DECEMBER 18, 1980

Full News Archive

• Headline: Inside Moves: A Story of Resilience. Impact: This film's exploration of suicide and resilience led to a wave of indie films tackling heavy subjects. Little did they know, this would eventually lead to a global trend of 'sad but inspiring' movies, which would be the birthplace of countless therapy sessions and overpriced avocado toast. Fact: John Savage was once a serious contender for the title of 'Most Likely to Make You Cry in a Movie,' right up until the competition got serious with that one scene in 'The Notebook.'.
• Headline: The Birth of Sound in Cinema. Impact: This movie's 'rock-bottom' theme inspired future generations to redefine success. Turns out, hitting rock bottom is the new way to get a bestseller or a TED Talk, proving that misery really does love company... and a good marketing strategy. Fact: 'The Jazz Singer' is often credited as the film that saved Hollywood. Who knew that a movie with no jazz would lead to all those 'jazzercise' classes decades later?.
• Headline: The Formula for Synthetic Oil Unveiled. Impact: The drama of synthetic oil sparked a love affair with chemical engineering that ultimately led to the rise of modern-day conspiracy theories about Big Oil, proving once again that if you can’t trust a film, you definitely can’t trust a corporation. Fact: Fun fact: synthetic oil is not a magical potion, despite what some car enthusiasts may tell you during their mid-life crises.
• Headline: 'THE KILLING KIND' AND 'A DEGREE OF MURDER'. Impact: The accidental death trope in film helped to normalize the idea that love can be fatal. This established a cultural precedent that led to future generations believing that love triangles are best resolved with a little drama and a lot of bloodshed. Fact: The phrase 'it's not you, it's me' has never been more literal than in the context of an accidental lover's demise.
• Headline: A SIMON COMEDY, 'SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES'. Impact: The premise of hiding out at an ex's house popularized the idea of revisiting past relationships, leading to a boom in awkward reunions and the rise of those delightful 'What was I thinking?' Facebook memories. Fact: Hiding out at an ex's place is basically the adult version of playing hide-and-seek, but with more emotional baggage and less fun.
• Headline: 'NINE TO FIVE,' OFFICE COMEDY. Impact: The portrayal of women rising against a thoughtless boss inspired a movement of office workers everywhere to start their own 'revolutionary' book clubs, which mostly discuss how to get through Monday without crying. Fact: 'Nine to Five' was so influential that it inspired countless memes, but sadly, none of them managed to actually change office culture—just the wallpaper in break rooms.