The Classic American Movies That Normalized Sexual Harassment and Assault in the 20th Century

Marcos Franco
·2-min read

The ’70s and ’80s were an experimental time for movies. Sci-fi and horror reached new heights, with some of history’s most successful directors cutting their teeth on genre blockbusters before achieving awards glory in subsequent decades. But while old IP continues to inspire a plethora of remakes and reboots, some American classics don’t totally hold up.

Aggressive sexual content disguised as comedy — often revolving around male characters refusing to take “no” for an answer — hits differently in a Hollywood that’s experienced the Me Too movement. What once seemed funny comes across as creepy, and directors handwaving these characters’ misbehavior can leave contemporary audiences questioning the artists’ motives.

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Even before the phrase was known to mainstream audiences, rape culture was a frequent topic of discussion for ’80s filmmakers. Many films explored the role that drugs and alcohol sometimes have in the seduction process, and the blurred ethical lines that can emerge from socializing in uninhibited settings. Often played off as raunchy humor, the idea of “what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her” was a widely accepted comedic trope at the time.

The thought of a defenseless woman being taken advantage of is hardly a laughing matter for today’s audiences. And yet, despite the modern age of cancel culture, some of cinema’s most beloved, successful, and revered American classics feature artifacts from that bygone era. From a young age, generations of moviegoers are exposed to subliminal messages suggesting that consent isn’t a necessary prerequisite for dating, which only perpetuates that behavior in real life.

Movies from that time period often placed responsibility and blame on women, and assault was portrayed as a predictable consequence of drinking and partying too hard. Although filmmakers are now more conscious of the sexist taboos and contemporary cultural boundaries, numerous American classics normalized sexual harassment and even assault.

Comedy and sexuality are not perceived the same way they were 40 years ago, and that’s a good thing. And questionable sexual messaging doesn’t have to negate the good aspects of legendary movies, which is also a good thing. But rewatching these titles with a contemporary perspective allows us to observe the way our society has evolved while exploring the role that cinema might have played in establishing old social norms.

Keep reading for our list of ten films worth reevaluation for their problematic depictions of sex and dating.

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