History YMMV / Rainman

** Furthermore, Creator/DustinHoffman plays an autistic character despite not being autistic himself, which has led some to criticize the film for having a non-autistic actor [[note]] Hoffman ''is'' neurodivergent, as he has ADHD, which is not on the autism spectrum but shares certain symptoms with ASC. [[/note]] cast as Raymond Babbitt instead of an autistic actor (although in fairness, Leslie Lemke [[CastTheRunnerUp initially was in mind to play Raymond.]])

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Perhaps due to autism being better-known these days, some people (even autistic people) find the movie pretty unremarkable (that is, if they don't outright hate it, as noted above) despite the hype alongside the stereotype.

** Furthermore, Creator/DustinHoffman plays an autistic character despite not being autistic himself, the movie is retroactively receiving backlash for having a non-autistic actor [[note]] Hoffman ''is'' neurodivergent, as he has ADHD, which is not on the autism spectrum but shares certain symptoms with ASC. [[/note]] cast as Raymond Babbitt instead of an autistic actor (although in fairness, Leslie Lemke [[CastTheRunnerUp initially was in mind to play Raymond.]])

* HarsherInHindsight: Following the poker scene, Charlie, to try and persuade Ray to stop insisting on wearing Kmart clothes, says "Kmart sucks". Come this decade, and slowly but surely the Kmart stores slowly began to close up-- with 9 stores remaining as of 2023.

** Lee Rich, the head of MGM at the time, told the ''New York Times'' predicted that ''Rain Man'' would not make money, but "would help [him] with exhibitors."

* AndYouThoughtItWouldFail: During filming, Creator/DustinHoffman was unsure of the film's potential and his own performance. Three weeks into the project, Hoffman wanted out, telling Barry Levinson, "Get Creator/RichardDreyfuss, get somebody, Barry, because this is the worst work of my life." Hoffman would nab his second Best Actor Academy Award for his work.

* HarsherInHindsight: Following the poker scene, Charlie, to try and persuade Ray to stop insisting on wearing Kmart clothes, says "Kmart sucks". Come this decade, and slowly but surely the Kmart stores slowly began to close up-- with less than 20 stores remaining as of early 2023.

* BrokenBase: The film's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Condition, especially to modern audiences; some consider it a positive and sympathetic portrayal that does a good job capturing the ups and downs of the condition, especially compared to earlier portrayals, while others, especially autistic viewers, feel that it still carries an uncomfortably ableist undercurrent and deride it for perpetuating and popularizing the "autistic savant" stereotype, and obscuring the fact that not all savants have [=ASDs=] and not all autistic people are savants.

* FairForItsDay: The movie is criticized nowadays for introducing the stereotype that all autistic people have savant skills, and for giving out a strict criterion for autism portrayals when the condition is, in reality, loosely defined and highly variable from person to person beyond base commonalities (Hence why the full name for the mental disability is "Autism ''Spectrum'' Condition"). However, mainstream awareness of autism owes much to this film, and it [[GenreTurningPoint opened the floodgates for introducing sympathetic portrayals of mentally challenged characters in media.]] According to the book ''Literature/NeuroTribes'', the movie also helped the general population become much more sympathetic towards autistic people, as the movie gave them a basic understanding of the condition.

** Furthermore, Creator/DustinHoffman plays a character with autism spectrum condition despite not having autism, the movie is retroactively receiving backlash for having a non-autistic actor [[note]] Hoffman ''is'' neurodivergent, as he has ADHD, which is not on the Autism Spectrum but shares certain symptoms with ASC. [[/note]] cast as Raymond Babbitt instead of an actor with autism spectrum disorder (although in fairness, Leslie Lemke [[CastTheRunnerUp initially was in mind to play Raymond.]])

* HarsherInHindsight: Following the poker scene, Charlie lets Ray in on a secret: "Kmart sucks". Come this decade, and slowly but surely the Kmart stores slowly began to close up-- with less than 20 stores remaining as of early 2023.

* BrokenBase: The film's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Condition, especially to modern audiences; some consider it a positive and sympathetic portrayal that does a good job capturing the ups and downs of the condition, especially compared to earlier portrayals, while others, especially autistic viewers, feel that it still carries an uncomfortably ableist undercurrent and deride it for perpetuating and popularizing the "autistic savant" stereotype, and obscuring the fact that not all savants have [=ASDs=].

