Summary

• Whiplash's depiction of abuse is misunderstood as tough love, missing the film's true message about abusive relationships.
• Fight Club's true message about toxic masculinity and mental health is often overshadowed by iration for the character Tyler Durden.
• Full Metal Jacket's critique of war and the military is misinterpreted as a pro-American war film, ignoring its true meaning.

This article contains references to drug use, graphic violence, and depictions of sexual assault and abuse.

Some of the most influential and successful movies ever released have also earned their prestigious reputations for the wrong reasons. Although movies can be appreciated for many reasons, considering they're meant to be consumed with an open and objective mind, this has lead to some of the best movies also ranking high in the most controversial movies of all time lists. In some instances, earning the distinction has benefited a movie as it helped spread the word about otherwise obscure projects, and in other situations, a movie being deemed too controversial effectively persuaded audiences to avoid seeing it all together.

Then there are unique cases in which a movie's marketing and storytelling will strongly suggest its themes and characters should be assessed with a critical mind, yet the majority of audiences will view a project in a positive light, seemingly missing the movie's point or what a character represented entirely. Furthermore, there are some great movies that were misunderstood upon release because they contain esoteric subjects and complex characters that require multiple viewings to fully digest. Whether a movie performed well at the box office or not, there are a few notable examples of popular movies that people love for the wrong reasons.

10 Whiplash (2014)

Whiplash's themes of abuse and self-destruction are ignored

Whiplash is a psychological thriller that centers around Andrew, a jazz drummer with an aptitude for greatness, and his relationship with his abusive instructor, Terence Fletcher. The critically acclaimed drama's depictions of abuse and the self-destructive nature of the fruitless pursuit of perfection have made it one of the best movies of the 2010s. However, despite the film's clear messaging about abusive relationships and their impact on one's mental state, Whiplash is viewed as an inspirational film meant to show that tough love in a competitive context is necessary. This assessment not only misses the point, but it ignores the stories of individuals who can relate to Andrew's experience.

9 Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club's toxic masculinity is ignored in favor of iring Tyler Durden

Based on the 1996 novel of the same name, Fight Club follows the Narrator, a man with insomnia who forms an underground fight club with a charismatic soap-maker to escape the mundane nature of his white-collar life. Featuring stellar acting performances and an engaging story, Fight Club is typically perceived as an aggressively macho movie filled with blood and guts, and Brad Pitt's excellent performance as the devil-may-care Tyler Durden only helps blur the line between audience perception and the film's true message. In spite of how things seem, Fight Club is actually a scathing rejection of toxic masculinity and its negative effects on men.

Although Tyler seems like the coolest movie character of all time, he's the physical manifestation of the Narrator's deepest desires. While Tyler initially comes across as suave and intelligent, his cult leader sensibilities and acts of domestic terrorism firmly reinforce that he is not someone that men should aspire to be like. Furthermore, when the film's twist reveals that Tyler is a figment of the Narrator's imagination, it highlights the often ignored seriousness of men and their mental health. Fight Club makes it fairly obvious that it's actually a critique of the things it makes look cool, but the nuances of its storytelling require multiple viewings to fully grasp.

8 Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Anti-war movie that's interpreted as a recruitment tool

Based on Gustav Hasford's 1979 novel, The Short-Timers, Full Metal Jacket follows an optimistic U.S. Marine named J. T. "Joker" Davis, and his gradual descent into insanity as he witnesses firsthand the dehumanizing effects war can have on a human being. Considered one of Stanley Kubrick's best movies, Full Metal Jacket critiques war and the United States Marine Corps by dividing its storytelling into a boot camp section that shows the impact of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman's abusive training methods on the fledgling Marines, and the second half's Vietnam section, and the horrors associated with it. However, most audiences perceive the movie as a pro-American war film.

Another useful technique that Kubrick uses to convey Full Metal Jacket's true meaning is through the lense of its war journalist protagonist, Joker. As a journalist, Joker is more interested in seeing just how bad war really is, thus he doesn't take it as seriously as he should. However, after witnessing the fragile Private Pyle murder Sergeant Gunnery before turning the gun on himself, the reality of the situation kicks in for Joker. Kubrick ramps things up in the Vietnam sections with graphic depictions of violence, and strong implications of Marines sexually assaulting Vietnamese sex workers, yet the movie is still largely quoted and referenced out of context.

