The importance of feminism in Hollywood and in our society cannot be understated. Women have been fighting for greater representation in film and pop culture for years, striving to garner a more level playing field with the male counterparts they have and continue to share the screen with. While this fight is incredibly important, and its importance is not to be underestimated, there are some movies that have been widely viewed as being overshadowed and ultimately ruined by feminism.
This article will explore the top movies that have been ruined by feminism, what it was about them that irked fans, and how they could have been better served by filmmakers to create a more attractive viewing experience for everyone.
What is Feminism?
Before we detail the movies that have been ruined by feminism, it’s important to ascertain exactly what feminism is and what it represents for the times we live in. Feminism is a movement which campaigns for equal rights for women, framing these issues much in the same way that civil rights sought to solidify equal rights for African American citizens in decades prior.
Feminism works to address issues such as equal pay, representation in government, and equal rights in the workplace. Ultimately, the movement works to call attention to systemic gender discrimination and the disparities between men and women in our society.
Top Movies That Were Ruined by Feminism
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is a classic movie franchise that had its first installment released in 1984. The movie stars Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd as two eccentric scientists who attempt to capture malevolent spirits they are unable to prove using traditional forms of evidence, leading edgy and hilarious results.
In 2016, the film was rebooted with an all-female lead cast, angering many fans of the original 1984 classic. This reboot shifted the focus away from the original comedic movie, and towards a focus on the feminist principles that had been relatively absent from the first movie itself. This focus quickly overshadows the movie itself, leading to many of the fan-favorite scenes in the movie itself being overshadowed by the all-female cast. To make matters worse, the movie led to a drop in box office numbers and overall lower critical reception, leading to what many view as a largely forgettable sequel.
Batman vs Superman
The 2016 superhero movie Batman v Superman is a movie that attempted to bring together two of the most iconic superheroes of all time on the big screen. Although the movie was hyped up significantly, ultimately the movie failed to hit its mark, leading to mixed reviews and a grey overall feeling around the movie.
The movie was widely criticized for its overabundance of feminist themes, with Wonder Woman seemed to be inserted into the movie solely as an avenue to showcase female strength and empowerment. While this is important, it felt at times that it detracted from the main characters, with Wonder Woman’s presence becoming a distraction from the main story. This left the movie feeling disjointed and ultimately unsatisfying for many viewers.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Terminator 2: Judgement Day was an iconic movie released in 1991, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a robotic android sent back in time to save humanity from an impending nuclear apocalypse. The movie was widely praised as an important and compelling sci-fi action movie and iconic action hero of its time.
However, in 2019, the sequel to the original movie, Terminator: Dark Fate, was released with a major shift in focus towards feminism. The movie was focused entirely on female characters, presenting the heroine Sarah Conner as a much more violent character than in previous installments. While this shift suited the action-packed nature of the movie itself, it alienated a sizable portion of the original fan base due to its heavy-handed feminist approach.
Romancing the Stone
The 1984 film Romancing the Stone is a classic romantic comedy starring Michael Douglas as a dashing hero and Kathleen Turner as a plucky screenwriter running from drug lords as she attempts to rescue her kidnapped sister.
The movie was a hit due to its PG-level shows comedic take on stereotypical gender roles, offering a modern perspective on the classic damsel in distress narrative. However, when the much-awaited sequel, The Jewel of the Nile, was released in 1985, the sequel floundered due to its somewhat overbearing focus on societal expectations of women at the time.
This shift resulted in a lukewarm reception, as the focus on themes such as empowerment and female strength quickly overshadowed the romantic comedy conceit of the first movie.
There are many great movies that have been unfairly foiled by Hollywood’s obsession with feminism and the ideals of female empowerment. While promoting these ideas are incredibly important, it’s essential to ensure that they’re not done in a way that preempts the actual story of the movie itself.
Movies such as Ghostbusters and Terminator 2 were some of the most iconic of their respective eras, offering a thrilling and thoughtful reflection of their times. However, when these golden classics were updated to promote feminist issues, it quickly became apparent that these movies needed to be enjoyed for the sake of the movie itself and not for the emblematic underlying messages.