** Furthermore, Creator/DustinHoffman plays a character with autism spectrum condition despite not having autism, the movie is retroactively receiving backlash for having a non-autistic actor [[note]] Hoffman isn't neurotypical, as he has ADHD, which is not on the Autism Spectrum but shares certain symptoms with ASC. [[/note]] cast as Raymond Babbitt instead of an actor with autism spectrum disorder (although in fairness, Leslie Lemke [[CastTheRunnerUp initially was in mind to play Raymond.]])

* {{Glurge}}: Despite the general [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments positive]] [[SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel reception]] of the movie and Creator/DustinHoffman's great Oscar-winning performance, for many autistic people, the movie's much more {{glurge}}-y than anything else. The simplistic portrayal of autism in the movie and the way it's used as a plot device to teach the "neurotypical" protagonist not to be a {{Jerkass}} make it guaranteed Flame Bait on many autistic support forums. That this film [[FollowTheLeader created a trend in Hollywood]] for self-consciously sympathetic and tearful films about InspirationallyDisadvantaged, which turned into one of the most negative examples of OscarBait before too long, exacerbates this fact.

* BrokenBase: The film's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Condition, especially to modern audiences; some consider it a positive and sympathetic portrayal that does a good job capturing the ups and downs of the condition, especially compared to earlier portrayals, while others, especially autistic viewers, feel that it still carries an uncomfortably ableist undercurrent and deride it for perpetuating and popularizing the "autistic savant" stereotype, and obscuring the fact that not all savants have [ASDs].

* BrokenBase: The film's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Condition, especially to modern audiences; some consider it a positive and sympathetic portrayal that does a good job capturing the ups and downs of the condition, especially compared to earlier portrayals, while others, especially autistic viewers, feel that it still carries an uncomfortably ableist undercurrent and deride it for perpetuating and popularizing the "autistic savant" stereotype, and obscuring the fact that not all savants have [[ASDs]].

* BrokenBase: The film's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Condition, especially to modern audiences; some consider it a positive and sympathetic portrayal that does a good job capturing the ups and downs of the condition, especially compared to earlier portrayals, while others, especially autistic viewers, feel that it still carries an uncomfortably ableist undercurrent and deride it for perpetuating and popularizing the "autistic savant" stereotype, and obscuring the fact that not all savants have ASDs.

* BrokenBase: The film's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Condition, especially to modern audiences; some consider it a positive and sympathetic portrayal that does a good job capturing the ups and downs of the condition, especially compared to earlier portrayals, while others, especially autistic viewers, feel that it still carries an uncomfortably ableist undercurrent and deride it for perpetuating and popularizing the "autistic savant" stereotype.

** Furthermore, Creator/DustinHoffman plays a character with autism spectrum disorder despite not having autism, the movie is retroactively receiving backlash for having a non-autistic actor [[note]] Hoffman isn't neurotypical, as he has ADHD, but of course that's entirely different from ASD. [[/note]] cast as Raymond Babbitt instead of an actor with autism spectrum disorder (although in fairness, Leslie Lemke [[CastTheRunnerUp initially was in mind to play Raymond.]])

* FairForItsDay: The movie is criticized nowadays for introducing the stereotype that all autistic people have savant skills, and for giving out a strict criterion for autism portrayals when the condition is, in reality, loosely defined and highly variable from person to person beyond base commonalities (Hence why the full name for the mental disability is "Autism ''Spectrum'' Disorder"). However, mainstream awareness of autism owes much to this film, and it [[GenreTurningPoint opened the floodgates for introducing sympathetic portrayals of mentally challenged characters in media.]] According to the book ''Literature/NeuroTribes'', the movie also helped the general population become much more sympathetic towards autistic people, as the movie gave them a basic understanding of the condition.

** Raymond revealing to Charlie why he got sent to the institution- he saved Charlie from being burned by hot bathwater when he was just a child, but his father mistakenly thought that Raymond had tried to burn him on purpose. Raymond was unable to speak up for himself due to his disorder, and his father never found out the truth as a result. Even worse, it's implied that had this event not occurred, Raymond could have had an easier time coping with neurotypical society.