7 Rambo: First Blood (1982)

Rambo is viewed as an unstoppable hero instead of a vulnerable Vietnam veteran

A veteran Green Beret named John Rambo is forced to wage a one-man war against a corrupt sheriff and his subordinates after they deem him a threat to society. Rambo: First Blood is based on the 1972 David Morrell novel, First Blood, and is considered the best Rambo movie because of its depiction of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a direct result of the Vietnam War and for its acting performances and pacing. While Rambo: First Blood does feature plenty of action and violence, Stallone's famous protagonist shooting down law enforcement personnel with his iconic M60 machine gun seems to be the thing that sticks with audiences the most.

However, Rambo: First Blood is a psychological anti-war film in which audiences are meant to critically assess America's involvement in the then ongoing Vietnam War as well as its impact on the individuals who made it back to the United States. Furthermore, Rambo's climactic speech about simply wanting to get back home stands as a shining example of the film making its true intentions known in a heart-felt and compelling way. Rambo: First Blood's success would spawn a franchise in which its heavier themes would take a backseat to the action, but the first entry remains a staunch reminder of the importance of one's mental health.

6 Magic Mike (2012)

Michael Lane's financial struggles are ignored because of the male stripper theatrics

Magic Mike sees down-on-his-luck male stripper Michael "Magic Mike" Lane follow in an older, more experienced male stripper's footsteps in his quest for financial freedom. Magic Mike is appreciated for its accurate depictions of the male stripper scene and the challenges many individuals in that industry face, but the 2012 comedy drama has a lot more depth and substance to it that often goes unnoticed. While Magic Mike respectfully depicts the male stripping industry, it also tells a sincere story about an aspiring businessman who turns to male stripping in a bid to earn the funds necessary to pursuit his dreams.

Furthermore, Magic Mike is often seen as a feel-good movie despite its true meaning, thus diminishing the significance of the filmmakers' decision to highlight the financial struggles many men endure in America. While Magic Mike excels at telling a gripping story filled with memorable characters, it excels even further at strategically highlighting a very real issue under the guise of a raunchy comedy. Although Magic Mike is more widely known because of its exotic subject, the greater meaning regarding how a poor economy can drive individuals to pursuit unorthodox means of earning a living that's hidden beneath is more important and relevant to society today than it was in 2012.

5 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Audiences excused Jordan Belfort's shady morals because of his underdog story

The Wolf of Wall Street loosely tells the real-life story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort, and his underdog story from selling penny stocks to becoming one of the wealthiest men alive. The film features many of director Martin Scorsese's trademarks, such as a cautionary tale about greed and the loss of one's innocence, an Oscar-worthy acting performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, a thoughtful score that highlights the film's themes, and engaging drama that hits all the right emotional notes throughout the viewing experience. However, The Wolf of Wall Street is often misconstrued as a film that glamorizes money over everything.

As is standard practice for a Scorsese picture, his protagonists often engage in visually appealing acts of violence and hedonism in an effort to highlight the moral bankruptcy of his characters without his films coming off as overly preachy. By showing audiences the allure and appeal of his characters' questionable decisions, it forces them to seriously consider what's being shown, and more importantly, why. The Wolf of Wall Street never encourages Jordan's behavior, and showing his systematic downfall over the three-hour length only reinforces what not to do. However, the film is often seen as strongly reinforcing hustle culture, or doing whatever it takes to make a dollar.

4 Joker (2019)

Arthur Fleck's self-destructive behavior was ignored since he was bullied

Joker follows a fledgling stand-up comedian named Arthur Fleck, and his descent into madness after enduring many failed attempts at successfully establishing his entertainment career. While Arthur starts off as a sympathetic individual, he gradually loses that distinction once he starts displaying seriously concerning behavior regarding himself, other human beings, and society as a whole. Furthermore, his violent outbursts at fellow comics as well as ordinary civilians as a result of not receiving proper mental and emotional evaluation highlight the depths that Arthur has sunken to since his humble beginnings. Despite these glaring issues, Arthur swiftly developed a reputation as being a voice for real-life individuals exhibiting similar behavior.

