History TheUnfairSex / Film

* Referenced and played with in ''Film/TheDescendants''. Matt learns that his wife Elizabeth was having an affair behind his back after she ends up in a coma from a boating accident. When Elizabeth's best friend tries to justify the affair by saying she was lonely and he was unfulfilling, he calls her out on the double standard. But he really was so distant and buried in his work that he didn't even suspect that she was having an affair until their daughter tells him after Elizabeth falls into the coma. The daughter was disgusted with her for the affair and trying to deny that it happened but was also furious with him for being too busy to even begin to suspect something was wrong. Ultimately Matt forgives Elizabeth and decides to focus on the happier times they had after learning that Elizabeth's coma is permanent, but largely because it's the only possible positive closure he will be able to achieve, and he doesn't want to ruin his younger daughter (who doesn't know about the affair)'s memories of her.

* Played straight in ''Film/CrazyStupidLove'' - Emily cheats on Cal and then asks for a divorce, and she's treated with sympathy. Cal starts sleeping with other women after they separate (again, initiated by Emily)? He's a cad and needs to ask for forgiveness.

* Averted in ''Film/EnoughSaid''. The movie is about a masseuse named Eva who starts dating a man named Albert (played by the late Creator/JamesGandolfini), who is coincidentally the ex-husband of her new client. Albert is a kind, gentle, and funny man who happens to have a lot of quirks, which doesn’t at all stop Eva from adoring him. Until, she starts hearing his ex talk about how much Albert repulsed her sexually, and how all of his seemingly harmless quirks drove her crazy. Eva continues to coax information out of her out of fear that things might go wrong between her and Albert. After a while, this starts to change Eva’s own perception of him, causing her to make fun of him during a get together with her friends, [[WhatTheHellHero which they call her out on.]] While already hurt by this, when Albert finds out ''why'' she started treating him badly, he is heartbroken and breaks up with her. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Eva feels terrible about this]], as she really did like Albert for who he is. In the end, she is the one who makes up with him, and they re-start their relationship.
* Notably averted in ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall''. Sarah cheating on Peter is portrayed in a negative light, and it gets even worse when you find out that she's been cheating on him for over a year before the breakup. When Sarah's new boyfriend reveals that he's been cheating on her she realizes just how awful it was of her to cheat on Peter, and she begs him to take her back. [[spoiler:He doesn't.]]
* In ''Film/GhostsOfGirlfriendsPast'', the Casanova protagonist Connor Mead is portrayed as needing a lesson in respecting women. The problem is, not only is he given a sympathetic backstory (a childhood crush hurt his feelings, and he turned into a player to avoid such pain again), but they show the bridesmaids pretty much [[AllWomenAreLustful engaging in the same bed-hopping behavior]] (even competing to bed the protagonist) with no negative consequences. There is even a scene where it is discovered that one of them slept with the groom (Connor's brother). When Connor makes the logical arguments that 1) this was years before his brother even met his fiance and 2) they were comforting the bridesmaid, when she was the one he slept with and she didn't tell the bride either, he is treated like scum and even his own brother tells him off for it.
* ZigZaggingTrope in ''Film/InAWorld...''. Moe's clumsy attempt to sleep with an attractive neighbor is PlayedForLaughs with shades of ImAManICantHelpIt. His wife Dani's adultery is PlayedForDrama and she herself feels very guilty about it, although some characters dismiss it as not a big deal.

* In ''Film/TheKidsAreAllRight'', Jules and Paul (the sperm donor for Jules and her lesbian partner Nic) have an affair. When it's discovered, they're both blasted by Nic and their children, but Jules is eventually forgiven by everyone. Paul, on the other hand, is treated like dirt and shunned by everyone, including Jules, who acts downright disgusted and angry that he genuinely wants to be with her. It's obvious why Nic and the kids would forgive Jules, who they've known longer, but Paul doesn't deserve to have all the blame dumped on him.

* Mostly averted in ''Film/OneHourWithYou'' (1932). Colette probably wouldn't have given in to Adolph if she hadn't already realized André was up to something, but André's straying is presented as mainly the consequence of Mitzi's aggressive and persistent pursuit. In the end, both Colette and André admit their indiscretions and forgive each other with [[AngstWhatAngst virtually no angst.]]

