10 classic cult movies from the 70s that have aged poorly

While plenty of Movies of the 1970s have since built a cult following, that doesn’t mean they haven’t aged in the subsequent decades. Whether due to outdated social and political content, poor special effects, or even scandalous concepts that do not hold up in today’s modern cinema landscape, it is interesting to note how much time can destroy an audience’s perspective on a particular film. While these movies may be old, that doesn’t necessarily make them bad, and it’s important to see them as products of the era in which they were made.

Some of the best films of the 1970s had their fair share of issues of being outdated, and this was especially the case for cult classics that already stood outside of normal cinematic expectations. From silly premises like an offbeat comedy casting Clint Eastwood opposite a copycat to sci-fi classics whose special effects just didn’t hold up, Poor old 1970s movies showcase just how far filmmaking has progressed in the years since. Although all these movies boast loyal fan bases, it must be admitted that they have aged poorly.

10

Any Which Way But Loose (1978)

Directed by James Fargo

Like truly one of Clint Eastwood’s worst movies, the concept behind it Either way but independent Feels more like a strange fever dream than an actual movie. This offbeat comedy stars Eastwood, fresh off the epic revenge western The bandit Josie WalesWith an orangutan for a bright movie that has not stood the test of time. Not only was Either way but independent A shockingly out-of-character movie for Eastwood, but it was also successful enough to spawn an even worse sequel in 1980 titled Any way you can.

While the novelty of seeing Eastwood in a monkey-filled comedy may have felt unique back in 1978, looking back, it’s an embarrassing anomaly in a career packed with iconic films. today, Viewers remember Eastwood as the man with no name in Sergio Leone Dollars Trilogy Or as the director and co-star of the Best Picture-winning films Unforgiven And Million dollar baby. With that in mind, Either way but independent Didn’t age well, and it’s clear that Eastwood was mostly in it for the paycheck.

9

beautiful baby (1978)

Directed by Louis Malle

While it’s clear that social norms surrounding acceptability have changed drastically over the past few years, it still boggles the mind as a movie like beautiful baby Can be perceived as anything but creepy, no matter the era. As the story of a 12-year-old girl raised in a brothel in New Orleans, The over-sexualization of the child actress Brooke Shields Meant that this film has aged very poorly. Featuring semi-nude and nude scenes with Shields, who was 11 years old at the time of filming, the moral and ethical issues of beautiful baby Production make it an unfortunate relic of the past.

when it came out, beautiful baby Was well-received by critics and even nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. However, despite its well-meaning intentions of deconstructing child exploitation and themes around the loss of innocence, having a real child portray the scenes meant that the film could easily be accused of doing the very thing it was set out to protest. more than anything, beautiful baby Highlights how much times have changed, and the film’s impact on Shields was further explored in the 2024 documentary Beautiful Baby: Brooke Shields.

8

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Directed by John Badham

John Travolta’s acting career really took off in the late 1970s as he gained roles in Curry, Saturday night feverAnd Lubricate one after the other. Although all these roles are highly acclaimed and remain cult classics to this day, like this one Saturday night fever Addressing issues of sexual assault and abuse meant that it has aged the worst of them all. While Saturday night fever Strongly addressed race and identity within the disco music movement, it also showed the very real threat of sexual violence for women during this time.

In one scene, Tony (Travolta) tries to sexually force himself on his dance partner Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney), and in another, Tony’s sleazy group of friends rape fellow disco dancer Annette (Danna Peskov.) Saturday night fever has gained a reputation as a fun-filled movie with lots of music and disco dancingUpon rewatching it, it is shocking how much bigotry, misogyny, and sexual violence were shown. Although these aspects add to the thematic depth of his story, it also means, in many ways, that Saturday night fever has aged poorly.

7

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Directed by Jim Sharman

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has earned its reputation as perhaps the definitive cult film of the 1970s. With incredible music, subversive characters and wild, campy and outrageous energy, This Tim Curry film pushed social and political boundaries and showed LGBTQ+ themes And issues in a way few movies have tried before. Although all this is still true today, it must be admitted that The Rocky Horror Picture Show Can feel a little outdated in many ways.

Although Dr. Frank-N-Furter may have been a groundbreaking character in 1975, his self-characterization as a “Sweet transvestite” feels out of step with modern language use around gender non-conforming people. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is also packed with scenes where consent was ambiguous or even outright ignored, making for uncomfortable viewing in the wake of movements like MeToo. generally, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was well-meaning in its intentions and should be hailed as a trail-blazing film, but some aspects of it just don’t hold up in the 21st century.

6

Love Story (1970)

Directed by Arthur Hiller

Love Story It has been cited as one of the most romantic movies of all time, as the story of Oliver (Ryan O’Neill) and Jennifer (Ellie McGraw) struck a chord with contemporary viewers. Love Story Addresses important issues surrounding class and romance by showcasing how a boy and girl from vastly different backgrounds cross paths and eventually fall for one another. As an overtly sentimental story that fully embraces its more melodramatic aspects when tragedy strikes, Love Story struck a chord with audiences at the time, but today, it can feel emotionally manipulative.

