This has been on my mind for some time, so I hope some movie fans here can join in. By the thread title, I'm specifically referring to films that contain ideas, speech, imagery, etc. that reflect and were influenced by popular thought and culture, especially with the caveat that they wouldn't age well as time passed. Most instances are likely related to sexism or racism, but not all fall under this generalization, like Revenge of the Nerds  (1984), which concerns a rather passe portrayal of life in fraternities. Here are some other examples I've had in mind:

- On the Waterfront (1954): While this movie has overall aged extraordinarily well, and remains one of the greatest pictures of its time, there is one scene in particular that likely wouldn't sit well with modern audiences. I haven't seen it for years, but I remember a scene where Terry forces a kiss upon a girl, which had a bit of a rapey vibe. Definitely would not be put in a film today, for obvious reasons.

- The Jazz Singer (1927), and many other flicks featuring blackface: This age-old gag has been the spawn of endless discussion, and I don't condone racist and bigoted depictions of races on screen. However, many movies featuring this gag, Jazz Singer notably, were very much products of their time. Though their portrayals of blacks were controversial even at the time, audiences still felt some sort of comfort watching it, which is the contrary of today. 

- Around the World in 80 Days (1956) This movie has been controversial since its release, but usually not for what I'm pointing out here--most criticisms revolve around the fact that it plays out more like a travelogue than an action-adventure/comedy, but that's besides the point. The movie is riddled with stereotypes of each ethnic group that the film concerns. This is likely why a more modern remake was released in 2004, which I thought was a great idea because it introduces this epic of a story to younger audiences, without the inherently dated representation of foreigners. This adaptation was a flop, but I digress.

What examples can you guys conjure up? I find it interesting to reflect on some of these movies and look back on their cultural significance and whether or not they'd be suitable for modern audiences.

Hugo is a movie about movies that were a product of their time. It's also one of my favorite movies, and based upon one of the most awesome books ever made.

supernerd117 : Really? I don't recall that movie providing much commentary on this stuff, but I think I saw it when it came out, and I don't remember a thing. I recall it took place in the 1930's, so it likely has references to movies of the era. I should give it a watch some time. 

What about Popeye ,great cartoon turned into a live-action movie version of Popeye!

Revenge of the Nerds was definitely and undoubtedly an 80's movie as was Risky Business and Wall Street.