Movies So Anti-Male They Sparked Massive Online Boycotts

Hollywood often receives criticism online, with many viewers believing that films are now more focused on pushing political messages than telling good stories. A growing number of people complain that movies are downplaying or negatively portraying male characters in favor of stronger female leads. This often leads to online protests, like campaigns to give films poor ratings or calls to boycott them in theaters. The films mentioned below caused significant online backlash due to perceptions of bias against male characters or attempts to force diversity into storylines.

‘Ghostbusters’ (2016)

Okay, so when they announced they were bringing back that classic ’80s franchise with a totally female cast, the internet exploded. It was seriously brutal. A lot of fans felt like it was just a cheap trick, that changing the team to all women didn’t honor what made the original so great. The first trailer actually became famous for being one of the most disliked things ever on YouTube – the comments were just full of negativity. It got really nasty, honestly, with the actresses and director Paul Feig getting relentlessly harassed by people who felt like it was a deliberate attempt to alienate the original fans.

‘Captain Marvel’ (2019)

Before ‘Captain Marvel’ was released, Brie Larson received a lot of negative attention online. This started when she talked about wanting more diversity among the journalists invited to cover the film. Some people misinterpreted her comments as criticism of white male reviewers, and they responded by leaving negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes before the movie even came out. A lot of the discussion centered around the idea that the film was pushing a feminist message and alienating male viewers.

‘Barbie’ (2023)

Greta Gerwig’s vibrant and satirical film sparked controversy, with some conservative voices calling it anti-male. The movie portrays the Kens as needing Barbie’s approval and existing only in relation to her. Several prominent commentators called for a boycott, believing the film belittled men and criticized traditional power structures. Despite this backlash – including public protests and doll burnings – the film became a huge commercial success worldwide.

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ (2017)

Rian Johnson’s contribution to the Star Wars story sparked intense debate among fans. A major point of contention was the depiction of Luke Skywalker as a disillusioned recluse who’d abandoned the Jedi way. Some viewers also saw the introduction of Vice Admiral Holdo and her disagreements with Poe Dameron as a commentary on harmful ideas about masculinity. The film unfortunately led to harassment of those involved, with upset fans accusing it of intentionally undermining traditional heroic characters.

‘The Marvels’ (2023)

The film faced significant challenges from the start, partly because it starred three women and continued stories that had already proven controversial. Online, some people falsely claimed Marvel was intentionally replacing male heroes with female ones, using the term “M-She-U” to express their frustration. Predictions about the film’s box office performance were particularly negative, with many online commentators anticipating failure due to its focus on female empowerment. This debate revealed a growing disconnect between what Marvel wanted to create and what a segment of its audience wanted to see.

‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ (2019)

Many fans were upset by the film’s opening, which unexpectedly killed off John Connor. The story then shifted focus to a new female protector and a female leader of the resistance. The director, James Cameron, and actress Linda Hamilton received backlash for suggesting the movie was intended to disturb those with sexist views. This approach to marketing turned off some male viewers who felt the film was abandoning the established characters and spirit of the series.

‘Charlie’s Angels’ (2019)

Elizabeth Banks directed and wrote the latest installment in the Charlie’s Angels series, making a point to showcase the Angels’ independence and power. The film’s promotion highlighted that the Angels didn’t need a male boss like the original Charlie. Before the movie came out, Banks made comments that some interpreted as saying men don’t support action films led by women. After the film didn’t do well in theaters, many online critics argued it was because Banks had discouraged male viewers.

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (2023)

Even before the movie came out, some fans worried about Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s role, as they feared her character would overshadow Indiana Jones. Rumors suggested she’d even humiliate him and take over the series. Many viewers felt the film portrayed Indiana Jones as a weak and unhappy version of his former self, and the criticism centered around the idea that a beloved male character was being diminished to elevate a new female character.

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

As a movie lover, I was honestly shocked by the backlash this action film got. Apparently, some men’s rights groups called for a boycott as soon as reviews came out, claiming the movie tricked viewers with a ‘feminist lecture’ hidden inside a big-budget blockbuster. Their main issue? The hero, Max, felt like a supporting character, and Furiosa was the one really driving the story. It was wild to see such organized online opposition, especially because the film ended up being a critical darling, racking up awards, including multiple Oscars! It just goes to show how powerful a strong female lead can be, even if some people aren’t happy about it.

‘Ocean’s Eight’ (2018)

This new installment swapped the original series’ all-male team for a crew of female thieves. Some critics felt this change was a simple way to profit from a well-known franchise without developing unique stories for female characters. Many online commenters predicted the film wouldn’t have the same spark as the previous movies. It quickly became a common example of Hollywood’s tendency to remake male-focused properties with female leads.

‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ (2022)

Taika Waititi’s latest film brought Jane Foster into the story, giving her the power of Thor’s hammer. Some viewers thought the movie made Thor seem weak and foolish in comparison, highlighting how capable Jane was as Mighty Thor. The film’s heavy use of comedy led to criticism that it undermined Thor’s heroic image while making Jane look even stronger. This sparked debate among fans about whether Marvel was intentionally downplaying its original male heroes.

‘Black Widow’ (2021)

Natasha Romanoff’s long-awaited solo movie received criticism for how it portrayed the villain, Taskmaster. Comic book fans were disappointed that the character’s gender was changed from male to female. Some also felt the Red Guardian storyline diminished a powerful character by turning him into a joke. Critics suggested these choices were part of a pattern of the studio downplaying the abilities of male characters.

‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

Even before the movie came out, there was strong negative reaction to the idea of a Black woman taking on the 007 codename. Many longtime fans believed James Bond should always be a male character. Some viewers felt the introduction of the skilled agent Nomi, who rivals Bond, was a forced attempt to promote modern values. While Nomi ultimately gives up the 007 title in the film, the initial controversy remained a major topic of discussion.

‘Prey’ (2022)

This ‘Predator’ origin story centers on a young Comanche woman using traditional weapons to fight the alien hunter. Some viewers questioned whether a smaller woman could realistically defeat a creature that had previously overpowered well-equipped soldiers, and labeled the film as unrealistic. Despite negative online reviews intended to harm its reputation, the movie achieved the biggest opening weekend ever for Hulu.

‘Men in Black: International’ (2019)

The latest film in the sci-fi comedy series brought back Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, but faced criticism for a joke made by Thompson’s character about renaming the series to “Men and Women in Black.” Many online saw this moment as evidence the movie focused too much on being politically correct instead of funny. The film didn’t do well with critics or at the box office, and some believe this was due to the way gender politics were forced into the story.

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ (2021)

Lana Wachowski revisited the world of The Matrix with a new story that gave Trinity a much stronger role. Some fans didn’t like that Neo seemed less powerful and unsure of himself compared to Trinity. The movie’s ending showed Trinity had the same world-altering abilities as Neo, which upset some longtime fans. Some critics argued the film changed established story details simply to make Trinity more important than Neo.

‘Birds of Prey’ (2020)

Margot Robbie both produced and starred in this adult-themed film, which clearly criticized the mistreatment of women in the world of crime. The male villains were shown as repulsive and controlling, and they didn’t realize the strength of the female leads. Some online viewers accused the film of being anti-male because it didn’t portray any sympathetic male characters. The film’s financial success was closely watched by people who wanted to prove that movies focused on powerful women weren’t popular.

‘Mulan’ (2020)

Disney’s new live-action film changed the story by removing a key character, Li Shang, because of concerns about the relationship between a commander and someone under his command. Many fans who loved the original animated movie were upset by this change, feeling it removed a central romantic interest and strong character. Some felt the decision went too far in trying to meet modern expectations and damaged the story. This, along with disagreements over the actions of some actors involved, led to many people calling for a boycott of the film.

‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ (2023)

The new film received a lot of criticism online for including girls in the group traditionally known as the Lost Boys. While the film acknowledges the name ‘Lost Boys’ feels outdated, it still uses it, which upset some viewers. The character of Hook was given more depth, but some found Peter Pan to be unlikeable and boastful. Many felt these changes were pointless and weakened the original story’s focus on boys and adventure.

‘Eternals’ (2021)

Chloé Zhao’s film features a diverse cast and made some changes to characters from the original comic books, including gender-swapping Ajak and Sprite. It also introduced the first openly gay superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which resulted in the film being banned in certain countries. However, much of the online discussion centered on whether the diverse casting felt authentic or simply like an attempt to meet diversity quotas. This ideological debate contributed to unusually low audience ratings for a Marvel film.

‘Enola Holmes’ (2020)

Fans of Sherlock Holmes weren’t happy with how the detective and his brother Mycroft were shown in this new movie. Many felt the characters were made less intelligent or even acted as villains simply to make the sister character seem brighter. The estate of Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes, even sued over the way Sherlock’s personality was portrayed. Viewers who liked the classic, brilliant Sherlock Holmes believed the film damaged his reputation and treated the character with disrespect.

‘The Woman King’ (2022)

The historical film about the Agojie warriors faced a boycott due to concerns about its accuracy. Critics argued the movie downplayed the Dahomey kingdom’s involvement in the slave trade, specifically its sale of men. The hashtag #BoycottWomanKing gained traction as people accused the filmmakers of altering history to create a more positive portrayal of female warriors. Many felt the film presented a simplified and idealized version of events to align with contemporary feminist ideas.

‘Wonder Woman 1984’ (2020)

The first movie was a hit, but the second one received criticism for a storyline where a man’s body was taken over. Steve Trevor ends up controlling someone else’s body, which raised concerns about consent that the film didn’t address. Many online pointed out that the situation would have been much more controversial if a woman had been put in that position, highlighting a double standard. This inconsistency became a key issue for those following how gender is portrayed in the media.

‘Lightyear’ (2022)

Pixar’s recent film faced criticism and a boycott from some groups, primarily because of a short scene showing a kiss between two female characters. Others were unhappy with the decision to replace Tim Allen with Chris Evans as the voice of Buzz Lightyear, viewing it as disrespectful to Allen’s conservative political beliefs. The film didn’t perform well at the box office, and some groups who opposed the film’s inclusive content celebrated its financial struggles with the phrase “go woke go broke.”

‘Strange World’ (2022)

This animated movie centered around a teenage boy who is openly gay and has a romantic interest in another boy. Some parents and conservative groups protested online, believing the content wasn’t suitable for children. Despite limited promotion, the film faced significant criticism on social media. When it didn’t perform well in theaters, some critics claimed it showed audiences aren’t accepting of LGBTQ+ themes in family-friendly movies.

‘Promising Young Woman’ (2020)

The film centers on a woman’s quest for revenge against men who prey on intoxicated women. It quickly became controversial, particularly regarding its depiction of seemingly harmless men as potentially dangerous. Many male viewers felt the movie unfairly painted all men with the same brush, lacking any complexity or positive representation. The divisive conclusion only intensified online discussions, with some arguing the film was intentionally designed to upset men.

‘Hustlers’ (2019)

The movie, inspired by real events about strippers who drugged and robbed wealthy men, faced criticism for seeming to celebrate negativity towards men. Some reviewers pointed out that the film suggested the male victims, due to their careers in finance, somehow deserved to be robbed. Online, people discussed whether a similar movie showing women as victims would ever be made. Many felt the film’s portrayal of the women’s actions as celebratory was unfair, especially given the ongoing conversations around the #MeToo movement.

‘Bros’ (2022)

As a film lover, I was really excited about Billy Eichner’s romantic comedy – he’d been pushing it hard as a landmark LGBTQ+ movie in theaters, which was awesome. But when it didn’t perform well at the box office, things got messy. He publicly blamed straight audiences on Twitter for not supporting it, and honestly, it backfired. It went viral for all the wrong reasons, and a lot of people were understandably offended by what felt like a bit of a blame game. The internet responded quickly, and there was a lot of criticism directed at what people saw as an unfair attack on the general public and a sense of entitlement.

‘Rough Night’ (2017)

This darkly comedic film centers around a bachelorette party who accidentally kill a male stripper and then try to hide what happened. The movie sparked debate because some felt it was insensitive to make light of a man’s death – a scenario many believed would be handled differently if the victim were a woman. Men’s rights advocates pointed to the film as an example of how male lives are sometimes undervalued in the media. The movie received mixed reviews and faced difficulties attracting viewers due to the resulting controversy.

‘The 355’ (2022)

This action movie follows a team of female spies from around the world who join forces. While marketing highlighted the spies fixing problems caused by men, many online critics found this approach cliché. Reviewers generally disliked the film’s predictable story and felt it overly relied on a ‘girl power’ theme. Ultimately, audiences largely rejected the movie, finding its message about gender to be too obvious and forced.

We’d love to hear your opinion on these issues and whether you think the boycotts were a reasonable response. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

2025-11-29 13:18