Damn the Man. Save the Empire.

This has always been one of my favorite "teen comedies" from the 90's. I never understood the dislike of it. Great cast, great soundtrack, and just fun as hell

@slaintemhath3475

Жыл бұрын

Soundtrack for this movie is amazing

@Sweetish_Jeff_

Жыл бұрын

@@la_beatrice It could be the cast really didn’t have that star quality like “The Breakfast Club” had. Some of them went on to be very successful later on, but had someone like Johnny Depp or Christian Slater who would have been great as Joe appeared, maybe it would have been more successful. The same director did “Pump Up The Volume” and I see lots of parallels with that picture.

@Sweetish_Jeff_

Жыл бұрын

@@la_beatrice Me too. I think the movie should have been called “Talk Hard”. Missed opportunity for the filmmakers.

@charlescallen460

Жыл бұрын

I can’t even believe what I’m reading. This movie is literally great. I saw it in the 90s so yes I was much younger. Since then I’ve watched it numerous times! Young Renee Zellweger? Actually they were all great!

@MikeB12800

Жыл бұрын

@@la_beatrice has a “cheap” quality to it. Directing is definitely a bit amateurish. Cheesy at parts.

FINALLY. "The time to hesitate is through" Such a great movie. Did you recognize Lucas? He was Slater in Dazed and Confused. Rex Manning Day is April 8th. Damn the man, Save the Empire.

"Help me help me help me... Oh god!!!" I love Ethan Embry as Mark. He has no conflicts, no subplot, just good vibes and 'sugar' 😉 we should all be so happy

@ronfehr7899

Жыл бұрын

You probably realized that he was listed as Ethan Randall at the time of this movie.

@nohbodyhughno1121

Жыл бұрын

"SUGAR HIGH!"

@mcgilj1

3 ай бұрын

​​@@ronfehr7899was he? I thought this was his first as Embry..I remember being confused cause I knew him from "Dutch". Still one of my favorite actors I love seeing pop up randomly.

I had no idea Empire Records was remembered unfondly in reviews. People dug it when it was released!

@russellward4624

Жыл бұрын

This isn't a film for critics. It doesn't have advanced camera work or a deep story. It's just fun.

@michaelwhite8119

11 ай бұрын

Right? I was the age of most the cast so was all about this movie.

@rkstevenson5448

3 ай бұрын

It took a long time for it to gain the audience it did. Most people didn't see it in theaters, but I know by the late 90s it had started to really earn its place in the zeitgeist. It's still one of my favorite movies.

I highly recommend Can't Hardly Wait if you haven't seen it.. it's classic late 90s teen/high school party film that basically takes place in one day for the most part.. you'd love it, it's right up your alley.. great cast as well..

@PeterTarkulich

Жыл бұрын

I meant to suggest this, too! It's a great follow-up because it has a lot of the same energy and vibe (and Ethan Embry is awesome).

@mcgilj1

Жыл бұрын

Plus the lead is played by Ethan Embry who played Mark in this..

I've thought of Rex Manning being someone like David Cassidy who started out on "The Partridge Family" and went on to be a pop star in the 1970s.

If you liked this you should check out "Can't Hardly Wait".

@michaelwhite8119

11 ай бұрын

Yes, this.

@96grunge

9 ай бұрын

absolutely. need some reactors to watch it. i love that movie so much

I saw it back in the 90's when it was released on VHS. It became a frequent rental for me. I don't know if IMDB has it in its trivia, but that performance at the end, that really is Renee singing. She freakin nailed the singing.

@davidcampillo9714

Жыл бұрын

she really did, through she didn't make the soundtrack edit

@moonlitegram

Жыл бұрын

I worked in a video store in the 90s. I always loved returning tapes in the aisle with Empire Records in it so I could drool over Liv Tyler on the cover. :D

I didn't see it until around 2000, but just fell in love with it. As one friend of mine from film class put it: "It's not a great movie, but it's just a great sit back and have fun movie." I personally love the movie so much - so many great moments.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the thumbnail for this - Empire Records is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. I spent the night at a friend's house after junior prom with a bunch of people, and the following morning someone put this movie on, but I had to leave halfway through. I was so obsessed with finishing it that I had to go out and rent the VHS from Blockbuster (that's a long way of saying "I'm old"). I watched it so many times that to this day I can recite it forwards and backwards. I even played several of the less popular songs from the soundtrack regularly on my radio show in college. Thank you so much for reviewing this and sharing in the joy that it always brings me!