* BrokenBase: The film's portrayal of Autism Spectrum Disorder, especially to modern audiences; some consider it a positive and sympathetic portrayal that does a good job capturing the ups and downs of the condition, especially compared to earlier portrayals, while others, especially autistic viewers, feel that it still carries an uncomfortably ableist undercurrent and deride it for perpetuating and popularizing the "autistic savant" stereotype.

* SugarWiki/HeCanReallyAct: This was an anomaly in Creator/TomCruise's career up to this point where his fast talking, hyper aggressive character type slams head first into a situation that forces him to be more compassionate and introspective. This helped show that Cruise does have the chops for more grounded dramas, and he credits Hoffman with helping him reinvent his discipline as an actor through this film.

** Raymond revealing to Charlie why he got sent to the institution- he saved Charlie from being burned by hot bathwater when he was just a child, but his father mistakenly thought that Raymond had tried to burn him on purpose. Raymond was unable to speak up for himself due to his disorder, and his father never found out the truth as a result.
** Even worse, it's implied that had this event not occurred, Raymond could have been a higher-functioning person who could live without assistance.

* HeCanReallyAct: This was an anomaly in Creator/TomCruise's career up to this point where his fast talking, hyper aggressive character type slams head first into a situation that forces him to be more compassionate and introspective. This helped show that Cruise does have the chops for more grounded dramas, and he credits Hoffman with helping him reinvent his discipline as an actor through this film.

* HarsherInHindsight: Following the poker scene, Charlie lets Ray in on a secret: "Kmart sucks". Come this decade, and slowly but surely the Kmart stores slowly began to close up-- with less than 400 stores remaining.

** When the doctor in charge of Raymond tells Charlie about Raymond's diagnosis, Charlie asks if Raymond is mentally retarded and later in the movie, Charlie yells at Raymond for his autistic behaviors and tells him to "stop acting like a fucking retard!". When the movie was released in the 1980's, the word was considered fair game to use, and the movie portrays Charlie as [[{{Jerkass}} completely in the wrong]] for using it. Nowadays however, the term is considered much more offensive, especially in the United States (to the point where the term "mental retardation" has been replaced in the scientific vernacular with terms like "mental impairment," "mentally disabled," and "Intellectually Challenged/Disabled").

* SignatureScene: The shot of Raymond and Charlie descending the escalator in Caesar's place in matching grey suits, making Ray look almost cool.

* NightmareFuel: ''Any'' time Raymond has a meltdown.
** Charlie tries to force Raymond to go on a plane, even after he insists that there's a real risk that it'll crash. But just before they board it, Ray screams bloody murder and hits himself on the head repeatedly, and it's absolutely ''terrifying'', which forces Charlie not to take the plane. There is some TruthInTelevision to this; compulsive, stereotyped motions known as "stimming" are common among autistic individuals as a means of venting stress, and while most cases of it are fairly benign (if odd-looking to a neurotypical person), in some rarer and more extreme cases it can indeed include self-harming behaviors such as striking oneself on the head.
** Raymond's meltdowns with the hot bathtub and the smoke detector.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The soundtrack is full of it, some of which is still fun to listen to. "Iko Iko" (by the Belle Stars) and "Las Vegas" are standouts. Meanwhile, the one and only Music/HansZimmer composed the score itself.

** The letter from Charlie's father to his son. He sounds worn out and lonely, knowing that his son's lousy relationshiip and personality is unchangeable and probably his own doing, and that all there is left between them is the inheritance and some best wishes.

* {{Glurge}}: Despite the general [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments positive]] [[SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel reception]] of the movie and Creator/DustinHoffman's great Oscar-winning performance, for many autistic people, the movie's much more {{glurge}}-y than anything else. The simplistic portrayal of autism in the movie and the way it's used as a plot device to teach the "neurotypical" protagonist not to be a {{Jerkass}} make it guaranteed Flame Bait on many autistic support forums. That this film [[FranchiseOriginalSin created a trend in Hollywood]] for self-consciously sympathetic and tearful films about InspirationallyDisadvantaged, which turned into one of the most negative examples of OscarBait before too long, exacerbates this fact.