12 Comedies That Would Never Be Made Today

There’s been a hefty shift in what appears on the big screen over the years. Some flicks that once made your belly hurt from laughter are now disrespectful. Writers and directors have to be careful when creating dialogue between characters. The outfits actors wear also must be taken into account. If these things aren’t taken seriously, the movie risks being canceled by folks. Loads of movies simply wouldn’t fly by today’s standards of entertainment.

“White Chicks” is considered by many one of the funniest movies ever written. However, there’s virtually no way the movie would make it in 2024. The Wayans brothers dress up pretending to be white girls. They do every stereotypical thing white women are known for. There’s one scene where a group of them are driving together. A song comes on with a derogatory word and the bunch screams it out. Tons of people would be up in arms if that particular scene were released today.

Another movie that would scuffle with today’s social environment is “Tropic Thunder.” Robert Downey Jr. has been shot onto the Mount Rushmore list of actors by some. However, in the movie, he puts on blackface. There are plenty of African-American actors who could have also played the role. Using blackface in any capacity is one of the speediest ways to get canceled by Gen-Z and Millennials in 2024. For more movie content, click here to read about the best college movies ever made.

To compile this list of comedies that would never be made today, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment-related sources. These include ScreenRant, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes.

“White Chicks”

• IMDb rating: 5.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

Few comedies have made audiences bend over laughing like “White Chicks.” The film follows two detectives who are tasked with keeping a pair of sisters safe. To complete the mission, the detectives decide to hide the girls in an apartment. They did so against the girls’ will. In order to keep appearances up, the two men, who are African-American, dress up as the two white girls. They act in the most stereotypical fashion they can.

There’s one scene in particular that would have the newer generations up in arms if it were released today. The two detectives are driving on the road with the girls’ friends. During the journey, a hip-hop song comes on the radio. Rather than jump over the derogatory words in the song, the group continues singing and belts out the derogatory lyrics. While this was found funny when the movie was released, there’s virtually no way they’d get away with this in 2024.

“American Pie”

• IMDb rating: 7.0/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 61%

Teenagers will likely always make mistakes and do dumb things while they’re getting used to their new hormones. The movie “American Pie” perfectly captures all of the crazy antics young people get into while finding themselves. While it’s become an iconic movie for some people, it likely wouldn’t fly in 2024. One of the most memorable scenes in movie history is when Jim sees a pie and uses it to pleasure himself. Tons of folks find this scene hilarious, but people today would defend him for being curious.

There are other parts of the movie that unequivocally wouldn’t fly today. Jim finds himself filming Nadia changing clothes without her consent. The mere idea of something like that taking place in a movie today is almost laughable. Folks wouldn’t appreciate how unserious the issue is taken in the movie. There are tons of things to laugh at in “American Pie.” That doesn’t mean it would fly by today’s standards.

“Tropic Thunder”

• IMDb rating: 7.1/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

Imagine filming a movie where a vicious war is taking place. Then, with no training whatsoever, you’re hoisted into the battle itself. That’s just what took place in the 2008 blockbuster “Tropic Thunder.” A group of Hollywood actors decide to film their latest and greatest hit in Asia. However, a massive war is taking place where they film. That’s not why folks in 2024 would run to social media to cancel the film, though.

Robert Downey Jr. is a beloved actor in Hollywood. He changed the landscape of movies with his role in the MCU as Iron Man. However, in “Tropic Thunder,” Downey Jr. uses blackface for part of his character. There’s no reason something like that would be okay by 2024 standards. Society would be clamoring for one of the many qualified African-American actors to take on a role like that instead.

“The Toy”

• IMDb rating: 5.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 3%

African-Americans have worked long and hard to establish themselves as worthy members of society. They should have always felt worthy, but they weren’t always treated that way. Even today, there are plenty of examples of racism taking place around the world. That means every movie that highlights an African-American must be taken seriously. The film needs to elevate African-Americans and not make them out to be less than human. That’s exactly the opposite of what happened in the 1980s comedy “The Toy.”

Richard Pryor stars as Jack Brown, an African-American man who’s purchased by a wealthy white man to be a toy for his son. Brown must obey everything the child demands of him for the week he’s owned. The idea of a wealthy white man literally purchasing an African-American for his son to play with wouldn’t even come close to being okay in 2024. Theater seats would be empty with folks protesting it’s release.

“Superbad”

• IMDb rating: 7.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Young millennials grew up watching Jonah Hill take the big screen. One of his first major hits was playing Seth in “Superbad.” It’s a film about a group of friends who are graduating high school. They want to lose their virginity before heading to college. To do so, they attend a party and bring alcohol for everyone to drink. At the end of it all, the group of friends remains in tact and talk to the girls they like.

The amount of teenage drinking and various sexual endeavors make the movie impossible to pass in 2024. Seth attempts to kiss his friend, Jules, while he’s intoxicated. While she pushes him off her, the idea of a man being drunk and approaching a woman in a comedic sense wouldn’t work in this day in age. Another scene that wouldn’t fly is when Seth is dancing with a girl who gets her cycle. Films wouldn’t get away with joking about a woman having her cycle at any point.

