1970s Movies That Will Be Cancelled Today

Ah, the 1970s—an iconic decade of flared jeans, disco fever, and movies that pushed boundaries on the bold and wild side. Talk about an era of daring storytelling, groundbreaking filmmaking, and characters launched on the screens. There may have been blockbuster movies that lined cinemas back then, but times and audience expectations have changed. Some of the most celebrated films of the 1970s would face challenges and most likely some serious objections if anyone tried to make them today.

Let’s run down and take a nostalgic look at 10 unforgettable 70s films that wouldn’t get greenlit in the 2020s.

1. Billy Jack (1971)
Billy Jack was a phenomenon in its day, raking in a box office haul that rivals modern blockbusters when adjusted for inflation. The plot was about a heroic outsider standing up against racism and injustice, which was why it easily connected with audiences. But here’s the catch: Tom Laughlin, a white actor, plays a supposedly half-Navajo character. Throw in a ritualistic snake-dancing scene, and you’ve got a movie that’s as problematic as it is memorable. While its themes of fighting oppression might still work, it’s the character portrayal that would need a major overhaul.

2. Blazing Saddles (1974)
This Mel Brooks classic hilariously skewers racism by turning bigots into the butt of the joke. Yet, with its heavy use of racial slurs—even in satire—the film makes modern audiences squirm. When Blazing Saddles hit HBO Max, it came with a content warning. The movie’s irreverence still holds up in spirit, but its raw language and audacious humor would likely be a non-starter in today’s cautious Hollywood.

3. The Deer Hunter (1978)
Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter is as gripping as it is controversial. Its portrayal of Russian roulette as a metaphor for the horrors of war left an indelible mark on cinema. But guess what: there’s really no historical evidence that Russian roulette was a part of the Vietnam War. Combine that with its harsh depiction of North Vietnamese characters as villains, and this Oscar-winning drama would face immense backlash today.

4. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Bernardo Bertolucci’s erotic drama shocked audiences with its intensity. This movie earned a reputation as one of the most provocative films of its time. But behind the scenes, things weren’t so glamorous. Actress Maria Schneider later revealed she felt exploited during filming, particularly in the infamous “butter scene,” which wasn’t in the original script. When you take modern standards around consent and on-set safety, Last Tango in Paris is impossible to produce today—and rightly so.

5. Manhattan (1979)
Woody Allen’s Manhattan is often lauded for its romantic imagery and clever dialogue, but the story? Not so much. It’s about a 44-year-old man dating a 17-year-old girl. Even if you set aside Allen’s personal controversies, that plotline alone makes Manhattan a relic of an era with very different sensibilities. It’s hard to imagine anyone pitching this as a “love story” in the 2020s.

6. M*A*S*H (1970)
This dark comedy about rebellious Army surgeons became a cultural touchstone, inspiring a beloved TV series. But the movie’s treatment of women is glaringly outdated. Characters relentlessly harass and humiliate a female nurse, broadcasting her intimate moments and mocking her mercilessly. What was once considered edgy humor now feels painfully tone-deaf, turning this supposed anti-authority satire into an uncomfortable watch.

7. Meatballs (1979)
Bill Murray’s first major film role helped establish him as a comedic powerhouse, but Meatballs hasn’t aged so well. The movie leans heavily on humor that wouldn’t fly today, including a nerdy kid nicknamed “Spaz” and awkward jokes about underage kids discussing sex. Murray’s persistent advances toward a female counselor, played for laughs, now come across as cringe-worthy at best.

8. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
Considered a quintessential college comedy, Animal House helped define the raunchy humor of its era. But the film’s edgy jokes cross lines that modern audiences would find deeply problematic. From questionable depictions of consent to racially charged scenes, much of its humor feels out of step with today’s cultural norms. A remake would need to cut so much content, the runtime would be drastically shorter!

9. Pretty Baby (1978)
It’s hard to imagine a film like Pretty Baby even being discussed in a studio boardroom today. The movie stars a 12-year-old Brooke Shields as a child prostitute, complete with nude scenes. Although the film aimed to critique exploitation, its very existence sparked outrage. With today’s heightened awareness around protecting young actors, Pretty Baby would be outright impossible to make.

10. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Most people remember Saturday Night Fever as a fun disco flick, but the original R-rated cut is far darker. Beneath the glitzy dance numbers are scenes involving sexual assault, racial tensions, and homophobia. While it paints a stark picture of 1970s Brooklyn, its protagonist’s questionable behavior would make him far less sympathetic to modern audiences. A reimagined version would have to tone down the gritty realism and rewrite key parts of the story.

So the next time you watch a 70s classic, of course, you can embrace the nostalgia but don’t forget to view them through a modern lens as well. After all, part of what makes revisiting these films so fascinating is seeing how much the world—and cinema—has changed.