* [[GenderInvertedTrope Gender-inverted]] in ''Film/TheRoom'', where the film seems to make out that the affair is all Lisa's fault, even though Mark was having it just as much as she was. On the other hand, Mark at least feels ''some'' guilt about what's going on, but not enough to dissuade him until [[spoiler:Johnny [[DrivenToSuicide kills himself]] over it]].

* Played with in ''Film/LoveActually''. One of the characters is HappilyMarried but finds himself increasingly tempted to have an affair with his attractive secretary. It's unclear whether he actually does or not, but his wife is understandably hurt when she finds out about his wandering eye. However the man, while still presented as in the wrong, is still shown to be somewhat sympathetic and is basically a decent person who just makes a foolish mistake; they're both just two mostly good people who get embroiled in a difficult situation. His secretary, on the other hand, is depicted as scheming and manipulative in leading on a married man. Subverted when another character learns that his girlfriend has been sleeping with his brother behind his back; he's decent and sympathetic, she's not.

* Played with -- but ultimately played straight -- in the Creator/WoodyAllen comedy ''Scenes From a Mall''. The two halves of a wealthy L.A. couple cheat on each other and reveal this to each other at roughly the same time. Interestingly, the film offers an "anthropological" justification for the both of them, via of a self-help book (written by the wife, who is a psychologist) that human beings have much longer lifespans than they did in ancient times and can no longer be satisfied by a single sexual partner. However, when the man learns of the woman's infidelity, he just gives her the silent treatment; when the woman learns of his own, she's ''apoplectic'' and throws a screaming tantrum right in the middle of the mall food court. And the man (nearly) exposes himself as a real heel by trying to punch his wife in the mouth at the film's climax, only to misfire and [[ButtMonkey sock the street mime who's been following them around]] (and who, [[EveryoneHatesMimes of course]], is an {{Acceptable Target|s}}).

* Averted in ''Enough Said''. The movie is about a masseuse named Eva who starts dating a man named Albert (played by the late Creator/JamesGandolfini), who is coincidentally the ex-husband of her new client. Albert is a kind, gentle, and funny man who happens to have a lot of quirks, which doesn’t at all stop Eva from adoring him. Until, she starts hearing his ex talk about how much Albert repulsed her sexually, and how all of his seemingly harmless quirks drove her crazy. Eva continues to coax information out of her out of fear that things might go wrong between her and Albert. After a while, this starts to change Eva’s own perception of him, causing her to make fun of him during a get together with her friends, [[WhatTheHellHero which they call her out on.]] While already hurt by this, when Albert finds out ''why'' she started treating him badly, he is heartbroken and breaks up with her. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Eva feels terrible about this]], as she really did like Albert for who he is. In the end, she is the one who makes up with him, and they re-start their relationship.

* Happens in ''dozens'' of {{Lifetime Movie|OfTheWeek}}s. The man cheats? His fault for [[AManIsAlwaysEager not keeping his libido in check]]! The woman cheats? [[GoodAdulteryBadAdultery His fault for not being attentive enough]]!
* In ''Film/ThisMeansWar2012'', the female love interest gets upset that her two male love interests have not been upfront that they knew each other and lied about their jobs (to hide that they're CIA agents). At the point you start dating two people simultaneously, honesty in a relationship is not a realistic expectation. This definitely isn't the only example of hypocrisy in the movie (e.g. the male love interests complaining when they try to sabotage each other, even though they're both guilty), so it's possible that this is a subtle subversion.
* In ''Film/GhostsOfGirlfriendsPast'', the Casanova protagonist Connor Mead is portrayed as needing a lesson in respecting women. The problem is, not only is he given a sympathetic backstory (a childhood crush hurt his feelings, and he turned into a player to avoid such pain again), but they show the bridesmaids pretty much [[AllWomenAreLustful engaging in the same bed-hopping behavior]] (even competing to bed the protagonist) with no negative consequences. There is even a scene where it is discovered that one of them slept with the groom (Connor's brother). When Connor makes the logical arguments that 1) this was years before his brother even met his fiance and 2) they were comforting the bridesmaid, when she was the one he slept with and she didn't tell the bride either, he is treated like scum and even his own brother tells him off for it.
* ''Film/TheHangover'' is a subversion in this case with the character Stu and his eventual ex-girlfriend by movies end. Melissa is depicted as being that type of "[[StrawFeminist feminist]]" who mistakes equality for all genders as meaning supremacy for the feminine as she's been described as assaulting her boyfriend, cheating on him and then getting angry with him at the prospect of him watching strippers. Thankfully it's a subversion because at the end Stu grows a spine, calls her out on previously described B.S. and sends her packing.
* Particularly blatant in ''Zerophilia'', with the main character and his love interest being revealed to [[spoiler:both switch genders when they get horny / have sex]] you'd think the trope would be subverted, but no it's played perfectly straight: Luke gets blamed for pretty much everything that goes wrong in the relationship while Michelle [[spoiler:playing mind games by flirting with him as two different people while he was trying to deal with a difficult change in his life and stay faithful to her girl half]] is completely glossed over. Also, Keenan being bothered by his girlfriend saying she'd sleep with his best friend is presented as him being close-minded, but his somewhat insensitive comments, later on, are a big deal that causes a breakup. The happy ending is earned by both guys eventually groveling sufficiently for forgiveness.
* Played straight in ''Film/CrazyStupidLove'' - Emily cheats on Cal and then asks for a divorce, and she's treated with sympathy. Cal starts sleeping with other women after they separate (again, initiated by Emily)? He's a cad and needs to ask for forgiveness.

