80s Movies That Are Basically Unwatchable Now

The 1980s was a vibrant decade for cinema, producing many iconic films that are still loved today. Movies from this era often had big hair, catchy soundtracks, and a unique sense of style. They introduced us to blockbuster franchises and beloved characters that have endured for decades. Many people look back on 80s films with nostalgia, remembering the fun and excitement of seeing them for the first time.

However, not all movies from the 80s have stood the test of time. Some films that were popular back then can be difficult to watch now. Over time, societal values and filmmaking techniques change. What was once considered funny or acceptable may now seem offensive or outdated. As a result, some 80s movies have become basically unwatchable for modern audiences.

15. ‘Sixteen Candles’ (1984)

John Hughes’ ‘Sixteen Candles’ was a popular teen comedy in its time. The story follows Samantha Baker as she navigates her sixteenth birthday, which her family has forgotten. It was praised for its humor and relatability for teenagers of the era. The film captured the anxieties of high school life, from crushes to social hierarchies.

However, watching ‘Sixteen Candles’ today can be an uncomfortable experience. The movie contains scenes that are now widely seen as problematic. One of the most criticized aspects is the portrayal of the foreign exchange student, Long Duk Dong, which relies on offensive Asian stereotypes. Additionally, there are jokes about date rape that are deeply unsettling to a modern audience.

14. ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ (1984)

‘Revenge of the Nerds’ was a successful comedy that centered on a group of nerdy college students who are bullied by the jocks. The nerds decide to fight back, leading to a series of pranks and schemes. The movie was seen as an underdog story, with the nerds ultimately triumphing over their tormentors.

Despite its initial popularity, ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ is now often cited as a film that has aged poorly. A central plot point involves one of the main characters deceiving a woman into having sex with him by wearing a mask. This scene is now widely condemned as a depiction of rape. Other instances of casual sexism and questionable humor make the film difficult to enjoy today.

13. ‘Porky’s’ (1981)

‘Porky’s’ was a raunchy teen comedy that became a box office hit. The film follows the exploits of a group of high school friends in the 1950s who are determined to lose their virginity. It was known for its crude humor and sexual content, which was shocking to some audiences at the time.

Today, ‘Porky’s’ is often criticized for its misogynistic and voyeuristic themes. The female characters are largely treated as objects, and a significant portion of the humor is derived from their sexualization and humiliation. The infamous peephole scene in the girls’ locker room is a prime example of the film’s problematic content that makes it unwatchable for many.

12. ‘Doctor Detroit’ (1983)

‘Doctor Detroit’ stars Dan Aykroyd as a mild-mannered professor who accidentally becomes entangled with a group of prostitutes and their flamboyant pimp. To help them, he creates the persona of “Doctor Detroit,” a supposed international man of mystery. The film was intended as a lighthearted comedy.

The premise of ‘Doctor Detroit’ is what makes it so difficult to watch now. The humor is built on stereotypes about pimps and sex workers that are outdated and offensive. The film’s casual treatment of prostitution and its reliance on racial and gender stereotypes make it a product of its time that has not aged well.

11. ‘Soul Man’ (1986)

‘Soul Man’ tells the story of a white student who darkens his skin with tanning pills to qualify for a scholarship reserved for African American students at Harvard Law School. The film was intended to be a comedy with a message about racism.

The central concept of ‘Soul Man,’ which involves blackface, is deeply offensive and unacceptable by today’s standards. The film’s attempts at social commentary are undermined by its use of harmful stereotypes. Instead of challenging racism, the movie often reinforces it, making it a cringeworthy and unwatchable experience for a modern audience.

10. ‘Weird Science’ (1985)

Another John Hughes film, ‘Weird Science,’ follows two nerdy teenagers who create their ideal woman using a computer and a little bit of magic. The woman they create, Lisa, helps them gain confidence and stand up to their bullies. The film was a fantasy comedy that tapped into the anxieties of teenage boys.

The premise of ‘Weird Science’ is inherently sexist. The idea of two boys creating a woman to serve their needs is problematic and objectifying. The film’s humor often comes at the expense of its female characters, and the overall message about women and relationships is outdated. These elements make it a difficult watch in the modern era.

9. ‘Zapped!’ (1982)

‘Zapped!’ is a teen comedy about a high school student who gains telekinetic powers. He uses his newfound abilities to get back at bullies and to see girls naked. The movie was part of a wave of raunchy comedies that were popular in the early 80s.

