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What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars?

Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

But I'd argue that the most influential movie franchise of the past couple decades has been Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films. Comic book adaptations were a risky, seldom attempted genre prior to 2002. Now, they all get adapted and many have been super successful.

It seemed to me like X-Men was the movie that opened that door, but I could be wrong.
If we're going down that road, it's Star Wars that opened the door. 1999 was a watershed year in terms of sci-fi/fantasy/comic-book films. It saw not only TPM, but the Matrix and The Mummy making money hand-over-fist. It literally ushered in an era of SF/Fantasy films that had never before seen such a proliferation. It's true, X-Men proved that mainstream comic-to-film adaptations could be viable (after the Batman & Robin debacle) ... but in the wake of 1999, Spider-Man (which thoroughly eclipsed AOTC) was always going to be an event film.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

What movie still gets quoted from prolifically after over 30 years ?
What movies still has theme rides ?
What movies still has it's own toys ?
What movie has an unforgettable scene that still surprises people to this day ?


Ahh, Jaws is two years too early.
So maybe the thread should have been titled,"What franchises have had the greatest culural impact since Jaws". :)
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

Avatar had virtually no cultural impact compared to SW and ST and Simpsons.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

Back to the future. Everyone has seen it and knows what a flying delorean is and 1.21 gigawatts. Not quite the same level of money but highly quoted even among those who think of 85 the Marty viewed 55.....
 
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Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

If the OP's stipulation is it has to first be a movie, like Star Wars then there may not be another. I say that cause Potter was dismissed as was LOTR it seems.
I'd say both however don't equal SW in terms of cultural impact. Both are part of the mainstream conscience though along with many others such as Bond, Batman or even Godzilla.
I mean culturally SW has original novels, rereleases, a running cartoon, toys for sale all the time even a yearly Convention. Potter, LOTR and Bond don't have all that. I'm guessing Batman doesn't count most likely?

I wouldn't even apply Avatar frankly. I see a universe with potential but where are the original novels, toys a cartoon at least. Original novels at least would be "easy" but I don't hear of those. I'm not convinced there is a ground swell of interest for more Avatar in the vein of the excitement the first one had. A second will do well, don't get me wrong, but the story was a bland rehash of a Hollywood staple told better in other places.

Technically Batman and 007 don't count then, because they also did not start as movies.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

Remember when people were saying Matrix was going to be the next Star Wars? I can't believe how quickly all the hype and interest died after two terrible sequels. :rommie:


I like the story of all 3 movies tied together, but the impact of the first Matrix movie was in fact, more pronounced and important than any of the Star Wars movies combined.

RAMA
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

Avatar had virtually no cultural impact compared to SW and ST and Simpsons.


Quite true, but it's impact on both movies and scifi are second only to the Christopher Nolan movies since 2005.

RAMA
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

I like the story of all 3 movies tied together, but the impact of the first Matrix movie was in fact, more pronounced and important than any of the Star Wars movies combined.

No. Not even close.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

I like the story of all 3 movies tied together, but the impact of the first Matrix movie was in fact, more pronounced and important than any of the Star Wars movies combined.

No. Not even close.

"Bullet Time" might have been very popular the year or two after the first "Matrix" came out, but people got sick to death of it once it was used every place from shows to commercials.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

I like the story of all 3 movies tied together, but the impact of the first Matrix movie was in fact, more pronounced and important than any of the Star Wars movies combined.

No. Not even close.

"Bullet Time" might have been very popular the year or two after the first "Matrix" came out, but people got sick to death of it once it was used every place from shows to commercials.

I think the idea of the Matrix stuck with a lot of people who aren't your typical scifi types.
http://rapgenius.com/posts/932-What-is-the-matrix-references-to-the-matrix-in-rap
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

Star Wars, along with Jaws, is largely responsible for the nature of the last thirty years or so of American commercial cinema.

The Matrix did inspire a porn video featuring Katja Kean that had some pretty decent sex. So it has that going for it.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

It really is difficult to identify any cultural impact when it comes to The Matrix. The first film was extremely popular when it was released, but the strong sense of anticipation surrounding the sequels quickly dissipated once the first follow-up was seen by the public.

I suppose the films briefly established Keanu Reeves as an action lead and a box office draw, but his star has fallen rather hard in the decade since the series ended.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

He was already pretty well established in the action genre through his roles in Point Break and Speed.
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

A fair point. So...just the porn video, then?
 
Re: What franchise has had the closest cultural impact since Star Wars

I tip my hat to you, Mr. Adventure!

Yours is, by far, a more appropriate title, especially given Trinity's leather gear in the source film.

Sincerely,

Bill
 
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