Because of the subjects covered, atmosphere, and appearance by Robert De Niro, Joker is an unofficial remake of Taxi Driver, and its comparison to the 1970s classic has seen it endure a similar degree of misinterpretation as its predecessor. Arthur's spiraling sanity is sparked by the constant bullying he endures early throughout the film's first act, and as a direct result of virtually nobody noticing his struggle, he embarks on a self-destructive path of revenge against Gotham City. The obvious flaw in Arthur's interpretation as an unsung hero is his decision to murder people instead of taking the harder yet more full-proof path of speaking to a mental health professional.

3 Parasite (2019)

The Kim family are viewed as heroes solely because they're poor

Bong Joon-ho's Parasite follows the destitute Kim family as they grow increasingly more desperate in their quest for riches while working as servants for the wealthy Park family. The black comedy serves as a cautionary tale about greed and its trappings as well as highlighting the callousness of wealthy individuals and the indirect impact their aloof nature can have on individuals struggling to make ends meet. While the Kim family start the film off as sympathetic and even somewhat relatable for many audiences, this changes once the family decides to infiltrate the wealthy Park family's estate in an effort to rob them while they're on a family vacation.

The resulting fallout of their scheme falling apart is that family on both sides of the wage gap suffer life-threatening injuries that help bring the family together, thus highlighting Parasite's true theme of appreciating and valuing family over money. Despite Joon-ho's well-written script putting a spotlight on the film's true theme, the Kim family is still perceived by many viewers as unsung heroes willing to do whatever it took to improve their situation in life. However, this interpretation completely disregards the Kim family's overwhelming sense of entitlement, and it unfairly paints the Park family as villains despite them earning their wealth legitimately.

2 Scarface (1983)

Tony Montana is viewed as a martyr instead of a sociopathic killer

Brian De Palma's Scarface is a loose remake of the 1932 film and 1930 novel of the same name, and it centers around the rise and fall of Cuban drug kingpin, Tony Montana. De Palma's Scarface contains some of the best quotes in cinematic history, and with the character's do-or-die attitude, vast wealth, and infinite charisma, Tony has gone down in history as one of cinema's most memorable and impactful protagonists ever. However, underneath all of Tony's charm and flair lies a deeply disturbed individual who should be viewed more as a case study for sociopathy than the martyr he's often depicted as.

In addition to his incredibly short temper, Tony suffers from bouts of extreme paranoia that are only heightened by his increased narcotics use, open homophobia, and abusive relationship with virtually every woman in his life. Moreover, Tony has zero reservations about killing anyone whom he dislikes, with reasons ranging from an individual being a rat to someone simply having more wealth than himself. However, despite all of Tony's blatant detestable traits, he's viewed as a martyr, and his influence is far-reaching, having had a key influence on many Hip-Hop artists. Perhaps because of its stylish approach to filmmaking, Scarface thrives on peoples' misconceptions of Tony Montana.

1 Taxi Driver (1976)

Travis Bickle's murderous streak is excused since he kills Iris' pimp

Taxi Driver follows Vietnam veteran Travis Bickle in his role as a New York City nighttime taxi driver, and the impact that the depraved lifestyles he interacts with has on his mental health. Considered one of Robert De Niro's best roles, Travis's iconic monologues and mohawk have made him one of cinema's most studied protagonists of all time, and his contradicting morals and values have sparked debates about isolated men and their mental health for nearly five decades. However, despite the glaring issues regarding Travis's mental health, he's often viewed as one of cinema's greatest misunderstood heroes because of his deeds.

While one could argue his desire to want to rescue an underage girl from prostitution is irable and even respectable, the methods in which he embarks on doing this are completely invalid. Additionally, his attempts at assassinating Senator Palantine because of his warped view of the politician's morals can't be justified. While Travis is viewed as a vigilante, he's a mentally vulnerable individual whose very existence justifies greater discussions about men and their relationships with themselves and others. Perhaps because of his internal and external monologues, clever weapons, and iconic appearance, Travis will always be misrepresented as a voice to the voiceless and an unsung hero in movies.