12 Unapologetic '80s Films That Are Indifferent to Your Offense

      Here are 11 unapologetic '80s films that have no concern for potential offense.

      They disregarded good taste—just focusing on delivering laughs.

      These are some '80s films that might not be acceptable today.

      Porky’s (1981)

      Kim Cattrall in Porky’s. 20th Century Fox.

      It continues to entertain us how the director of Porky’s, the great Bob Clark, also created A Christmas Story. (He was also behind the horror film Black Christmas and the children's movie Baby Geniuses. Talk about versatility.)

      Porky’s is one of those '80s films that parents often protected their kids from, which seems logical in hindsight: Though marketed as a carefree comedy, it features uncomfortable humiliations and issues of consent that don’t align with today's standards.

      But, harking back to A Christmas Story, Bob Clark didn’t care one bit.

      Trading Places (1983)

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      At one point, Dan Aykroyd disguises himself as a Jamaican, which doesn't sit well with some. Also, the scene where a gorilla takes a villain as a mate has drawn criticism. Perhaps it’s not as funny in hindsight.

      Yet, Trading Places boasts excellent elements, including a clever exploration of nature versus nurture and astute observations regarding societal assumptions about who deserves wealth.

      We appreciate its modern twist on the screwball comedies from the 1930s, and Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Lee Curtis deliver outstanding performances. It’s one of our top '80s films.

      Better Off Dead (1985)

      Warner Bros.

      John Cusack stars as Lane Meyer, a teenager who unsuccessfully tries to end his life after being dumped by his girlfriend, Beth Truss (Amanda Wyss), for the arrogant Roy Stalin (Aaron Dozier).

      The premise wouldn’t be acceptable today, nor the slapstick humor surrounding a teen boy’s suicidal attempts. However, it's so brilliantly absurd that no reasonable person could take it seriously.

      Moreover, similar to many films of the era, it includes some problematic Asian characters, but at least they’re portrayed as skilled racers with girlfriends. By high school standards, they certainly seem cooler than poor Lane.

      Lastly, Diane Franklin (pictured with Cusack) shines as Monique, a notably intelligent, capable, and cool dream girl. It's arguably one of the most quintessential '80s comedies.

      The Man With Two Brains (1983)

      Warner Bros.

      The premise of this dark screwball comedy may appear somewhat misogynistic: Steve Martin portrays a mad neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr, who becomes enamored with femme fatale Dolores Benedict (Kathleen Turner), only to later grow resentful as she refuses to consummate their marriage.

      In the meantime, he falls for a disembodied brain, Anne (voiced by Sissy Spacek), and seeks a body for her. Along the way, he wishes death on one woman and contemplates killing another, culminating in a joke about compulsive eaters.

      While not on par with The Jerk, another collaboration between Steve Martin and director Carl Reiner, it still contains some genuinely funny moments.

      Heathers (1988)

      New World Pictures

      Heathers stands out as one of the darkest '80s films, encapsulating a fatalistic attitude associated with Gen X. Written by Daniel Waters, it serves as a counterbalance to the generally more cheerful John Hughes comedies of that era.

      The movie features Christian Slater as a charming yet deranged teen who gets popular girl Veronica involved in a plan to eliminate other popular kids, manipulating events to make it seem like they took their own lives—with props like mineral water to enhance the illusion.

      Keep in mind, this was the '80s, a time when the notion of deadly suburban high-schoolers seemed absurdly comical. A recent attempt to adapt Heathers into a TV series faced various delays and challenges due to real-life school violence, rendering the premise far less amusing for today’s audiences.

      Coming to America (1988)

      Paramount

      Coming to America is a brilliant mix of comic absurdity that offends various demographics while respecting every kind of hustle. Eddie Murphy applies Richard Pryor's technique of playing multiple characters within the same scene, mastering it with the help of makeup.

      The film is filled with countless jokes that modern viewers might find startling, but they were equally shocking upon release. Eddie Murphy and his team simply didn’t care; they aimed for genuine laughter, and they succeeded.

      Airplane (1980)

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      Airplane is rife with questionable humor, including June Cleaver herself speaking jive. It's highly inappropriate—yet arguably one of the funniest moments in cinema.

      Kudos to David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker—known for their influence on '80s comedies—for the choice of Barbara Bill