Why do so many people suddenly hate the movies they used to love?

Okay, this is something that’s been bugging me for a while now. Have you ever gone back to watch a movie you were absolutely obsessed with as a kid or a teenager, only to find that… it’s just not that good? I had this really jarring experience last weekend.

I decided to re-watch one of my all-time favorite comedies from the early 2000s. I used to quote this movie with my friends, we knew every single line. I was so excited for the nostalgia hit. And guys… it was kind of painful. The jokes that I remember being hysterically funny now felt forced and a little cringey. The plot was full of holes I never noticed, and the special effects looked incredibly dated. It was a weird feeling, like visiting an old friend only to realize you have nothing in common anymore. It wasn’t just “not as good as I remembered”—I actively disliked parts of it. What happened?

I think part of it is just that we change. Our sense of humor evolves, our life experiences shape what we find relatable or profound. A movie that spoke to you at 16 might feel shallow at 30. But is that all there is to it? I feel like there’s also this cultural shift. Some of the humor in those older films just wouldn’t fly today, and rightly so. We’re more aware of stereotypes and problematic tropes now.

And it’s not just me. Look at the discourse online. There are countless YouTube videos and Reddit threads dedicated to “movies that didn’t age well.” People are collectively re-evaluating classics and finding them lacking. Take a franchise like *Harry Potter*. Millions grew up with it, but now there’s a whole new layer of discussion around it, influenced by the author’s public statements. It changes how people view the work itself. The magic is still there for many, but for others, it’s been tainted.

So I’m genuinely curious about your experiences. Has this happened to you? What’s a movie or a show you loved that you’ve completely fallen out of love with? And why do you think that is? Is it us that changed, or is it that we’re seeing the art through a more critical, modern lens? Let’s talk about specific scenes or characters that just don’t hold up for you anymore.