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Movies that were once all the rage, but get little mention now.

posted 3 years ago by jonathan_k80 (6436)
84 replies | jump to latest

I can remember when Close Encounters of the Third Kind was first released. Everyone was raving about this film, and it permeated the pop culture, even making the cover of Newsweek magazine: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8d/90/11/8d9011591005fdac7173fe82e788b9f1.jpg
It prompted discussions about whether or not we were "alone in the universe." The theme song hit the Billboard Hot 100 list. I even remember seeing commercials parodying the film.

It had a lot going in its favor, with Stephen Spielberg riding the success of Jaws (released two years earlier) and a revival of the science fiction genre, thanks to Star Wars premiering six months before Close Encounters.

Today this movie seems to be nearly forgotten. Possibly because a lot of UFO encounter stories have been debunked... I don't know. I can't remember the last time I've seen this listed on TCM or any movie channel.

I'm not at all insinuating that it was a bad movie. I saw it back then and really enjoyed it.

What are some other films that have suffered this same fate?

[–] ElizabethJoestar (946) 3 years ago

I imagine a great many hit movies of the past have met this fate. It's just the nature of things.

When I was a kid, I recall the 2004 Fantastic Four generating a lot of buzz. Now when it's remembered at all, people tend to mock it. I rewatched it for the first time since middle school the other day and didn't think it was so terrible. Not great, but better than some of the lower-end MCU movies.

Avatar was definitely such a film. Such a huge deal in 2009. I was 16 and I recall seeing it at a midnight show. Was blown away by the spectacle. When I tried watching it on a TV the following year, I was bored within the first hour.

I've heard my grandparents categorize Willard as being like this too. It was a word of mouth hit in the early 1970s. Now it's only remembered by those who enjoy cult oddities. That or the 2003 remake, I guess.

[–] ElizabethJoestar (946) 3 years ago

Just thought of another one: La La Land. Everyone was crazy about it, now no one cares.

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 3 years ago

Avatar was a Leftard pos!

🤨

[–] RoboReCop (3379) 3 years ago

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

(still my favorite Robin Hood tale, though)

[–] Mustang (5568) 3 years ago

Watched it recently. It is still ok but it's a mess of a film. Alan Rickman is the high point.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7951) 3 years ago

I wasn't alive then but in 1957, Around the World in 80 days won the oscar for best picture and nobody talks about it anymore. Another best picture Oscar winner that's been forgotten by a lot of people is the last emperor of Rome.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

Chariots of Fire was inescapable for a long time. The music was everywhere; even in parodies.

The first Tim Burton Batman spawned a batman Tshirt pandemic. Everything was Batman for years after that sour garbage fire of a movie. Perhaps still enough attention to disqualify it from the "little mention" category established by OP.

[–] robocat893 (16217) 3 years ago

Disaster movies from the 70s like The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, Airport, etc.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78438) 3 years ago

They were all ridiculous but then we got that wave of ‘Massive Disaster Movies’ that were great stupid fun…2012, Dante’s Peak, Armageddon, Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day…so many stupid others lol

I like those ‘Dire’ disaster movies so much

[–] Mustang (5568) 3 years ago

Backdraft (1991) got heaps of hype at the time. Forgotten about now, probably because even back then it was over rated.

[–] davodikum (6212) 3 years ago

I agree. Movie is mediocre. Still worth a single watch, I have no desire to revisit though.

[–] Mustang (5568) 3 years ago

Took me years to finally watch it, all the hype put me off at the time. It was ok but nothing special. I think the cast and Ron Howard as director gave it more attention that what it deserved.

[–] davodikum (6212) 3 years ago

Yeah it was just one of those movies that was a product of its time. Sensationalism.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78438) 3 years ago

I’ve only seen it once, it was entertaining enough but mostly just corny with dramatic scenes that seemed forced

No need to rewatch this ever again despite a very impressive cast

[–] Mustang (5568) 3 years ago

"Romeo and Juliet" (1996) I recall there being a lot of hoopla about that one. Never spoken of now. Baz Luhrmann films in general seem to have a very short shelf life.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 3 years ago

Which is yet more evidence that God is real and loves us.

[–] Mustang (5568) 3 years ago

lol yeah I am not a fan of his stuff either.

[–] nyctc7 (44084) 3 years ago

Love Story (1970)

A huge hit in its day, the theme was a Billboard hit as well. It ranks #9 on AFI's 100 Years…100 Passions list, a list of the top 100 greatest love stories in American cinema. But the critics were sharply divided, and I think the film is largely forgotten today.

[–] mechajutaro (2788) 3 years ago

A huge hit in its day, the theme was a Billboard hit as well. It ranks #9 on AFI's 100 Years…100 Passions list, a list of the top 100 greatest love stories in American cinema. But the critics were sharply divided, and I think the film is largely forgotten today.

This one had already become a self-parody by time the 80s had rolled around. Folks were saying "Loving means you never have to say you're sorry" as a joke, and this hasn't changed