Famous Movies That Wouldn’t Be Made Today

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Whether amusing or not, Tropic Thunder employs blackface for comedic purposes. The character Kirk Lazarus, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., is meant to be absurd, and other characters within the film criticize his racially insensitive portrayals. Brandon T. Jackson’s character directly addresses Lazarus’s imitation of African Americans in the movie. Nevertheless, this aspect of the film didn’t resonate positively with all viewers.

On the other hand, a considerable portion of the audience responded favorably to Downey’s performance, as well as the roles played by Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, and Jack Black. In fact, the producers were actively advocating for Downey Jr. to receive an Oscar nomination for his role, which he ultimately achieved. However, he did not secure the award.