The way the main character uses his powers is what makes ‘Zapped!’ so unwatchable today. The film’s humor relies heavily on the non-consensual act of undressing girls with his mind. This plot point is treated as harmless fun, but it comes across as creepy and predatory to a contemporary audience. The movie’s casual sexism is a major reason it has not aged well.

8. ‘The Toy’ (1982)

‘The Toy’ stars Richard Pryor as an unemployed journalist who is hired to be the “toy” for the spoiled son of a wealthy businessman, played by Jackie Gleason. The film was a comedy that attempted to explore themes of class and race.

The concept of a Black man being hired as a human plaything for a white child is deeply problematic and uncomfortable to watch. The film’s attempts at social satire are clumsy and often fall flat. The racial dynamics at the heart of the story are cringeworthy, making ‘The Toy’ a movie that is best left in the past.

7. ‘Red Dawn’ (1984)

‘Red Dawn’ is an action film that depicts a fictional World War III in which the United States is invaded by the Soviet Union and its Cuban and Nicaraguan allies. A group of high school students in a small Colorado town form a resistance group called the Wolverines to fight back.

While ‘Red Dawn’ was a product of Cold War paranoia, its jingoistic and nationalistic tone can be hard to stomach today. The film’s portrayal of the invading forces is often xenophobic and simplistic. The level of violence, particularly involving teenagers, can also be unsettling. For these reasons, the film can feel more like propaganda than entertainment to a modern viewer.

6. ‘Just One of the Guys’ (1985)

In ‘Just One of the Guys,’ a teenage girl believes her journalism is not being taken seriously because she is a girl. To prove her point, she enrolls in a different high school disguised as a boy. The film was intended as a comedy about gender roles.

While the premise had potential, the execution of ‘Just One of the Guys’ is what makes it difficult to watch now. The film’s understanding of sexism is superficial, and it often reinforces gender stereotypes rather than challenging them. The humor is frequently dated and relies on cliches about how boys and girls behave.

5. ‘Howard the Duck’ (1986)

‘Howard the Duck’ is a science fiction comedy based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name. The film follows an anthropomorphic duck from another planet who is zapped to Earth and must find a way back home. It was a notorious box office bomb.

The film is widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made for a variety of reasons. The tone is bizarre and inconsistent, shifting between family-friendly adventure and creepy, adult-oriented themes. The infamous scene in which Howard is seduced by a human woman is particularly unsettling and has contributed to the film’s reputation as an unwatchable mess.

4. ‘Mannequin’ (1987)

‘Mannequin’ is a romantic comedy about a struggling artist who falls in love with a mannequin he created, which comes to life. The mannequin, named Emmy, is an ancient Egyptian who has been reincarnated. The film was a commercial success.

The central premise of ‘Mannequin’ is what makes it so strange and unwatchable for many today. The idea of a man falling in love with an inanimate object that magically comes to life is creepy rather than romantic. The film’s humor and plot are thin, and the overall concept is too bizarre for most modern viewers to enjoy.

3. ‘The Woman in Red’ (1984)

‘The Woman in Red,’ directed by and starring Gene Wilder, is a romantic comedy about a married man who becomes obsessed with a beautiful woman he sees. He goes to great lengths to have an affair with her.

The film’s portrayal of infidelity and male obsession is deeply problematic by today’s standards. The main character’s relentless pursuit of the titular woman is creepy and stalker-like, yet it is framed as comedic. The movie’s casual attitude towards cheating and its objectification of women make it a difficult and uncomfortable watch.

2. ‘Private School’ (1983)

‘Private School’ is another entry in the raunchy teen comedy genre of the 1980s. The film follows the students of an exclusive all-girls private school and the neighboring all-boys academy. The plot, such as it is, revolves around their various sexual misadventures.

Like many other films of its kind, ‘Private School’ is now unwatchable due to its rampant sexism and misogyny. The female characters are almost exclusively portrayed as sexual objects, and the humor is derived from their bodies and their supposed lack of intelligence. The film is a relic of a bygone era of teen comedies that has not aged well at all.

1. ‘Trading Places’ (1983)

‘Trading Places’ is a comedy directed by John Landis and starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. It tells the story of a wealthy investor and a streetwise con artist whose lives are swapped as part of a bet by two cruel millionaire brothers. The film was a major commercial and critical success.

While still considered a classic by some, ‘Trading Places’ contains elements that are hard to watch today. The most glaring issue is the use of blackface by Dan Aykroyd’s character as part of a disguise. The film also features casual racism and a homophobic joke that are jarring to modern sensibilities. The plot point involving the gorilla is also a source of controversy for its treatment of animals.

What 80s movies do you find impossible to watch now?