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The comment here...
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/movies-for-cultural-education
What are the eminently quotable lines from films of the last 5 years then? Ones that we’ll all know?
... was the nudge I needed to start a thread I've had in the back of my mind for months. The angle I was taking was, "what do you mean, you've not seen... ?" There's a ton of these films. Almost everyone has watched Star Wars, Back to the Future, Breakfast Club (and indeed pretty much all of John Hughes' entire output if you're of a certain age), Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Shawshank, The Godfather, etc etc etc.
How many modern films fall into that category? For the sake of discussion let's say post-Matrix - so, 21st Century films that it'd perhaps come as a surprise to hear that someone close to you hadn't watched. Harry Potter maybe?
What've you got?
The Missions Impossibles
Tarantino stuff (I mean, I think he's the most overrated thing since the Emperors see through wardrobe, but he seems pretty popular)
The Potters
The new Star Wars stuff (much of which is gash, but, again, popular)
The eleventybillion and three different Marvel movies
Anchorman
Anchorman is a good shout. For some reason I thought that was older. Maybe it just feels older. 😁
Oh, Pirates of the Carribean is post-2000 isn't it? LotR too, though that's probably less immediately quotable.
Hot fuzz
hunt for the wilderspeople
four lions
in Brugges
the guard
Although they are perhaps films that I think everyone should see, and most people would enjoy, rather than "what do you mean you've not seen...."
Donnie Darko
Shaun of the Dead
The Wolf of Wall Street
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny
Napoleon Dynamite
Dude Where's My Car 🙂
You ever take it off some sweet jumps?
The only movie quote I could think of, and I had to google it. Never remember lines from movies, and need ten years before a rewatch.
The Witch
Dead Mans Shoes
This Is England
I'm not going to suggest that it's a good film - arguably no worse than some of the films posted above imo - but American Pie came out after the Matrix, and I'd say it had a pretty big impact on (US) popular culture. MILFs, bandcamp, and the subsequent glut of rubbish frat comedies...
We should probably include Andy Samberg in this thread somewhere, but I'm not sure which film?
... and Hereditary
Donnie Darko is a good shout, surprised me how popular it was (films I tend to like aren't always that popular). One of the earlier films to easter eggs on the internet was it? Not rewatched it for years so not sure how it stands now.
Thinking along horror film lines... The Ring.
The successful US remake came out in 2002 and totally shifted western horror movies towards the far superior style used in Korean / Japanese horror films. We got a slew of remakes and some right cack as well, but the shift in approach was huge.
I've never seen Jason Bourne in any of his adventures.That surprises people. I don't think they are particularly quotable. Not watched John Wick either.
"No Superheroes and no children's book adaptations" has been my rule for a long time. I may have slipped with one or two Harry Potter films.
Donny Darko was a weird one. Not just Easter Eggs, the (director? producer?) had a Cliff Notes type guide on his web page in order for it to make sense. (Which reminds me, when was Memento?)
American Pie surely qualifies just for its impact on lexicon, that's a great catch.
I think the popularity of Gary Jules version of Mad world possibly helped the popularity of Donnie Darko. It's one of those films with an indie feel where I don't claim to understand all the story line but it's still strangely enjoyable . Yes a bit like Memento!
Don't get me wrong, I adore Memento.
But by christ if there was ever a poster boy for "hold on, I need to watch that all over again..."
Lost in Translation
Avatar
Have I understood the rules of this thread after the insult and slagging off on the other one. 🙂
To be fair, you started it. 😁
Earlier in the office I mentioned a "23-19" from Monsters Inc and they all knew what I meant 🙂
American Pie
Of course. For years any time one of the kids said 'This one time....' my wife or I would immediately say 'in bandcamp', dissolve into giggles, and not be able to explain. I think both kids are now culturally aware, although I can't remember the opportunity arising recently. Task for tonight, to drop the feedline in and see if the wife still responds (or indeed, if one of the kids does)
Surprised Taken hasn't been mentioned yet for pop-culture impact. Loads of imitations since (many with Liam Neeson, now I come to think of it)
You used to be better than this, Cougar.
Nah, that's not true either. I just used to care more.
American Pie was released in '99, so is it in?
American Pie was released in ’99, so is it in?
I did say post-Matrix as the thin green line and Google would suggest that American Pie was a few months later so let's say yes.
One of my favourite films from back in the day, googled the quotes to get them correct….Kingpin, might not have aged well, a bit too scared to watch it again as don’t want to ruin the memories ! Pretty sure it’s not pop culture…but anyway…..
