National Geographic has a list of films that purport to "sum up" Generation X as part of their series on those people born from 1961 through 1981. As a member of that group, I was not impressed with the list. It's focused on very narrow period of the Gen X lifespan, covering the 1990s plus a year or two either side. It's an important enough period - it shows a recognition of a new, separate identity - but it misses formative and later adult years.
And most of the films aren't by Xers.
And most of the films aren't by Xers.
I've put together an alternative list, with these goals:
- Characters that are recognizably Generation X, that is, born in the years 1961 through 1981, and displaying common characteristics.
- Covering as wide a range as possible - Generation X has been around for 55 years, so this should show a majority of that period.
- As much as possible consists of movies written and / or directed by Gen X.
Finding a starting point for this was an exercise of its own. Star Wars influenced Generation X, but it doesn't actually represent them. Devil-child movies - Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist - were common starting in the 1960s, and noted by Strauss & Howe as representing society's view of children. Still, rather than being about those children, the films themselves are about society's attitudes towards children, religion, and change. There's no choice but to move forward to when they are starting to get involved in activities with others of their age, which is why we start with:
1) The Bad News Bears (1976)
A movie about young misfits and delinquents, thrown together on a single Little League baseball team, and coached by an alcoholic. The introduction of a lone female pitcher, Amanda (Tatum O'Neal, b. 1963) represents changes in attitudes towards gender roles. Kids using profanity, sexual propositions involving young teenagers, an adult mentor swigging cheap beer and passing it to his charges - it's a fine introduction to this Generation.
A movie about young misfits and delinquents, thrown together on a single Little League baseball team, and coached by an alcoholic. The introduction of a lone female pitcher, Amanda (Tatum O'Neal, b. 1963) represents changes in attitudes towards gender roles. Kids using profanity, sexual propositions involving young teenagers, an adult mentor swigging cheap beer and passing it to his charges - it's a fine introduction to this Generation.
2) Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Cameron Crowe was holding a mirror up for Generation X, even before that label was common. His scripts and (later) directorial efforts, from this debut through Jerry Maguire, were always very aware of the pressures and expectations on the kids who were just a little younger than him. Fast Times in particular was based on undercover work done by Crowe at an actual Southern California high school, and here already we see conflicts over love and sex, career and success, street smarts and wisdom.
Cameron Crowe was holding a mirror up for Generation X, even before that label was common. His scripts and (later) directorial efforts, from this debut through Jerry Maguire, were always very aware of the pressures and expectations on the kids who were just a little younger than him. Fast Times in particular was based on undercover work done by Crowe at an actual Southern California high school, and here already we see conflicts over love and sex, career and success, street smarts and wisdom.
3) Sixteen Candles (1984)
John Hughes, while a Boomer himself (b.1957), is identified with Gen X because of the influence of his teen movies. which treated high schoolers as human beings rather than bundles of hormones. The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink are perhaps too universal to be considered only about X. Sixteen Candles, though, starring Molly Ringwald as girl navigating high school tribulations on her sixteenth birthday, is very definitely a product of its time, to the point that it's hardly understandable by millennials. (How'd they forget her birthday?)
4) Heathers (1988)
Is there any other generation that would suggest a high school movie about faking suicides among the popular kids - much less celebrate such a pitch black comedy? Christian Slater and Winona Ryder became archetypical X representatives on-screen. Written by Daniel Waters (b 1962) it can be seen as the start of Generation X's influence behind the camera, as well.
Is there any other generation that would suggest a high school movie about faking suicides among the popular kids - much less celebrate such a pitch black comedy? Christian Slater and Winona Ryder became archetypical X representatives on-screen. Written by Daniel Waters (b 1962) it can be seen as the start of Generation X's influence behind the camera, as well.
5) Clerks (1995)
Young Xers in dead-end jobs, talking about videos, the future, and yes, sex. Profane, confused, too smart for their own good but not yet able to do anything about it. Although writer/director Kevin Smith - who shot the film at the convenience store where he worked - did manage to get himself out of that job, do what he likes to do, and do something about it all.
Young Xers in dead-end jobs, talking about videos, the future, and yes, sex. Profane, confused, too smart for their own good but not yet able to do anything about it. Although writer/director Kevin Smith - who shot the film at the convenience store where he worked - did manage to get himself out of that job, do what he likes to do, and do something about it all.
