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Born between 1981-1996, millennials–aka “Generation Y”–are the first generation to have “helicopter parents.” They are also better educated, more tech-savvy, and prefer their workplace hours to be flexible and fun. Because of economic pressures, they have delayed marriage and children and owning a home. There is no timeline for achieving these traditional life goals. They enjoy gaming, live concerts, dining out, and social media. If you look at the big picture of influential films for the Baby Boomer and Millennial generations, you’ll see a stark difference in what resonates for them.
Although both age groups like to be entertained, the top films for the younger group are more “fun” and less serious. Toy Story (1995) offered a nostalgic escape to their childhoods and how to transition to adulthood. Every generation loves The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Gen Yers were no exception. But they also embraced Hocus Pocus (1993) and its three “lovable” witches and helped make it a sensation on home video.
The Sandlot (1993), a baseball-themed coming-of-age story, connected with them. Home Alone (1990) became a phenomenon with their help. The story of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) single-handedly thwarting a pair of robbers at Christmastime captured their attention and was (and is) perfect for countless re-watches. Just like generations before them, millennials were charmed by Disney animated features. Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994) became instant classics. The song “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King, with its “no worries” philosophy, struck a chord and became a millennial anthem.
Jurassic Park (1993) was a defining moment for millennials. Besides supplying numerous scares, it also inspired an interest in dinosaurs and science. And to show their widening tastes, Kevin Smith’s wildly profane and funny Clerks (1994) struck a chord with them. Slacker culture was being elevated. Despite being baby boomer nostalgia, Forrest Gump (also ’94), the story of a man living through the historical moments of the late 20th century, became a multi-generational hit.
1995 brought Clueless, a SoCal updating of Jane Austen’s Emma. The heroine, now named Cher (Alicia Silverstone in a star-making performance), was a happy, positive teenager navigating high school, romance, and fashion in her own distinctive way. It hit a nerve with millennials who were used to the grunge movement defining the nineties. Scream (1996), a different kind of slasher film, piqued their interest with its pop culture references, clever dialogue, and gruesome murders. The now-classic opening scene with Drew Barrymore being stalked, first by telephone and then in person, is still truly terrifying.
1996 also gave the country the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky White House scandal. While boomers lived through a sexual revolution, millennials had to contend with wall-to-wall coverage of a sitting president’s peccadilloes. And they were asking their parents many uncomfortable questions. It seems like a simpler time back then considering today’s climate of normalized sexual scandals.
The sci-fi genre hit it big with The Matrix (1999), where machines are the overlords and artificial intelligence has taken over, depicting what may be just over the horizon. Since millennials were the first generation to grow up with personal computers, they connected with the premise. Fight Club, released the same year, was a favorite among them, also. They identified with the themes of job dissatisfaction, consumerism, and the changing role of men in society.
After being raised and monitored so closely by their parents, all appearances of security were eliminated when Columbine happened in 1999. Two high schoolers shot up their Colorado high school and killed 13 people and themselves. Safety was no longer a given anywhere and anxiety exploded among their generation. Now even more, movies became comfort food for them. They latched onto the raunchy teen comedy American Pie (1999) and the relentless quest to lose one’s virginity. Office Space (1999) was another movie that spoke to them with its depiction of the corporate world as soul crushing and unfulfilling.
They helped make Harry Potter a cultural phenomenon first as books and then as films. They grew up with Harry as he did and enjoyed escaping into his magical world and sharing the experience with their peers online. Mean Girls (2004), Tina Fey’s on-target takedown of high school hierarchy, was also easy for them to identify with. It confirmed their own first-hand knowledge of cliques, fashion, and growing up. Superbad (2007) was another popular teen comedy that found a huge audience.
Millennials prefer “popcorn” movies, with the superhero and horror genres being mainstays of their viewing habits. Older movies in black and white are dismissed as old and too slowly paced for some of their generation. Older generations were introduced to classic films on TV by The Early Show or The Late Show or Saturday Night at the Movies. This was back when there were not so many choices available over the airwaves. One hopeful trend among them is that physical media is making a comeback. Just as vinyl has had a resurgence, owning a movie because of the superior quality of Blu-Rays and 4K is on the upswing. Gen Yers see the value in having a collection of their favorite films. More power to that!