Entertainment

11 Movies That Taught Us Seriously Messed Up Life Lessons

by Lakecia Hammond

When I was a kid, my mom would tell me, "that's what you get." I thought that was the most terrible but real thing a parent could ever say to their kid. Little did I know, the reality is actually that you don't always get what you deserve, and statements like my mom's now seem more pulled from pop culture than real life. All of us are guilty of blindly taking life lessons from movies and shows all the time, and sometimes these things we learn are just downright depressing. The below 11 messed up life lessons are ones we all learned from movies, and they range from subtle and strange to achingly real.

You've probably seen all the below films during your childhood, but ignored some of the problematic or unsavory truths. That said, though, these lessons could still end up being valuable. See if you can agree with any of these sad but true lessons, and don't worry, not all of them are terrible. Some are just little reminders that sure, our society can be a little messed up sometimes, but by taking these lessons to heart, we can work around issues or learn to face them head on.

1

"Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates, You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get."

This Forrest Gump quote could mean loss, sickness, or a new job. Nothing is in your control, honestly.

2

Your Secrets Are Never Safe

Don't expect that deep dark secret to never surface — especially when writing it in a book, as Mean Girls showed.

3

Your Dream Job Might Be Way Harder Than It Looks

Your job can mostly suck if you let it. Fake it till you make it ... or just quit, if it's really that bad, as The Devil Wears Prada preached.

4

Bullies Are Ruthless

They don't discriminate against your age or if it's Christmas time. When you're a victim, you just have to deal with it.

5

Everyone Grows Older & Loses Touch With What's "Cool"

This is the sad yet harsh truth. Sure, at first you're young and new, but eventually you'll have to kiss those days goodbye.

6

Men Are Allowed To Be Aggressive, But Women Can't

In Beauty and the Beast, Belle has to console Beast's fragile masculinity and it reinforces the message that girls should be delicate, while "boys will be boys."

7

If You're Strong, You Can't Also Be Smart

Who said people can't be both? Stereotypes are still very much prevalent, even outside of Disney movies.

8

All Women Are Hyper-Feminine

Lies.

9

Money Management Is Hard

No matter if you're a kid or an adult, dealing with finances can really blow.

10

We're All Very Imperfect

If you've been living your entire life thinking you can be perfect, think again, as The Wizard of Oz taught us.

11

Racism Will Always Exist

Even with increased conversation about the topic, racism will always be around, as the movie Do The Right Thing showed clearly.

Sure, all of these lessons are messed up, but what's important is that we've probably seen all of these scenarios play out and one way or another, and we've all managed to find a way to deal.