Millennial's the greatest and toughest generation to walk this earth, life keeps lifing and we keep rolling with it. Like other generation's there are several thing's that define or connect with a generation. So, with that in mind I started thinking about movie's that in the eye's of millennial's are classics. Whether it's because it's a stamp of a certain time, inspired us, or just is a good movie that came out during our prime years. Certain movies you just can't talk bad about to a millennial, and I'm here to give you ten of those.
10. Napoleon Dynamite
Starting the list off is one movie I'm not crazy about, but my fellow Millennials love. The 2004 indie film stars Jon Heder as an socially awkward high schooler Napoleon Dynamite, who help's his classmate foreign student Pedro run for class president. In the process surviving his home life and high school amongst the strange cast of characters in his life.
The movie has developed a cult following, and is not for everyone as it's very dry humor based. The story of Napoleon coming out of his shell over the course of the movie, a great deal of people can relate to. Especially the Millennials who were in high school during that time.
9. Stomp The Yard
This 2007 film starring Columbus Short and Meagan Goode shine's a light on HBCU's, Greek life, and the art of stepping for Greek's. Short's character D.J. moves to Atlanta to start life over and attend's the fictional HBCU Truth University. There he pledge's and joins Theta Nu Theta, who are trying to take over from Mu Gamma Xi as the step king's on campus.
The movie shined light on HBCU life an the importance of HBCU's. Fraternities and Sororities, and the competition and art of steppin'. Much like A Different World and School Daze inspired previous generations to attend HBCU's, thanks to Stomp The Yard there were several Black Millennials who attended HBCU's and joined the Greek life because of this film.
8. White Chicks
This 2004 Shawn and Marlon Wayans film is one of their most beloved films, dare I say more beloved than
Scary Movie I and II. The two star as FBI agents who go deep undercover, donning makeup and posing as a pair of socialite sisters. They have to keep the facade up while they investigate a criminal plot loading.
7. You Got Served
Another 2004 film, You Got Served was a starring vehicle for the boy band B2K and their associate Marques Houston. Upon the film's release it was dubbed corny by many people, mostly teenage male's because B2K was taking all the teenage females attention during that time. As the year's past the film has gained a cult classic status amongst all.
Amidst all the dancing and choreography, the film has a heart. It's about adversity, real friendship and brotherhood against the backdrop of dancing. And while we're on dancing there were several Millennials in living rooms and dance floors doing this routine, dancing in the rain or this one. For those reason's alone, and the fact when Millennials quote the movie we make extra facial expressions much like the actors. Make it a classic for our generation.
6. Mean Girls
The late 80's had the dark comedy Heathers, the 90's bought us the trendy comedy Clueless. 2004 (damn that was a good year for Millennials) bought us Mean Girls for the 2000's. Written by Tina Fey who also has a role in the film, and starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert. The film follows Lohan as a newbie to a school who befriends the popular superficial "Plastics" and eventually turns on them becoming a mean girl herself.
The film is a 2000's classic and still beloved to this day, just scroll through social media on October 3rd and see all the reference's to the scene. Or see someone wearing Pink on a Wednesday and become apart of the clique. The movie has spawned direct to DVD/streaming sequels, a Broadway musical, and a remake released last year based on the musical. In the eye's of Millennials nothing will compare to the original.
5. Bring It On
4 year's before Mean Girls caught the attention of teenage Millennials. 2000 Bring It On starring Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, and Eliza Dushku made cheerleading cool. Kirsten Dunst's character Torrance lead's the Rancho Carne Toro's cheerleading squad, who's world is turned upside down by Eliza's character Missy. When she learns their routine was stolen from the East Compton Clovers led by Gabrielle's Isis. What follows is a rivarly between the two cheerleading squads.
Until Mean Girls came out, Bring It On was thee movie for little girls in the new millennium. It still has a profound impact on the generation, just look up social media on Halloween and see how many woman dress as the Clovers and the Toro's. WWE superstars Bianca Belair and Naomi even wore Clover inspired ring gear. They even did a dance routine from the film. Which the routine is often copied all over social media just hashtag it. Millennials love us some Bring It On.
4. Drumline
Bring it on made cheerleading cool in 2000. Stomp The Yard bought the spotlight for Greek life and steppin' at HBCU's in 2007. In 2002 Drumline starring Nick Cannon introduced a generation either entering college or a few years away to the world of marching bands at HBCU's. Cannon star's as Devon Miles a talented drummer attending his first year at the fictional Atlanta A&T University, who has to work through some challenges. The movie showed the showmanship and dedication needed to be in a marching band, including drills that rival the military.
It is a fact Drumline inspired a bunch of kid's to join marching bands in high school on the way to college. Especially at Historically Black colleges and universities. When Millennial's switch thing's up from the plan, we always say we "put a little twist on it". During homecoming season, several Millennial's find time to watch the movie because it take's them back to their college years. What a time it was when this movie released.
3. The Hangover
2009's The Hangover is arguably one of the funniest film's ever. Starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms as three friends who lose their friend ahead of his wedding after a wild night in Vegas. They go through some wild scenarios and dangerous situations to find their friend and get him to his wedding.
When the film was released the majority of Millennials were in their early-mid 20's, or late teenage years and we all loved the movie. In fact when we hit the town in the years following the movie, the aspiration however silly it may have been was to have a Hangover type night. Especially during bachelor parties. Zach Galifianakis in the eyes of us is and will always be Alan. And when groups of friends get together, especially after a while of not seeing one another one person may sing this little jingle.
2. ATL
2006's ATL which was as a starring vehicle for T.I. is our generations Purple Rain and House Party. Musician led film's that talk to a particular era of teen's and young adults. Following T.I. and his crew as they love skating at Cascade's, while they are all working through their individual situations as they look to graduate from high school and move to the next phase in life. Meanwhile T.I.'s character Rashad is busy trying to keep his younger brother Ant from falling in the wrong crowd. While also wooing the over the top cutie but mysterious New New played by Lauren London. Everyone learns some lessons through the course of the movie.
Like I said the film is important to Millennials like Purple Rain and House Party were for young Boomers and Gen X'ers. Kid's especially young urban kid's wanted to learn how to skate after seeing the movie. And we quote line's from the movie, most of them classic lines uttered by Big Boi's character Marcus in this scene. Or if you answer the phone and go "who this?" you may get this response. Millennials love us some ATL, and we turn it on every chance we get.
1. Superbad
The 80's had Fast Times At Ridgemont High, the 90's had Dazed And Confused at the beginning of the decade and American Pie at the end of the decade. 2007 bought us Superbad, written by Seth Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg. It shot Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse into the A-list of young actors during that era. Following a trio aiming to get some beer to go to a party so Cera's character Evan can get close to his crush Jules (Emma Stone). They run into some wild situations including some unorthodox cops all in a quest to some action.
Mintz-Plasse's character's alter-ego McLovin was a pop culture icon during that time, until maybe 5 years after the film released. Jonah Hill's portrayal of Seth became the type of character he excelled at playing until he "grew up" a bit. People even to this day, will watch the movie and laugh like they have never seen it before.
The film is a comedic classic but more importantly a Millennnial classic.
