop Dead Gorgeous - 1999
Drop Dead Gorgeous is a documentary-style film that follows a small town as they navigate some serious issues all in the midst of a famous beauty pageant. Many people would say that there is a dark humor to it (which is true!) but there are many parts where there are lazy, offensive jokes that are obviously only there to take up time. Edited down, Drop Dead Gorgeous could hold up, but definitely not in its original form.
Big Daddy - 1999
Adam Sandler in the 1990s... Naturally, this wouldn't age well. This movie is riddled with stereotypes and poorly made jokes at the expense of disenfranchised demographics. Most of the jokes were about women who worked at Hooters.
Never Been Kissed - 1999
There are a lot of inappropriate plot points in Never Been Kissed. For example, Drew Barrymore's character is 16. The person she starts dating is a 23-year-old who is undercover as a teenager. There are also some weird things that happen between a student and a teacher... How was this okay? Just cut those things out!
Monty Python's Life of Brian - 1979
No one is really expecting any Monty Python flick to hold up as society progresses, but this one is a bit much. There were a lot of things that happened in this movie that really narrowed in on their target audience... It's best to leave this one in the past.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - 1994
Jim Carey is quite the character in every single one of his movies. This movie was supposed to be raunchy, offensive, and satirical... Which it was! But, in 2021, it strikes out way too many times in making inappropriate jokes. No way would this one ever hold up.