Liv Tyler is such a gem. Two other music films I think you'd enjoy would be That Thing You Do which had Liv in it and Tom Hanks. It was a Hank's Playtone production. The other is The Boat That Rocked also titled Pirate Radio in North America. Phillip Seymour Hoffman in a film that depicts a 1967 pirate radio station broadcasting off a boat in international waters of the coast of England. Back then rock n roll was banned in the country and was brought in via broadcasting outside the country.

@laudanum669

Жыл бұрын

"Pirate Radio" is an overlooked gem, although it's a bit long.

it is true that whenever I see certain kinds of films, certain reacters (reactors?) that I watch will just pop into mind, and whenever I see coming-of-age pop-culture time-capsules like this one, I think of you! .. I don't care what they say.. you're alright kid.. 🤪 I love your trivia-in-post, it's unique to you and channel-defining, often my favorite part cause I learn something new and your two-cents is priceless 🤩

I managed a video store for 5 years and it is as glorious as you could imagine.

Empire Records was released to 87 theatres and dropped fast (85, 16, 8, out by 5th week). It released late September in the same week as Se7en (2441 theatres) and Showgirls (1388). Other significant films that week include To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar; The Usual Suspects; Braveheart; and Apollo 13. So the short answer to why it flopped is that they released a teen summer film in late September after everyone was back in school and didn't put it in enough theatres to be noticed. Death by studio disinterest.

High Fidelity (2000) is one you'll probably enjoy Shanelle.

@delwynklassen3644

Жыл бұрын

I’ll second this one! Also Singles for a similar vibe. (And … So I Married An Axe Murderer for the best Mike Meyers movie with a great supporting cast)

I worked at Blockbuster Video. This movie perfectly captured me and my co-workers comraderie and experiences.

@woodyg75

Жыл бұрын

I worked there too between 87' and 90'. Yes, the comraderie was very similar. The experience really enhanced my interests in movies that has carried on for a lifetime.

Shanelle, I worked in the video store business for nearly a decade (November 1990-August 2000). I loved it. It was truly great times and I have a backlog of memories to fill a book. And I remember when this film came out. I was 23 at the time and this was during the height of Real World, post-grunge, early days of Internet America. “Clerks” felt like a movie made for us and I can imagine this movie felt the same way or similarly to record store or music store employees back then. It’s a fun movie and I love it. If you really enjoyed this, I highly recommend “High Fidelity” with John Cusack. One of my favorites and the book by Nick Hornby is great, too. This movie gives me mixed feelings. Makes me happy cause it’s so good and so much fun. Makes me sad because I really miss that time and it’s so sad to have worked so hard and long at something you loved that doesn’t exist anymore. I imagine it’s what switchboard operators must feel like. Yet I still believe there is a market out there for movie rental stores. I have thought about this for awhile and I have some ideas on how they could bring it back. They can’t do it like before. They would have to incorporate the streaming technology with the physical media side of it and build it in, sew them In together. How they could do it, that’s the $64,000 question.

@nohbodyhughno1121

Жыл бұрын

Hi-Fi is a movie that is Criminally UNDER RATED!

@TheJamieRamone

Жыл бұрын

Dude, YASS!! I remember John Cusack once saying that the characters in that movie "don't have opinions, they have lists". So Shanelle, and Shia Lebeuf once said: "JUST DO IT!" 😁

@slaintemhath3475

Жыл бұрын

High Fidelity is one of my favourite movies of all time

I’m so glad you enjoyed this and you just got it! It’s my favourite film ever. I was obsessed through my teenage years and it’s my all time comfort movie. Damn the man, save the empire!!

Hard to think that Lucas is the same guy who played Slater the long-haired stoner in Dazed and Confused (Rory Cochrane)

@justinrducharme

Жыл бұрын

Check ya later 👉🏼

@justwatching6186

Жыл бұрын

Bout to be a lot better man.