“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”

• IMDb rating: 6.9/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%

Most people love animals. In fact, some folks claim to love animals more than people. In “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” a detective from Miami is tasked with locating the Miami Dolphins mascot. He must search through thick and thin to locate the beloved creature before it’s too late. Along the way, Ventura comes across various people. There are some Ventura becomes more affectionate with than others.

One of the people Ventura gets handsy with is Detective Lois Einhorn. The detective is actually Ray Finkle, a character who commits murder during the film. Ventura and Einhorn share a kiss at one point during the movie. When it’s revealed that Einhorn is actually Finkle, Ventura is filled with disgust that he kissed a “man”. Ventura then makes Einhorn get naked to prove whether or not he’s a man. In 2024, the idea of someone being so disgusted by kissing the same gender wouldn’t fly one bit.

“Heathers”

• IMDb rating: 7.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

Plenty of high school kids feel like they don’t fit in among their peers. They try everything they can, yet, for whatever reason, they don’t click. Some act as though it’s not a big issue to be considered an outsider. Others think it’s their classmates fault for not fitting in. They decide it’s time to take out their frustrations on their peers. “Heathers” is a comedy about a teenager who’s plotting to shoot up the school they attend.

Even in the 1980s, the movie made some audience members feel uneasy. That was before school shootings became a common occurrence. Given the shaky plot, it’s impressive that the writers made this film into a successful comedy. In 2024, society would be in an uproar it a writer and producer decided to find humor in school shootings. Far too many folks have lost loved ones because of senseless acts of violence.

“Mr. Mom”

• IMDb rating: 6.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%

In the 1980s, being a stay-at-home dad was nearly unheard of. Men were supposed to be the bread winners and provide for their families. More often than not, moms stayed at home. They took care of the house and their kids. Some mothers had jobs and brought home extra money for their families. The men staying at home was so unheard of, the idea became a comedy movie. “Mr. Mom” follows a stay-at-home dad who takes care of the home while his wife brings home the bacon.

In 2024, more women are passing up men on the earnings scale. Women are becoming more educated and self-sufficient than ever before. Some men are opting to be stay-at-home dads while their wives make the money. No movie would make fun of a man for staying at home. Women out earning men isn’t a joke anymore. Cancel-culture would surely be up in arms if jokes were made about a successful woman and a man who allowed his wife to spread her wings.

“Miss Congeniality”

• IMDb rating: 6.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%

In the old days, women were supposed to be soft, docile, and agreeable. That’s nearly the exact opposite of what happens in “Miss Congeniality.” Gracie Hart works in the FBI where she took on any mission that’s given to her. The newest one is stopping a bomb threat that’s made to a beauty pageant in Texas. In order to get as close as she can to the action, she enters the pageant as a contestant herself. Her partner, Eric Matthews, took credit for all of the good ideas hart comes up with.

After finding out who the perpetrator of the bomb threat is, Hart took matters into her own hands. She successfully saves everyone at the pageant. Writers would be challenged with coming up with a script that makes a man take credit for all the work a woman does. They also would find it difficult to make jokes out of a woman being a tomboy. There are plenty of woman in 2024 who align themselves with what are typically reserved for men.

“Revenge of the Nerds”

• IMDb rating: 6.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

There’s always going to be a healthy battle between nerds and jocks. Until everyone enters the workforce and the nerds out earn the jocks, nerds will always feel like they’re in second place. The movie “Revenge of the Nerds” took audience members into the desires of nerds. They wanted to even the playing field with the jocks while growing up. However, not every scene is suitable for 2024.

In one clip, a nerd dresses as a popular girl’s boyfriend to sleep with her. The lack of consent and secretly going behind someone’s back would seemingly force millennials and Gen-Zers to boycott the movie. Any movie that lacks consent is going to likely struggle in the current social climate.

“Blazing Saddles”

• IMDb rating: 7.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

“Blazing Saddles” was transformative at the time it was released. The western flick revolved around the first African-American sheriff in an 1800s town. At first, the people didn’t think Bart was up for the challenge and change of pace of life. However, he proved himself to be a quality sheriff and protected the citizens from vicious thugs. While the movie is considered one of the most important in history, it wouldn’t fly by today’s standards.

There are numerous racial slurs uttered during the film. A sexual assault took place at one point. The scene is seemingly glossed over and not taken seriously whatsoever. In 2024, folks would be furious at the use of the slurs and lack of interest in the assault. During the 70s, the film was considered progressive. In 2024, not so much.

“Sixteen Candles”

• IMDb rating: 7.0/10
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

Mostly everyone grows up and dreams of what their 16th birthday is like. It’s the first time you’re legally allowed to drive a car. There’s a new level of independence that comes from hitting the benchmark year. The movie “Sixteen Candles” follows a young woman who’s preparing to turn the famous age. She has to decide whether she wants to pursue the must-have guy in school, or the nerdy guy she has a thing for.

The movie seems sweet, but there are tons of stereotypes that show themselves at various parts during the film. It’s normal to see Asian stereotypes burst through in this movie. Society in 2024 can’t stand when stereotypes are purposefully shown and pushed. For more movie content, click here to read about the best serial killer movies ever made.

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