6) Go (1999)
Beyond its perfect for the era culture-sub-referencing and non-linear plot, it's also about some very normal people, getting involved in complex, illegal and dangerous schemes, just to get by. That may not be a Gen X attribute, exactly, but street-smart Xers suceeding in dangerous projects does seem to be a common trope. Writer John August would go on to work with Tim Burton, while Doug Liman (following up on the success of Swingers) would become known for action films such as Mr & Mrs Smith.
Beyond its perfect for the era culture-sub-referencing and non-linear plot, it's also about some very normal people, getting involved in complex, illegal and dangerous schemes, just to get by. That may not be a Gen X attribute, exactly, but street-smart Xers suceeding in dangerous projects does seem to be a common trope. Writer John August would go on to work with Tim Burton, while Doug Liman (following up on the success of Swingers) would become known for action films such as Mr & Mrs Smith.
7) High Fidelity (2000)
John Cusack is Gen X's patron saint of romance, in all its forms. He's the ordinary college student just trying to get laid in The Sure Thing, the wise but uncertain recent graduate in Say Anything, the hitman reconsidering his high school prom date in Grosse Pointe Blank. We could probably sum up Generation X just with his movies. Here, he's Rob Gordon, record store owner and music aficionado, in an unusual romantic comedy. This one starts with a breakup, then becomes a one-man history of Gen X relationships, presented via Rob's Top 5 Breakups. ("Only people of a certain disposition are frightened of being alone for the rest of their lives at the age of 26, and we were of that disposition.")
John Cusack is Gen X's patron saint of romance, in all its forms. He's the ordinary college student just trying to get laid in The Sure Thing, the wise but uncertain recent graduate in Say Anything, the hitman reconsidering his high school prom date in Grosse Pointe Blank. We could probably sum up Generation X just with his movies. Here, he's Rob Gordon, record store owner and music aficionado, in an unusual romantic comedy. This one starts with a breakup, then becomes a one-man history of Gen X relationships, presented via Rob's Top 5 Breakups. ("Only people of a certain disposition are frightened of being alone for the rest of their lives at the age of 26, and we were of that disposition.")
8) The Royal Tenenbaums: (2001)
Wes Anderson shows us siblings dealing with a father who has been a lifelong problem - what's more Gen X than that. It also shows a rarely seen side of Generation X success, which is often fleeting and incomplete. We burn out, but not in romantic ways.
Wes Anderson shows us siblings dealing with a father who has been a lifelong problem - what's more Gen X than that. It also shows a rarely seen side of Generation X success, which is often fleeting and incomplete. We burn out, but not in romantic ways.
9) Up in the Air (2009)
George Clooney (b. 1961) plays a modern incarnation of Willy Loman, traveling the country firing people, too focused on the here and now and his 10 million mile goal to realize that life is passing him by - or already has. A cautionary tale, not a how-to guide.
George Clooney (b. 1961) plays a modern incarnation of Willy Loman, traveling the country firing people, too focused on the here and now and his 10 million mile goal to realize that life is passing him by - or already has. A cautionary tale, not a how-to guide.
10) The Big Short (2015)
A fitting end to the list, a caper where our heroes really are the good guys, unable to stop the train wreck as they work to profit from it. Adam McKay moves away from the broad comedies done with Will Ferrell to a more focused and intellectual comedy about the mortgage crisis, its effects, and the people who realized it was going to happen.
A fitting end to the list, a caper where our heroes really are the good guys, unable to stop the train wreck as they work to profit from it. Adam McKay moves away from the broad comedies done with Will Ferrell to a more focused and intellectual comedy about the mortgage crisis, its effects, and the people who realized it was going to happen.
Honorable mentions:
I really wanted to include a film from Quentin Tarantino (b. 1963). While he is influential, though, his films aren't really about his generation. Even if Butch - young at the end of the Vietnam War - clearly is a member.
Swingers (1996) is significant, all about Generation X, and involved a whole raft of talented folks who went on to shake up Hollywood.
I really wanted to include a film from Quentin Tarantino (b. 1963). While he is influential, though, his films aren't really about his generation. Even if Butch - young at the end of the Vietnam War - clearly is a member.
Swingers (1996) is significant, all about Generation X, and involved a whole raft of talented folks who went on to shake up Hollywood.
Wayne's World, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Zoolander - Xers made stupid a new word for Cool.
Sound City: This documentary directed by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl has a great combination of Gen X musicians with earlier musicians that influenced them.
Oceans 11 (2001) Bad guys, mostly Gen X, treated as the good guys - and on top of that, allowed to succeed with their nefarious plans. Plus it's Steven Soderbergh (1963), one of the earliest Gen X directors.
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