* In ''Film/TheKidsAreAllRight'', Jules and Paul (the sperm donor for Jules and her lesbian partner Nic) have an affair. When it's discovered, they're both blasted by Nic and their children, but Jules is eventually forgiven by everyone. Paul, on the other hand, is treated like dirt and shunned by everyone, including Jules, who acts downright disgusted and angry that he genuinely wants to be with her. It's obvious why Nic and the kids would forgive Jules, who they've known longer, but Paul doesn't deserve to have all the blame dumped on him.
* ''Film/UpInTheAir'': After Ryan shows up at Alex's doorstep and finds out she's married with children, she's the one who calls to confront and accuse him of potentially ruining her family even though she was the cheating wife who never informed her lover about her situation.

* Notably averted in ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall''. Sarah cheating on Peter is portrayed in a negative light, and it gets even worse when you find out that she's been cheating on him for over a year before the breakup. When Sarah's new boyfriend reveals that he's been cheating on her she realizes just how awful it was of her to cheat on Peter, and she begs him to take her back. [[spoiler:He doesn't.]]
* The original, Raimi-helmed ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' films became guilty of this in the third film. Peter kisses another woman as an improvised bit for a show as part of a "Spider-Man appreciation fair", resulting in later, when Peter's attempting to propose, MJ calling him on it, forgetting the fact that she's an actress who does romantic plays, who should know what a stage kiss is. However, since it's "their kiss" (i.e., him hanging upside down), she believes he was wrong to do it with someone else... [[{{Hypocrite}} despite the fact she did the same thing with John Jameson in the previous film]]. Then, there's the fact that, in the second film, she rubbed her engagement to John Jameson in Peter's face because she was angry at him for missing her play. In the third film, when he rubs in the fact he's now on a date with the woman he stage-kissed after she broke up with him, he's presented as being an asshole as further evidence of the symbiote influencing his actions.
* Referenced and played with in ''Film/TheDescendants''. Matt learns that his wife Elizabeth was having an affair behind his back after she ends up in a coma from a boating accident. When Elizabeth's best friend tries to justify the affair by saying she was lonely and he was unfulfilling, he calls her out on the double standard. But he really was so distant and buried in his work that he didn't even suspect that she was having an affair until their daughter tells him after Elizabeth falls into the coma. The daughter was disgusted with her for the affair and trying to deny that it happened but was also furious with him for being too busy to even begin to suspect something was wrong. Ultimately Matt forgives Elizabeth and decides to focus on the happier times they had after learning that Elizabeth's coma is permanent, but largely because it's the only possible positive closure he will be able to achieve, and he doesn't want to ruin his younger daughter (who doesn't know about the affair)'s memories of her.
* ZigZaggingTrope in ''Film/InAWorld...''. Moe's clumsy attempt to sleep with an attractive neighbor is PlayedForLaughs with shades of ImAManICantHelpIt. His wife Dani's adultery is PlayedForDrama and she herself feels very guilty about it, although some characters dismiss it as not a big deal.