“What is it about good sex that makes me have to crap? You really jarred something loose tiger.” That was almost a laugh out loud and be sick in my mouth moment.
“- Roy: Hey, I hope you don't mind, I got up a little early, so I took the liberty of milking your cow for you. Yeah, it took a little while to get her warmed up, she sure is a stubborn one. Then, POW, all at once.
- [Takes a drink from the bucket]
- Mr. Boorg: We don't have a cow. We have a bull.
- Roy: I'll brush my teeth.”
The angle I was taking was, “what do you mean, you’ve not seen… ?
I think a fair few of the films mentioned here are veering more toward 'cult classics' as opposed to 'modern-day pop culture classics' whereby OP suggests that 'most' people will have seen (or at least recognise) them.
For example, I'd argue that these are more 'cult classics', though SotD / Hot Fuzz and Donnie Darko probably make the case for broadening into more popular culture:
Donnie Darko
Shaun of the Dead
Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny
Napoleon Dynamite
The Witch
Hot fuzz
hunt for the wilderspeople
four lions
in Brugges
the guard
Dead Mans Shoes
This Is England
For me American Pie is nailed on, I only didn't mention it myself as seemed to think it was earlier than 1999. I'd also make a case for the Toy Story series, but appreciate they started mid 1990s. Also Blair Witch Project given it's impact as the first use of viral marketing.
This thread should have started with The Big Lebowski, but it doesn't make the time cut-off.
Spirited Away.
I didn't feel like it was huge at the time, but Ghibli is a massive phenomenon now and I feel like that was kind of the turning point in the UK. Even though it's the 1980s Totoro that is the most famous now.
Which reminds me, when was Memento?
I must watch that sometime.
I've never watched Harry Potter, but then, I've never watched an awful lot of other films either 🤷♂️ (or Memento FWIW)
I must watch that sometime.
Again? 😀
Memento is a great film, I'd recommend it. But it's not something to half-watch.
I think a fair few of the films mentioned here are veering more toward ‘cult classics’ as opposed to ‘modern-day pop culture classics’ whereby OP suggests that ‘most’ people will have seen (or at least recognise) them.
I can't disagree. I may have muddied the water, but my premise was really "what, you haven't seen...?!" films of the last (christ) quarter century or so.
Inception
Avengers: Endgame
Top Gun: Maverick
Kill Bill vol 1
The Dark Knight
LOTR / The Hobbit
There Will Be Blood
Up
Gladiator
The Incredibles
(tried to stay mainstream - my 'cult' films you haven't seen? would be a pretty different list)
Inception
Avengers: Endgame
Top Gun: Maverick
Kill Bill vol 1
The Dark Knight
LOTR / The Hobbit
There Will Be Blood
Up
Gladiator
The Incredibles
Seen 2/10 of those 😅
(Or 2/16 if you count all the hobbit stuff separately...)
Seen 2/10 of those
That's 2 more than I have.
I was going to say Akira, because it’s been hugely influential, far beyond the number of people who’ve seen it, but then I wondered when it was I first saw it, on a limited cinema run at the Arnolfini in Bristol.
It was 1988! Da phük! 35 sodding years ago! 😳
Seen 2/10 of those
Seen 9/10 of those.
I wonder whether TV shows have taken the mantle of pop culture classics from cinema these days.
They generally seem to be more talked about and quoted than films, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, etc...
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Lighthearted and funny, with some brilliant characters. Plus some great lines.
“You're about as useful as a cock flavored lollipop!” 😂
Fight Club.
Pulp Fiction.
Withnail and I
Quadrophenia.
@msp great list, not seen Hunt for the Wilderspeople so should sort that.
@doris5000 Re: Andy Samberg Pine Springs was good.
My few:
Lord of War
Battle Royale
Sunshine
Cabin in the Woods
Oldboy
Zombieland
Say what you like but Fast and the Furious is a fantastic comedy. How they managed to write a movie so centred on car culture with absolutely no qualified technical writers I'll never understand.
Dune.
Pulp Fiction.
Withnail and I
Quadrophenia.
I think you missed the remit.
Hurt Locker maybe, Persepolis.
Time's a funny thing, isn't it- as we get older we stretch the size of an era.Post 2000 is pretty much a generation. Can you imagine your 1980 self defining the era of 'modern films' as those made post-1960?
Anyways..
Borat cultural leanings etc
Zoolander
Baby Driver
Dark Knight
V for Vendetta
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood