Masculinity can show up in many unhealthy ways, but thankfully, we have some great movies that show us the really toxic side of it without sugarcoating.
These movies about toxic masculinity show us men who make bad choices, avoid their feelings, or hurt the people around them without meaning to. Sure, they are complicated. But isn’t that the whole point? If you also want to explore how toxic men really are, don’t miss these movies.
Les Valseuses (1974)
The movie is about two petty criminals who travel around France causing chaos just because they don’t know what else to do. They steal cars, harass women, and act out constantly, but none of it actually makes them happy. The humor in the movie feels mean, their sexuality feels aggressive, and their behavior looks more pathetic than cool. Blier doesn’t try to justify anything; he just shows masculinity at its worst.
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If… (1968)
If… takes place in a super strict British boarding school where boys learn about power through rituals, bullying, and humiliation. Mick Travis eventually leads a rebellion, but even that revolt shows the same violence the school taught him in the first place. The movie basically says, “If you raise boys in cruelty, don’t be shocked when they repeat it.” Older boys hit younger ones, and everyone learns violence before maturity.
The Boys from Fengkuei (1983)
This film follows boys who leave their fishing village for the city, hoping life will suddenly feel more exciting. They tease each other, chase girls, and act tough, but deep down, they’re unsure of who they are. The Harvard Film Archive said this film made a change in Hou’s style toward focusing on time and small details. The boys don’t realize they’re practicing the same behaviors that often lead to toxic masculinity later in life. However, as the viewer, you can already see where their choices might lead.
Pizza, Birra, Faso (1998)
This movie is about three young men in 1990s Buenos Aires who survive through small-time crime, living on cheap food and cigarettes. They act tough because their ambiance leaves them no other option. Senses of Cinema places the film in the early days of New Argentine Cinema, which focused on realism and life on the margins. Beneath it, they’re tired and scared, but they never get a chance to show it.
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Five Easy Pieces (1970)
In Five Easy Pieces, Jack Nicholson’s Bobby Dupea drifts from one place to another, constantly avoiding commitment and connection. He hides the fact that he grew up as a talented pianist because he doesn’t want to deal with his past. He mocks his girlfriend and ruins relationships because intimacy scares him. The final scene, Bobby walking into the cold, is the perfect example of him choosing escape over facing his emotions.
