Heads up: Your favourite film might be getting a content warning

A disclaimer has been added to a cult classic '90s movie, sending social media into a tizzy. But, is it really such a bad thing?

It wouldn’t come as a shock to anyone - regardless of how you feel about it - that some of the things people said back in the ‘olden days’ just don’t cut it anymore.

Many of those things can fly under the radar, with nothing keeping track of everything you’ve ever said and done like social media does today.

But, the same can’t be said about film and television, which lives on through streaming services and channels dedicated to showing the golden oldies.

As we transition into a time where decisions are being made about what to do with these pieces of media which haven’t quite held up, a screenshot from one unexpected film has gone viral - and everyone has thoughts.

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Image: X / @VHSDVDBLURAY4K.

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“This movie was created in a different time”

A screenshot from the beginning of 1998 film Rush Hour has gone viral this week, thanks to a ‘trigger warning’ added by the USA network.

“We all love our 90’s buddy comedies… but this movie was created in a different time,” the warning reads.

“FYI: Certain depictions, language and humor may seem outdated and at times offensive.”

While Rush Hour and its sequels are recognised as being part of one of the most iconic comedy franchises of all time - there’s a reason rumours continue to swirl of a fourth installment even 25 years later - you have to admit some of its bits are very… of the time.

“This generation is weak af”

The screenshot has been shared just about everywhere, calling out the addition as being ‘woke’ and done for Gen Z - as if Gen Z is watching Rush Hour on free-to-air TV.

“They put a warning in front of ‘Rush Hour’ because of Gen Z,” said @VHSDVDBLURAY4K on X.

“This generation is weak af,” one commenter said.

“People are waaaay too sensitive these days!!” another agreed.

But, in a similar post shared to the r/Millennials subreddit, commenters weren’t quite as quick to judge.

“As sad as it is that such a movie would require a warning, I much prefer it to refusing to show the movie,” one commenter said.

“I don’t see anything wrong with this. They are just trying to cover their ass and allow people to opt out of watching if they so choose. No reason to be pearl clutching about this,” another agreed.

“Fellow millennials, I get that we’re used to this comedy because it’s what we grew up on…but they do have an Asian man saying the n-word for comedy, and at least in 2 & 3 there’s some blatant ‘gay is bad/scary’ jokes. I get it, we don’t flinch at it because we’re used to it, but I can’t be mad at them giving heads up for people who aren’t used to that comedy, and there’s nothing wrong with it imo,” a third person said.

Is there a right way to go about it?

Content warnings are no new thing.

Disney did it with things like The Muppet Show, Peter Pan and The Aristocats, giving viewers a heads up about the ‘negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures’.

Gone with the Wind famously had a content warning added in response to concerns about its racist depictions of Black people - and to avoid it being taken down from platforms altogether.

But, aside from it being a two-second inconvenience to viewers, is it really such a bad thing?

At risk of being called a snowflake, I truly do believe that these kinds of warnings are far better than censorship when it comes to ‘problematic’ movies.

We could pull these pieces of media from streaming services altogether, meaning people may not ever be able to rewatch their favourite childhood movie, and that new viewers would be prevented from watching some of cinema’s most iconic - albeit dated - productions.

Or, some context can be provided, allowing both new and returning viewers to watch with a grain of salt, knowing the circumstances under which they were made and enabling that to shape the way in which they consume the media.

I know which one I’d choose every day of the week.

But, now the question is, where will content warnings pop up next?

Originally published as Heads up: Your favourite film might be getting a content warning