11 Movies from the 2000s That Haven't Aged Well

      It's easy to point fingers at films from the 1970s and 1980s for being old-fashioned, yet many movies from the 2000s haven't stood the test of time either.

      **John Tucker Must Die (2006)**

      20th Century Studios – Credits: C/O

      This film is undeniably a product of its era. While it tries to critique the womanizing character John Tucker, it ultimately glamorizes him, portraying him as appealing for simultaneously dating various women.

      Although at its core, the film aims to showcase women uniting against a common adversary, the excessive sexualization of high school girls is problematic.

      On a brighter note, it does manage to pass the Bechdel test, which requires three criteria: 1. It must feature two (named) female characters who 2. converse with each other 3. about topics unrelated to men.

      **I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)**

      Universal Pictures – Credits: C/O

      Where to start? Adam Sandler is a fan favorite, but this film contains many elements that wouldn’t fly today.

      For instance, the portrayal of two straight men feigning a same-sex relationship to exploit the system is problematic for obvious reasons. The numerous jokes about homosexuality are no longer humorous, elements like Rob Schneider's yellowface, and Sandler's character behaving predatory toward Jessica Biel’s character—who believes he is gay while he secretly lusts after her—are also concerning.

      **Waiting… (2005)**

      Lionsgate – Credits: C/O

      Consider this line: “Hey there Natasha, how’s my favorite minor doing today?” Ryan Reynolds’ character asks a hostess. “I’m only a minor for another week,” she responds.

      This captures the blatant sexism, homophobia, and misogyny within the film. While it does have relatable moments for those in the restaurant industry, the numerous jokes about sexual harassment, pursuing underage girls, and offensive language like the F slur make it problematic.

      This 2000s film has not aged gracefully.

      **What Women Want (2000)**

      Paramount Pictures – Credits: C/O

      While this film isn’t as overtly problematic as others on this list, it still showcases outdated perceptions of women.

      The story centers on Mel Gibson's character, a smooth-talking successful man who magically gains the ability to hear women's thoughts, only to find they see straight through him and don’t view him as charming as he believes. However, some jokes fall flat now, such as the one where the punchline revolves around him wearing pantyhose. With today’s acceptance of gender fluidity and drag culture, those moments are no longer effective.

      Additionally, Gibson’s character is too easily forgiven by the women around him, including his daughter, who overlooks his absenteeism due to a single act of support at her prom, as if that makes him a hero.

      **The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)**

      Universal Pictures – Credits: C/O

      Although widely cherished, revisiting this classic may reveal that many of its jokes have not aged well. The film follows Steve Carrell's character Andy, who, at 40, is still a virgin, and highlights his friends’ efforts to help him lose his virginity.

      The film features jokes suggesting women are poor drivers, a fair amount of slut-shaming, and a troubling scene where Catherine Keener’s character Trish becomes upset when Andy refuses to sleep with her. While it’s a comedic staple, numerous elements simply aren't as amusing as they once were.

      **Bring It On (2000)**

      Universal Pictures – Credits: C/O

      A mere 10 seconds of the trailer reveals that this movie centers on the sexualization of teenagers. It includes the R-slur and a significant plot point regarding white cheerleaders appropriating the work of Black cheerleaders.

      Although deemed a classic teen film, a scene depicting a high school cheerleader going topless at a football game would not be acceptable in today's context.

      **The Hangover (2009)**

      Warner Bros. – Credits: C/O

      Another comedy classic with scenes that are quite unacceptable today. One particularly distressing scene involves Ed Helms' character reacting with disgust upon discovering that the sex worker he engaged with is transgender.

      The reactions from Helms and Bradley Cooper's characters show their discomfort upon realizing that Yasmin Lee’s character Kimmy is a trans woman, making the moment difficult to watch.

      **Wedding Crashers (2005)**

      New Line Cinema – Credits: C/O

      Much of the storyline in Wedding Crashers is about the male characters deceiving and manipulating women for sex. It features a racist grandmother, non-consensual sexual encounters, and jokes implying that gay men are predators.

      Isla Fisher, who plays a virgin that becomes fixated on Vince Vaughn’s character after they sleep together (a plot point that also misses the mark