I always thought of the Rex character as a Donny Osmond kind of person who still tours but no one under 25 would know who they were.

@mcgilj1

3 ай бұрын

Osmond or David Cassidy which was always my guess.

I had a smile on my face the entire time watching this. I had to have seen this sometime in 1996 on cable when I was a kid. A few years ago I went to a 90’s themed pub crawl with an Empire Records name badge, Marc Sucks and Sinead O’Rebellion buttons. 😂

probably my favorite soundtrack ever. Coyote Shivers who played Berko. that was his song they sang on the roof with gina. sugar high, such a great jam

HAPPY REX MANNING DAY, SHANELLE!!!! 😁😁😁 I didn't see this until it was released on home video, and I had a hell of a time getting my hands on a copy for my first time seeing it...and I was working at a Blockbuster Video when it went to video!!! We had one single copy...and EVERYONE between the ages of 14 to 28 wanted to rent it. How's that for irony? We finally just bought a few more copies for the store and they were still always rented out (or out and accruing late fees) for at least a year and a half...much like Clerks and a few other similar films of the 90s. This was directed by Allan Moyle, who directed another favorite movie of mine (which you should see!) called 'Pump Up The Volume'(1990) starring Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis. I could never figure out who Rex Manning should be...because there are so many people he could have been from the 70s and 80s who did both music and a TV show. The actor who played Rex always tickled me...Maxwell Caulfield played Michael Carrington, the cousin of Olivia Newton-John's Sandy, in 'Grease 2'(1982) opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. It's one of those movies you know isn't very good and should not watch again, but you kind of fall in love with it anyway. Anyway...thanks for the great reaction...and check out 'Pump Up The Volume' and 'Grease 2'.

Awww...you talked right over my favorite line. He answers the phone, "Empire Records! Open til midnight." (short pause) "Midnight!" (slams phone down and does a double take)

@zebzamboni

Жыл бұрын

Mine too, explaining the quarters. "I don't feel that I need to explain my art to you, Warren."

@kingretard

Жыл бұрын

I worked at a record store that was open until midnight, I used to get that same call at least twice a week.

I don’t ever remember seeing this playing in theatres, but I do remember when the vhs released because I grabbed it first chance. I always associated Rex Manning with David Hasslehoff.

Empire Records is a forgotten gem. I also recommend Noises Off. The theater version of this in a way.

I've been waiting for you to watch this! This is one of my favorite movies ever! It reminds me of my teenage years so much, and the soundtrack is killer. Rex Manning Day is April 8th and this movie is always played at my local movie theater every year on that day. A bunch of us 90s kids always come out for it

High Fidelity is a similar movie centered around a record store although it's a grown up plot not a teen drama. If you like John Cusack you should check it out.

@slaintemhath3475

Жыл бұрын

1,000,000 times this. High Fidelity is an amazing movie. And so true to the amazing book by Nick Hornsby

I saw this a couple years after it's release. I would've been 15 or so. This is for sure a top 5 for me. I still listen to a bunch of this music today.

My absolute favorite movie, I quote this at least once a day. Haven't been this excited for a reaction since O Brother.

This came out when I was 16, and I loved it. Single handedly made me want to work at a record store. 🙂

Hi Fidelity feels much more like the modern story about a record store owner (John Cusack) and his employees (Jack Black) and has a killer soundtrack. It’s also about the love life of John Cusack in Chicago! So good!

I LOVE this movie. It's casually entertaining without trying to be too serious or overly comedic. I find movies like this very relaxing. I feel the same about Clueless. Glad you liked it!

I was a senior in high school when this came out and was obsessed with it. Still watch it every year on Rex Manning Day (April 8).

So happy you're doing this one, it was a pivotal movie in my childhood

Can't Hardly Wait. Graduation day for 90s kids.

I got to work at a record store in the last years of its heyday('03 to '07). While there was a lot of work to do because it was still so busy back then, the feel of this movie is totally accurate. Made the best of friends and had the best time.

This is a classic. Loved it since the 90’s and yes the soundtrack is incredible.

