Warning: This article discusses topics of transphobia, child abuse, inappropriate relationships, and suicide.

Unfortunately, there are some scenes from 1990s movies that wouldn’t happen today. These moments are typically uncomfortable because they are politically incorrect, badly written, or simply outdated.

Some of 1990s movies are just plain weird, usually because of a scene that, nowadays, wouldn’t fly whatsoever.

10 Ace Ventura's Reaction To Kissing A Trans Woman

Ace Ventura (1994)

The titular character discovering that Lois is trans after kissing her in Ace Venture: Pet Detective is an incredibly cringey moment from a ‘90s comedy movie. After Ace finds out that Lois once identified as Ray Finkle, he ferociously throws up in a rather over-the-top reaction.

While the understanding of transgender people has improved hugely, this moment is still rather ridiculous. It is fair enough for Ace to react badly to finding out that Lois is the true villain of the film, but vomiting over her identity wouldn’t translate as comical in 2024.

9 The Kiss Scene

Blank Check (1994)

Blank Check is about 11-year-old Preston Waters cashing a million-dollar check, but this initially wholesome premise is soured by the FBI’s involvement. It’s wild that undercover agent Shay agrees to a “business date” with Preston, let alone the pity kiss she gives him at the end of the movie.

It’s baffling that Blank Check tries to justify an illegal relationship between a child and an adult simply because Shay is on a mission. Then, she agrees to a second date when Preston is 17, as if that is any less weird.

8 Sam & Josie's Kiss

Never Been Kissed (1999)

Never Been Kissed is a romance movie that is ruined by an inappropriate relationship. At the end of the film, Sam and Josie kiss on the field in front of everyone. This scene is supposed to be heartwarming, but even though Josie isn’t actually a high schooler, it’s totally astonishing that Sam kisses her.

Any normal teacher would want to avoid the controversy, even though Josie was lying, but then he succumbs to peer pressure and gives her a very public first kiss. If Sam had any common sense, he would’ve quit his job and moved far, far away.

7 Francis Hooks Up With A Woman Outside The Club

Trainspotting (1996)

Although Francis Begbie isn’t exactly the greatest person in the Trainspotting cast, his character becomes even worse when he takes his hook-up to his car. While making out with her, Francis flips out when he feels her body and realizes that she is trans.

While his reaction is better than Ace Ventura’s, it’s still upsetting that he is so angry about a person’s body. What makes this scene even more frustrating, however, is that Francis’ friends don’t tell him that the woman is trans on purpose, simply because they think it’s funny.

6 Jim Streaming Nadia On His Webcam

American Pie (1999)

The webcam scene is considered one of American Pie’s funniest moments, but that doesn’t mean it would be done today. Even though Jim’s desperation for female is supposed to be a quirky character trait, watching Nadia get changed on the webcam is just cringey.

Movies are another world, but realistically, there’s nothing that funny about someone being observed without their knowledge. Poor Nadia is forced to leave the country because of it. This reinforces how Nadia, the victim, is punished for the incident more than the actual perpetrator, even though she is oblivious until it’s far too late.

5 Caitlin Has Sex With A Dead Man

Clerks (1994)

Even though Caitlin is horrified when she realizes that she has had sex with a corpse in Clerks, it doesn’t make the scene any better. However, it’s troubling that Caitlin doesn’t realize that the person she is being intimate with isn’t breathing, as well.

Every Clerks movie relies on shock humor in some way or another, but this moment is so painful that it makes audiences question who came up with the concept in the first place. The comedy is clear, undoubtedly, but it’s unlikely that such a scene would be mirrored in a film nowadays.

4 V Exposes Herself To Three Minors

Milk Money (1994)

At the beginning of Milk Money, sex worker V happily takes money from three young boys and shows them her breasts in a sleazy motel room. Rather than thinking like a responsible adult, she does it anyway, which is child abuse.

Although V doesn’t sleep with them, it doesn’t mean her actions aren’t immoral. Her profession is her business, but there’s no reason why children should be involved. Milk Money is supposedly one of the most expensive screenplays ever, but if it were remade today, it would be hard to justify why this scene should be included.

3 Lester Fantasizes About His Daughter's Friend

American Beauty (1999)

American Beauty’s narrative is rather uncomfortable, but Lester’s fantasy of Angela in the rose petal bathtub definitely wouldn’t fly today. Lester pictures himself pleasuring Angela, which is illegal, immoral, and inappropriate on so many levels. Not only is she a minor, but she is also the best friend of Lester’s daughter.

Lester barely knows Angela, a teenage girl whose prefrontal cortex isn’t even fully developed yet. This scene would never happen today, especially as the American Beauty characters are framed in a romantic backdrop, but it’s just creepy.

2 Buckley Calls The Suicide Hotline

Dead Man On Campus (1998)

Dead Man on Campus’ storyline wouldn’t happen today, but especially the suicide hotline scene. Cooper pretending to be a volunteer is controversial enough, let alone him playing into Buckley’s Bill Gates paranoia. It’s vile that Cooper and Josh would try to make anyone kill themselves for the sake of their grades.

Suicide is a very sensitive topic and should never be encouraged, and college students under pressure are a particularly vulnerable group. TV and movies now typically include resources for viewers to access any they may need, which is unbelievably important and saves lives.

1 Mathilda Dresses Up & Sings

Léon: The Professional (1994)

Natalie Portman is only 12 in Léon: The Professional, which makes Mathilda’s seduction scene even more horrifying. Mathilda dresses up in lingerie and sings “Like a Virgin” and mimics Marilyn Monroe’s Happy Birthday to JFK, but Léon just stares back.

While this is just a girlhood crush, it doesn’t excuse the fact that Léon doesn’t shut it down immediately. This 1990s movie scene would never happen today, and it’s just weird and uncomfortable that this moment is considered a bit of fun.