If Hollywood Was More Honest, They’d Stop Using These 13 Tropes

Somewhere along the way, Hollywood became less about storytelling and more about signaling. Rather than focusing on crafting compelling narratives with resonant characters, the industry has leaned hard into "subverting societal expectations"—often at the expense of logic, authenticity, and entertainment value.

Under the promise of "progress," traditional archetypes and beloved tropes have been tossed aside and replaced by shallow attempts to prove how “woke” modern cinema can be. But what’s left when every hero is deconstructed, every villain is glorified, and every story feels like it’s more interested in lecturing the audience than entertaining them?

Imagine a world where Hollywood takes a hard look in the mirror and gets a little more honest. If that ever happens, here are a few tropes they’d finally put to rest.

The Girl Boss Who Gets The Guy

Hollywood loves selling the fantasy that men are lining up to date the emotionally guarded CEO who’s married to her job. Ambition can be attractive, but why does it always have to come packaged with a hyper-masculine, workaholic energy?

In reality, being obsessed with your career doesn’t usually lead to landing the guy of your dreams—if it leads to landing anyone at all. There’s a reason why both men and women benefit from finding a balanced approach to work if they want long-term love to flourish.

The Hot Male Feminist

Hollywood can’t seem to get enough of this one—the guy who spouts feminist theory at brunch, calls himself an “ally,” and somehow becomes the romantic ideal. In movies, he’s always sensitive, woke, and just self-aware enough to stand out from all those "toxic" guys, but in real life, these men are often the skeeziest of them all.

Time and again, the male feminist archetype has proven to be a red flag as guys use feminist buzzwords as a smokescreen for manipulative or outright predatory behavior. In reality, most women are actually more drawn to men who embody traditional masculinity: confidence, strength, and the ability to protect and provide.

The Physics-Defying Action Heroine

A skilled female fighter can be exciting and fun to watch—but let’s keep it somewhat believable, please. Watching a 110-pound woman effortlessly take down an entire gang of muscle-bound thugs without a scratch sounds cool on paper, but on screen, it’s a suspension of disbelief too far. More importantly, it sends an unhelpful message to women.

Even elite female fighters don’t engage men with the intention of winning in a head-to-head physical fight—they know the significant size and strength differences make it too dangerous. Instead of perpetuating this fantasy, Hollywood can create far more inspiring action scenes by showing women using their surprises, teamwork, or weapons to prevail.

The Miserable 1950s Housewife

The idea of the bored, depressed 1950s housewife trope (continuously popularized by projects like The Stepford Wives, Mad Men, and Don't Worry Darling) is so played out. Especially since that moment of alleged cultural discontent was a blip on the radar of American history, exaggerated by a media narrative that aligned with government and corporate interests eager to pull women into the workforce.

Before, during, and after that era, most wives and mothers led rich, meaningful lives. They loved their families, worked in and outside the home, contributed to their communities, and formed the backbone of society. Instead of treating homemaking as an outdated, oppressive relic, maybe it’s time Hollywood started portraying it with the respect it deserves.

The "Messy" Mom

Similar to the 1950s housewife but more generalized, Amy Adams in Nightbitch is a prime example of Hollywood’s other favorite mom trope: the harried, haggard woman who can’t seem to keep it together. She’s frazzled, flailing, and perpetually one bad day away from a nervous breakdown.

Apparently, some women find this “relatable,” but plenty of others are tired of the misery narrative. How about a young mom who’s thriving for once? Moms who love their kids and have it mostly together would be a refreshing change. Believe it or not, there are millions of young women who look forward to building a home and raising a family as something they want to do. That's actually far more "relatable."

The Clueless Dad

The "Dumb Dad" trope is a tired relic of Hollywood’s tendency to disrespect one of the most vital roles in human society: fatherhood. We all know this guy—he’s been bumbling his way through movies and TV shows since the late '80s. He burns the toast, loses the baby at the park, and somehow puts diesel in a gas car.

Meanwhile, Competent Mom swoops in, rolling her eyes and single-handedly holding the family together. In reality, dads are more than comic relief—they’re capable, loving, and essential contributors to family life. It’s time Hollywood showed us that.