Yes. at this time I was convinced Renee Zellweger and Joey Lauren Adams was the same actress just getting different billing. Then Renee started making serious grown up movies, and Joey seemingly disappeared. And I'm probably forgetting some zany Renee film later and a huge Joey film after. The Rex sound was very Duran Duran. The video made me think of Robert Palmer and Whitesnake. But as you mentioned, the hair seemed like it was out of the 70s (when the 1995 movie would have required an early 80's prototype). I can't think of a perfect match. Robert Palmer is probably the closest fit as he was most popular ten years before the movie, and had similar hair. It's just hard to associate anyone with the horrible Rex Manning tho. You really need to listen to the Dire Straits "Making Movies" album, as it's spectacular. I too feel the 90s "kids at a party" movies perfected the John Hughes formula and transcended the 80s films. I'm not sure what killed this. Maybe "High School Musical" changing the flow behind the films? Or maybe just the climate in the world not being able to suspend disbelief enough to join the fun?

@mcgilj1

3 ай бұрын

Joey was in Big Daddy.. And directed a film.. but yeah she went underground sadly. Last I saw her was in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, reprising her role as Alyssa Jones.

Never got to work in a record shop (applied, got an interview, apparently wasn't cool enough), never got to work in a video store, but I did work at a book store in the early '00s. Similar vibe in a lot of ways, even if it was a big chain. The soundtrack is indeed an incredible snapshot of the mid '90s. For another "cult" period piece with great, era-appropriate soundtrack check out Singles (1992).

OMG OMG OMG OMG! Shan... I've been begging other reactionists to do this movie! I now officially love you forever! 😍 [Rex Manning is - at least to Gen X'ers who dealt with their parentals watching stuff from their own teenage years - clearly a leftover from the Monkees / Partridge Family milieu of fake TV bands] The amount of music is daunting for someone trying to dodge the copyright patrol, so thanks for braving the legalese slapfight!

@ecbenson98

Жыл бұрын

I can see that, but the video had serious Addicted To Love vibes

I was in 8th grade when this movie came out and I can't tell you how many times I have watched this. Loved that you watched this for the channel and enjoyed it. So, good.

Rex Manning was the typical 70’s tv star turned pop star who is now aging & no longer relevant & can only get booked by small indie record stores. I don’t know if you realize it but Lucas is the actor who played Slater (the stoner) in Dazed & Confused. The main reason this bombed in my opinion is that it was released by Gramercy Pictures (Mallrats, Dazed & Confused). Everything they released bombed in theaters but most found a cult following. Unfortunately Empire never really found its cult following.

@mcgilj1

Жыл бұрын

I think it has.. Maybe not huge.. But I know a Facebook group celebrates Rex Manning Day every year (April 8th)

@Sweetish_Jeff_

Жыл бұрын

Rex Manning=Scott Baio

@mcgilj1

Жыл бұрын

@@Sweetish_Jeff_ I always thought it was David Cassidy myself...

@cultureshockROCKS

Жыл бұрын

Bobby Sherman could be Rex Manning's brother.

@Shoofyou10

Жыл бұрын

I was getting Tom Jones?

Thanks for this choice - Such an underrated 90's jam! love this movie and had the amazing soundtrack as well!

This movie was a classic for myself and classmates in high school in 1998!

Can't Hardly Wait is also a top notch 90s teen comedy, though from a bit later in the 90s. Also staring "Marc".

@LeisureTimeLarry

Жыл бұрын

90's Jennifer Love Hewitt!

One of my favorite movies since my freshman year of high school in 95. Great soundtrack too.

I love this movie and I did see it in the theater. I still have the CD for this soundtrack lol. I have a group of friends that we do always wish each other happy rex manning day on April 8th (The date was chosen as a tribute to Kurt Cobain who was found dead on April 8th the year before the movie was released.) This was the same year Clueless came out and it was quite a difference between the two. It was a weird time in music which was shifting away from grunge/rock and more to gangster rap (east vs west coast) and eventually pop. Thank you for reacting to this movie.

As a high school student in 1995, this was an instant classic.