One of the main aspects that made Love Story Age weak was the way it presented Oliver and Jennifer’s romance. The famous movie quote “Love means never having to say you’re sorry” Perfectly encapsulates Love Story Unhealthy depiction of romance How the toxic dynamic between the couple is romanticized, because Oliver’s emotional distance, dismissive attitude and sometimes controlling behavior are never fully confronted. While Love Story Could have been a cult classic of its era, looking back, it was filled with outdated themes and ideas.

5

Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Directed by Hal Needham

Lame, cheesy jokes combined with poor production values ​​meant that though Smokey and the Bandit Having achieved iconic cult status, it still ages very poorly. Although the film’s images and ideas have stood the test of time, and the characterization of Bo “The Outlaw” Darville will always be one of Burt Reynolds’ definitive roles, it’s impossible not to be hyper-aware From the age of the movie. Production values ​​for action movies are so high in the last nearly five decades that The stunts in Smokey and the Bandit Feel incredibly tame.

Adding to these issues are gender stereotypes, racial representation and an incentivized image of Southern culture. The humor in Smokey and the Bandit was full of casual sexism, and although the characterization of Carrie, CB handle “Frog,” made it one of Sally Field’s best movies, it is difficult to argue that she is not one-dimensional. Smokey and the Bandit Can still be a lot of fun, and the film’s legacy is undeniable, it’s clear that the movie has not aged.

4

The Amityville Horror (1979)

Directed by Stuart Rosenberg

The Amityville Horror The long-running folk horror franchise that has included numerous sequels, direct-to-video releases and even a 2005 reimagining. As the story of a young couple who buy a haunted house, the film addresses contemporary concerns about financial insecurity, as its “credit-crunch horror” themes were subsequently repeated in later horror films made during times of economic turmoil, such as The Conjuring. While the thematic ideas of The Amityville Horror It was very practical and special effects, which was the cult favorite.

In the decade since The Amityville Horror is made, special effects have improved drastically, meaning that supernatural movies such as this can look painfully like products of their time. While more psychologically-based films such as Psycho Or slasher movies like The Texas chain saw massacre Stay safe, ghost movies like The Amityville Horror Unfortunately not. Although this movie has earned its place in horror history, The presence of an immoral ghost did not stop The Amityville Horror of aging.

3

Deliverance (1972)

Directed by John Boorman

Deliverance was a groundbreaking thriller whose “dueling banjos” scene became a touchstone of popular culture. While the film was a critical and commercial success at the time of its release, looking back on it DeliveranceIt is impossible not to notice the shocking cultural insensitivity at the heart of his story. Featuring a terrifying story about four Atlanta businessmen who encounter the deranged resident of the far north Georgia desert, Deliverance Lean heavily into hillbilly stereotypes and longstanding stigma against marginalized rural people.

The picture of the Southern letters in Deliverance How violent, backward, and predatory meant that the film age is weak regarding contemporary depictions of rural populations. The shocking and brutal sexual assault shown in the film also made for highly uncomfortable viewing which further entrenched the film’s backward depiction of its antagonists. While Deliverance Still remembered as a highly influential and powerful movie, it is important to see it as a product of its time in its representation.

2

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)

Directed by Don Taylor

The original Planet of the Apes From 1968, starring Charlton Heston, it became a touchstone of popular culture that featured one of the best movie twists of all time. the sequel, Under the planet of the apesCan not boast the same inheritance. Although the subsequent movies in the original franchise have gained a cult following, lackluster special effects and truly mind-boggling stories mean they’ve aged well.

Although Heston briefly reprized his role for the sequel, the main plot followed James Francis as Brent, an American astronaut sent to rescue Taylor (Heston). developed telepathic powers. While this was an interesting new direction for the franchise, it undermined much of the narrative of the previous classic story and was Filled with lackluster special effects that badly dated Under the planet of the apes.

1

Foxy Brown (1974)

Directed by Jack Hill

The blaxploitation genre emerged in the 1970s as a means for black artists to reclaim their cultural identity with movies that focused more on an African-American outlook. Classics of the genre included movies like Quiet And SuperflyWhich combines this style of filmmaking with incredible soul and funk music. Another important announcement was made Foxy BrownStarring Pam Grier, which featured a more female-centric spin on these types of movies and was produced as an empowering representation of female autonomy.

While many aspects of Foxy Brown Still holding up to this day, and it’s an incredible time capsule to a particular era in cinema, its themes of female empowerment read more than objectionable when viewed through a modern lens. Foxy Brown was packed with highly sexualized images and was even seized and confiscated in the United Kingdom under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 during the video nasty panic (via Melon farmers.) Although the themes and ideas explored in Foxy Brown Still feeling significant, it is important to see it out of the context in which it was produced.

Source: Melon farmers