The Popular Mean Girl

Can we finally retire the idea that every beautiful, popular woman is secretly plotting your downfall? Hollywood has an endless obsession with the Regina George archetype, churning out carbon copies of the “hot mean girl” as if she’s the only version of a beautiful woman worth writing.

Plenty of gorgeous, well-liked women are kind, empathetic, and genuinely good people. It’s hard not to suspect a little "revenge of the nerds" energy at play here, with some women determined to vilify their most dazzling competition. Instead of leaning into this one-dimensional stereotype, why not explore the complexity of women who are both captivating and kind-hearted?

Heroic Public School Teachers

Hollywood loves the chalk-dusted savior—a teacher who swoops in to single-handedly transform a classroom of troubled kids, cure societal ills, and still find time to grade papers. While remarkable teachers absolutely deserve credit and compelling storylines, this trope oversimplifies reality.

Not every teacher is a selfless hero; in fact, many are just...average. And a growing number seem more interested in being political activists than educators, at the expense of their students' success. It’s unrealistic to keep pretending every teacher is a martyr. How about some nuance? Show us educators who are flawed, human, and trying their best—without turning every classroom into a soapbox or a stage for miracles.

The Untouchable Gays

Hollywood has thoroughly embraced the depiction of gay characters as endearing, virtuous, and morally unimpeachable. These characters are almost never portrayed as deeply flawed or capable of real harm, as though any depiction of moral ambiguity or harmful behavior would undo years of "progress."

But no community is without its dark sides, and there are plenty of gay people whose actions are harmful—as seen by the high rates of predatory behavior, exploitation, and addiction rampant in the LGBTQ community. Why doen't any Hollywood edge lords ever tackle that uncomfortable subject?

The Dysfunctional Family

Shows like "Modern Family" worked hard to make non-traditional families feel endearing and relatable, but where’s the modern equivalent for traditional families? Hollywood is hell-bent on the idea that every happy-looking family must be hiding a dark, sinister secret.

But not every normal family needs to be a hotbed of dysfunction for drama to exist. Why not show parents who are genuinely loving and inspiring? Give us couples who truly adore each other, parents who know how to parent, and families who stick together when life gets hard. Families can face challenges and imperfections without descending into caricatures of incompetence or villainy.

Corrupt Christians

Hollywood truly seems incapable of imagining Christians outside of two tired caricatures: they’re either massive, evil hypocrites or pathetic Ned Flanders types. It's their lazy shorthand for “religion bad.” Interestingly, this creative block doesn’t appear to extend to characters of other religions, who can at least be portrayed as kind or helpful. Meanwhile, atheists and agnostics nearly always serve as the wise sages of any story.

In reality, Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with an incredibly diverse range of followers and the most profound positive impact on world history. From advancements in art and science to human rights and charitable efforts, Christians have played the most significant role in shaping the modern world. So, surely Hollywood can muster the imagination to portray at least a couple of Christians as complex, relatable, and even likable heroes.

The Lovable Loser

The lovable loser trope sends men the message that they can dream big without putting in any effort. This guy stumbles through life with no ambition, questionable hygiene, and zero prospects, yet somehow he still lands the dream girl and a happy ending. It’s the ultimate male fantasy: “I don’t have to change a thing, and she’ll love me anyway.”

Best embodied by the Seth Rogen archetype, this genre of gross-guy comedy had its moment but has (thankfully) worn out its welcome with audiences. The truth is that personal growth and self-improvement are always far more interesting—and, frankly, way more attractive—than coasting on mediocrity.

The Dumb Jock

Why do athletes always have to be walking punchlines? Disciplined, hardworking athletes are often just as committed in other areas of life, especially in academics. Physical and mental excellence frequently go hand in hand, as evidenced by countless historical figures and famous athletes.

So why not show us the quarterback who aces his exams, volunteers at a shelter, or writes poetry in his spare time? Brains and brawn can absolutely coexist, and portraying that balance isn’t just a refreshing change—it actually reflects the real world. Representation matters, right? It’s high time Hollywood caught up.