This movie came out in September. Liv Tyler was mostly known for appearing in an Aerosmith video and being Steven Tyler's daughter. That video also had Alicia Silverstone in it and Silverstone had just been in "Clueless." Sometimes it seems like audiences will really care about one movie of a genre at a time. This was when there was a new wave of teen/young adult movies; suddenly there were a lot of them at the same time. It sort of got lost in that shuffle even though it was driven by a soundtrack with songs ubiquitous on MTV.

This is such a great movie. Rory Cochrane was at the top of his game in this after playing Slater on Dazed and Confused. There are a few other teen comedies I would love to see you watch. Valley Girl with Nick Cage, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Thanks for watching all these great movies, I truly enjoy your channel.

@chrisgobeil4751

Жыл бұрын

I'm kind of surprised she didn't catch that, that Rory was Slater from Dazed and Confused

@loganrideout9151

Жыл бұрын

Catch you later....

This movie is legendary! People all over the world still celebrate Rex Manning day every April 8th by watching the film! Including me!

Loved this movie back in the day, did work in a record store early 90’s a lot like this. Also worked in a video store. I love your channel

@kingretard

Жыл бұрын

I worked at Tower Records in the early 90's. It was exactly like this (our name tags even said "I work here"). Chasing shoplifters, picking music, in store appearances, this was our daily life captured on film.

This is a criminally underrated film, and it's a joy to see you discover and appreciate it.

Ethan Randall, who later switched his name to Ethan Embry, had a role earlier in his career, a movie called A Far Off Place, which also starred a young Reese Witherspoon. The two would also be in Sweet Home Alabama, in which he had a smaller role than Reese.

It's Rex Manning Day!!!!

@Popsbuick

Жыл бұрын

haha always my first thought when it comes to this movie! and then damn the man save the empire!!

This is my sister's favorite movie, and a huge part of her and my tween/early teen years. We always rush to see who can wish the other "Happy Rex Manning Day!" first every April 8th. I always thought Rex Manning was meant to be a Niel Diamond type (singer of "Sweet Caroline"), as he looked similar, and recorded similar music, though I'm not sure if he was that much of a lothario (could also be going for Tom Jones ("What's New Pussycat") type). When you were listing off those bands you'd never heard of, I just laughed because Gin Blossoms/Toad the Wet Sprocket/etc were the sounds of my early teen years.

This was my favorite when I was a lil teen 😍 can't believe you reacted to this classic lol love love love your channel ❤️

My sister and I rented this movie constantly. The soundtrack is still in a number of my playlists. This and Newsies were our go-to comfort movies. Here's a fact that I don't think most people know because I don't think I've ever even seen it written about - the guy who plays AJ was discovered in a YM Magazine model search. One of his female friends submitted him... and I think it might have been the first search, but that I'm not sure of. Honestly, I think I still have that magazine stashed somewhere in my family home. I was obsessed with his spread and freaked when I saw him a few years later acting in this. He and Lucas were also both (years and years) later on CSI Miami.

I love that you're visiting these awesome 90s classics. I hope you get around to So I Married An Axe Murderer next. One of the best 90s comedies and Mike Meyers best film. Would be right up your alley for these quirky little self-contained comedies.

@alhollywood6486

Жыл бұрын

The Queen, the Vatican, The Rothchilds, the Gettys, AND Colonel Sanders before he went tits up!

@DeathsjesterKMNP

Жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more!

@thisguy1520

Жыл бұрын

Heed! Down!

@LordVolkov

Жыл бұрын

Also with Anthony LaPaglia!

@alhollywood6486

Жыл бұрын

@@thisguy1520 I'm not kidding, it's a virtual planetoid! Has it's own weather system it does.

Robin Tunney is also great in another 90s classic, The Craft.

@graciefolden2359

Жыл бұрын

Love ❤ The Craft, I have a friend whose wife is like Robin Tunney's identical twin.

@theshakyproject2971

Жыл бұрын

She wore a wig in The Craft, as she had just shaved her head for Empire Records. In both films, she plays someone who attempted suicide by slitting her wrists.

@Harv72b

Жыл бұрын

I had a *huge* crush on 1990s Robin Tunney. ❤

@theshakyproject2971

Жыл бұрын

@@Harv72b Oh, do not even get me started.

