A number of the most significant and popular films in history have also gained notoriety for unjustifiable reasons. There are a few noteworthy examples of well-known films that people adore for the wrong reasons, regardless of how well it did at the box office.
Whiplash (2014)
The protagonist of the psychological thriller Whiplash is jazz drummer Andrew, who has a gift for performance, and his relationship with Terence Fletcher, his abusive teacher. Whiplash is seen as an uplifting movie that demonstrates the need for harsh love in a competitive setting, despite its obvious messages about abusive relationships and their effects on a person’s mental health.
Fight Club (1999)
Based on the same-titled 1996 novel, combat Club tells the story of an insomniac man who, in an attempt to escape the boring white-collar job, teams up with a charming soap maker to start an underground combat club. Fight Club is generally regarded as an aggressively macho film with blood and guts, but Brad Pitt’s outstanding portrayal of the carefree Tyler Durden only serves to blur the lines between audience perception and the film’s true message. The film boasts stellar acting performances and an intriguing story. Fight Club is a harsh critique of toxic masculinity and its detrimental effects on males, despite the appearance of the film.
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Full Metal Jacket, which is based on Gustav Hasford’s 1979 novel The Short-Timers, chronicles the optimistic journey of J. T. “Joker” Davis, a U.S. Marine, towards his eventual spiral into madness as he observes directly the dehumanizing consequences that war can have on people. Full Metal Jacket, widely regarded as one of Stanley Kubrick’s greatest films, is a critique of both war and the USMC Corps. It does this by breaking up the narrative into two parts: the first, which takes place during boot camp and depicts the effects of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman’s harsh training methods on the incoming Marines; and the second, which takes place in Vietnam and the atrocities that are associated with it. Still, the majority of viewers view the film as a pro-American military production.
Rambo: First Blood (1982)
John Rambo, a seasoned Green Beret, finds himself in a one-man fight against a dishonest sheriff and his goons when they see him as a danger to society.Based on the 1972 novel of the same name by David Morrell, Rambo: First Blood is regarded as the best Rambo film due to its portrayal of PTSD as a direct effect of the Vietnam War, as well as its acting and pacing.The image that most viewers seem to remember is Stallone’s well-known hero taking down police officers with his recognizable M60 machine rifle.
Magic Mike (2012)
While Magic Mike is praised for its realistic portrayal of the male stripper scene and the difficulties many people in that field have, the 2012 comedic drama has a great deal more nuance and depth that is frequently overlooked. Magic Mike portrays the male stripping business in a respectful manner, but it also tells a real narrative about an aspirant businessman who turns to male stripping to get the money he needs to follow his aspirations.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
The real-life tale of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort, who rose from selling penny stocks to become one of the richest men alive, is mostly told in The Wolf of Wall Street. Many of director Martin Scorsese’s signature elements are present in the movie, including an Oscar-worthy performance by Leonardo DiCaprio and a cautionary tale about greed and the loss of innocence. But The Wolf of Wall Street is sometimes misunderstood as a movie that elevates wealth above everything else.
Joker (2019)
Joker chronicles the fall of Arthur Fleck, a young stand-up comedian, into madness following numerous abortive attempts to launch a lucrative career in entertainment. Arthur is initially a sympathetic person, but that becomes increasingly less true as he begins to exhibit extremely alarming behaviors related to himself. In addition, his violent outbursts against both regular people and other comedians are a result of not getting the correct mental and emotional assessment. Despite these obvious problems, Arthur quickly gained recognition as a voice for actual people who behave in similar ways.
Parasite (2019)
Working as servants for the wealthy Park family, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite follows the impoverished Kim family as they become more and more desperate in their pursuit of fortune. The dark comedy exposes the callousness of the rich and the unintentional harm that their distant demeanor may cause to those who are trying to make ends meet. It also serves as a warning against avarice and its attendant vices.Although many viewers will find the Kim family to be likable and perhaps somewhat relatable at the beginning of the movie.
Scarface (1983)
De Palma’s Scarface features some of the greatest lines in movie history, and Tony has become one of the most iconic and influential protagonists in history thanks to his enormous wealth, charisma, and do-or-die mentality. But beneath all of Tony’s style and charm is a really damaged person who is more suited as a sociopathy case study than the martyr he is so frequently portrayed as.
Taxi Driver (1976)
Known for his trademark speeches and mohawk, Travis is regarded as one of Robert De Niro’s greatest roles. His conflicting morals and beliefs have fueled discussions about mentally ill men for almost fifty years, and his persona has made him one of the most studied protagonists in film history. Nevertheless, because of his actions, Travis is frequently considered as one of the most misunderstood heroes in cinema history, despite the obvious problems with his mental health.