* Averted in ''Enough Said''. The movie is about a masseuse named Eva who starts dating a man named Albert (played by the late Creator/JamesGandolfini), who is coincidentally the ex-husband of her new client. Albert is a kind, gentle, and funny man who happens to have a lot of quirks, which doesn’t at all stop Eva from adoring him. Until, she starts hearing his ex talk about how much Albert repulsed her sexually, and how all of his seemingly harmless quirks drove her crazy. Eva continues to coax information out of her out of fear that things might go wrong between her and Albert. After a while, this starts to change Eva’s own perception of him, causing her to make fun of him during a get together with her friends, [[WhatTheHellHero which they call her out on.]] While already hurt by this, when Albert finds out ''why'' she started treating him badly, he is heartbroken and breaks up with her. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Eva feels terrible about this]], as she really did like Albert for who he is. In the end, she is the one who makes up with him, and they re-start their relationship.

* A ZigZaggingTrope in ''Film/TrueLies''. CIA agent Harry Tasker's partner (ironically, a man himself) tries to pin the blame for his wife's infidelity on Harry, saying "Helen's a flesh-and-blood woman and you're never there." Despite this, they both decide to [[WhatTheHellHero punish Helen in an]] ''[[WhatTheHellHero extremely]]'' [[WhatTheHellHero sadistic way]], justifying it by rationalizing that they're just testing her loyalty - but then, of course, ''they're'' the ones who look like jerks, in-universe as well as out. And bear in mind that this subplot had almost nothing to do with the rest of the movie (and, in fact, would be a BigLippedAlligatorMoment but for the fact that it takes up a good chunk of running time and is referenced again at the film's end), and could easily have been taken out!
* In ''Film/BigDaddy'', the WrongGenreSavvy Vanessa falls back on this, insisting that Sonny is to blame for her secret affair because she wanted to marry him (he was much less enthused) and he was not behaving responsibly enough to prove himself a desirable husband and father, and that he should have seen it coming (in effect, that his not catching on that she had lied to him only proves how stupid he is). [[spoiler: Ultimately subverted when Sonny learns his lesson about responsible family life (not that he deserved what happened to him in the first place), while Vanessa is [[BreakTheHaughty publicly exposed]] as an extremely foolish woman.]]
* Played with -- but ultimately played straight -- in the Creator/WoodyAllen comedy ''Scenes From a Mall''. The two halves of a wealthy L.A. couple cheat on each other and reveal this to each other at roughly the same time. Interestingly, the film offers an "anthropological" justification for the both of them, via of a self-help book (written by the wife, who is a psychologist) that human beings have much longer lifespans than they did in ancient times and can no longer be satisfied by a single sexual partner. However, when the man learns of the woman's infidelity, he just gives her the silent treatment; when the woman learns of his own, she's ''apoplectic'' and throws a screaming tantrum right in the middle of the mall food court. And the man (nearly) exposes himself as a real heel by trying to punch his wife in the mouth at the film's climax, only to misfire and [[ButtMonkey sock the street mime who's been following them around]] (and who, [[EveryoneHatesMimes of course]], is an {{Acceptable Target|s}}).

* Played disastrously straight in the documentary ''Film/DearZachary''. This was apparently the rationale behind the decision of the Canadian court systems to allow Shirley Turner to retain unsupervised visitation rights of her son (the titular Zachary) after she murdered the boy's father in the US. They were more concerned with protecting her "parental rights" than whether or not [[spoiler:[[OffingTheOffspring she'd try to harm Zachary]]]].

* ''{{Film/Chloe}}'': If Catherine had been a man who had an affair with someone young enough to be his daughter, then push her away when she became emotionally attached and refused to take money to just go away (resulting with [[spoiler:her suicide]]), he would likely be much less sympathetic than she is as a woman.

* Discussed in ''Film/TheRedPill''. While the push for Women's Rights has given more options to women with what they want to do with their lives, many of these laws are often made at the expense of men. Laws such as the Duluth Model which was pushed by feminist activists declare that men can never be victims of domestic violence and are only capable of being a perpetrator, and even if the evidence says otherwise the man has no choice but to take a reeducation course where he has to "admit" that he is the abuser. Moreover, there were cases of women who took advantage of laws such as this to intentionally hurt men with impunity. Whenever Men's Rights Activists try to bring up this fact, it gets treated as a hateful attack on women.