@sidewaysoul

Жыл бұрын

If you dig way way back in Shan's archives, she's got a reaction to The Craft.

An underrated classic from the 90's.

This movie was a banger for watching at sleepovers in the 90s. I still know all the words by heart! Such a good movie. Damn the man, save the Empire!

The year this came out I graduated high school and began college, so I believe I was the demographic for this movie. While I did enjoy it and think of it fondly, I do recognize that it is not fantastic and I was never obsessed with it. The music and the cast are great, but now it makes sense when you say they edited out 40 minutes and a whole character. Oh, and the guy who played Lucas played Slater in Dazed & Confused. ✌

So glad you liked this one- it's always been right up my alley too. Crazy Life from the soundtrack made me a Toad fan, finally saw them in concert this past summer! Looking it up- this came out on the same day as Seven and Showgirls. Seven especially sucked up all the air in the room. And Hackers was a popular "teen" film that came out the week before. Empire records got overlooked but became popular for its soundtrack and ended up being on cable tv a lot.

I LOVE this movie! I rented on a whim from the library as a kid. It's been a favorite ever since! It's kinda sad most people seem to have never heard of it.

Damn The Man! Save The Empire!

This movie is kinda special to me. I worked in The VirginMega Store in Las Vegas for about 7 years. I started as a sales clerk but ended up running the video department. In my department we had a big projector to play movies. This was the first movie we played. Seen it allot. It really did capture some of the nutty aspects of working in a record store. I kinda miss it and some of the people I worked with. (Some are still my friends today.)

I LOVED working at a music store way back when this came out. This flick always brings good memories. And renee actually singing is amazing.

Absolutely love this movie!! 90s were so freaking awesome. Even though I was just a little kid but love the music, trending outfits, shoes etc

Just a note.. Rory "Lucas" Cochrane played the stoner Slater in "Dazed and Confused"

One of my all time favourite movies! Leaves you with a smile, and a great soundtrack!

saw it during its theatrical release and loved it... i was in my early/mid twenties and liked a lot of the music, with most being indie and/or alternative at the time (very few of it was actually mainstream radio type music, even the songs from the better known bands were not songs that were big hits). This was definitely made for a specific demographic, and most of my friends didnt get it at the time, though miraculously after it had become a cult classic on video and dvd, those same friends then denied not liking it back in the day. Damn the Man! Save the Empire!

I was brought up watching Empire Records, Clerks and High Fidelity. Loved them. A couple of years later, I actually got the chance to live the dream and work in a music and video store. My first day there was one of my happiest memories. I stood alone in a silent, empty store an hour before opening, then someone started the music playing and cranked it up loud. Suddenly, the little gum-chewing freaks all appeared and got to work. The DJs working the dance section would put records aside for other local DJs. The emos and goths would index Rock, Pop and Metal. We had a serial academic working classical and film makers in DVD. They'd write reviews by hand and stick to the DVD racks. I worked with musicians that went on to be in famous bands, we served Thom Yorke and Chris Martin. We hosted good bands for signings...There were posters up, in jokes, scruffiness, authenticity. Then, of course, came the corporate rebrand. Out went the posters, in came the dress code, out went the hand-written reviews, in came the corporate flyers, out went the mates rates on records, in came the credit card you had to push with every purchase. Out went the soul. Watching Empire Records still takes me back to those happy days though :)

Thanks, Shanelle! 💿 #ShanelleRiccio Debi Mazar is so great, as you know... if you'd like to see an excellent one in which she has a minor role, try GOODFELLAS (1990). Maxwell Caulfield should really be experienced in first major role, GREASE 2 (1982) which tends to be a love-it or hate-it kind of thing. I love it... and so does Drew Barrymore. I bet you will, too. 🙂

always loved this movie... so many lines from this are still in my repertoire

You should follow this up with Airheads. Steve Buscemi, Brendan Frasier.

