20 2000s Movies That Could Never Be Made Today

Tropic Thunder assembled some of the noughties’ greatest comedy talents for a meta, Vietnam War movie spoof that managed to come home safe… or so we thought.

Ben Stiller (also writing-directing), Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr star as a troupe of precious Hollywood actors who are dropped into the Vietnam jungle to get some authentic, on-location footage for their war movie. But this Heart of Darkness-style folly brings them face-to-face with the Flaming Dragon heroin gang, and by the time they realise the other side aren’t shooting blanks, they’re lost, alone, and unable to contact the production team.

This seems a solid enough premise, one that would make a fine comedy today; except for just one or two things. Downey’s Aussie method actor Kirk Lazarus goes all-in on his part as Staff Sergeant Lincoln Osiris with, well… full blackface. And Stiller’s Tugg Speedman can’t help but return to what he feels was his most misunderstood role: Simple Jack, a farm boy with severe special needs.

Both elements were controversial at the time, yet the film managed to be a mainstream success, with fans and critics broadly understanding that it’s intended to satirise the film industry, extravagant productions, and the OTT actors who inhabit them. But Tropic Thunder's unabashed blackface, depiction of special needs, and use of the word "retard" completely rule it out for today's movie scene.