Lucas (Rory Cochrane) was the stoner (slater) in Dazed and Confused

Excerpt from "The History of Punk" by Professor Thursday (mixcloud) "MTV ruled the 80s. Pop bands connected themselves to video and the big screen for cross promotions, but they had to be selected by the studio through contracts with the record companies. Directors had little pull on this. Movies were promoted through pop bands that played on MTV and the bands got paid for essentially two gigs. But as the 90s came rolling in, the MTV music video promotion was waning. MTV began to divert their attention to different programming like The real world and Road rules. Smaller bands didn’t have a chance to get air play like those that signed with the major labels. So, indie director Kevin Smith added smaller bands to his movie. For one, they were cheaper. The bands wanted exposure and Smith didn’t have to deal with music lawyers for rights and royalties as he would have for larger, better branded bands. That’s not to say that he didn’t pay a pretty penny to produce their peculiar sound in his production. Secondly, after seeing the success of the movie 'Singles', bands would jump at the chance to cross promote their sound. Movie Studios didn’t take long to understand the power of a good soundtrack. The 80’s were filled with great soundtrack from iconic movies, but they were on a lull as the decade turned. Looking at the success of Green Day, Skate Punk, and indie movies like Clerks, they quickly started incorporating youth music into their movies. The first to break the ice, and begin the long list of copycat movies to follow, came with Clueless in 1995. The movie featured the first pop punk sounds as dictated by corporations, in this case Viacom who happens to own Paramount Pictures and MTV. These bands were different than Green Day’s punk interpretation, but their sound was appealing to the average youth audience and edgy enough have a punk rock sound. Without a doubt, the production of the movie was one big music video as songs carried from scene to scene. It was also the first teen movie aimed directly at the new youth, or millennials. In direct competition with clueless came the teen movie Empire records. The soundtrack became attached to A&M records because the Gin blossoms track “Til I hear it from you” would be issued as the lead single for the movie. Music supervisor Bob Knickman included unsigned bands into the movie that would later be attached to the A&M catalogue. Francis “Coyote” Shivers even played a role in the movie to promote his song “Sugar High”. Other bands included Better than Ezra, the cranberries, toad the wet sprocket and cracker."

This is the quintessential 90's movie. I've watched this film so many times, and it never gets old. Damn the man! Save the Empire!

Empire records is classic,I was a little kid in 1995 and remember my brother having the VHS, and a few years later I actually bought the VHS off of him. The kid who plays Lucas was the stoner kid in dazed and confused.

damn the man, save the empire!

Another great movie taking place in record store is High Fidelity with John Cusack and Jack Black.

I needed this movie and music back then! It was a GLORIOUS TIME for rock music!!!!

Imagine being a customer when Liv Tyler has her breakdown 😂

This has always been one of my favorite movies!

I love this movie, never fails to put me in a good mood. No matter how many times I've seen it.

3:58 - I honestly never heard of it, but from what I've seen so far I'm getting the same vibe. Think I'll watch it in full later, see for myself.

"Video Killed the Radio Star" was the first music video to appear on MTV. Furthermore, the black-jacketed keyboard player is famed score composer and music producer, Hans Zimmer.

I'm so happy you reacted to this movie! This is one of my favorites, I remember watching this and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead on HBO. I'm pretty sure, the recorded tape of this movie is somewhere in storage lol!! I love everything about this movie, I was probably 13 when I saw it, and dreamed of working in a record store and then when I got older, I realized it would have been retail and I probably would not have had this much fun. I still will randomly pull quotes from this movie, especially "not on Rex Manning day!" I'm glad you enjoyed it and reacted to it!

I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out (twice) and recommended it to all my family and friends. Loved it and thought it should have been more popular. I've rewatched it several times since then and would watch it again any time just for Rene singing Sugar high. The girl who shaved her head later costarred in The Mentalist on TV as an FBI agent.

Such a great movie from my era😉 ‘what’s with today, today?’ Yes, I had a t-shirt made with that😂😂

between the ages of 15 and 25 I think I watched this movie 100 times. I love it so much. I love the soundtrack. Damn the man! Save the Empire!

I love Ethan Embry in this, recommend him in That Thing You Do, and Can't Hardly Wait

So glad you got on this one! This is on my favorites list! :) definitely one of the forbidden movies we snuck to watch when we were kids.

PS; If you haven’t watched the Tom Hanks movie “That Thing You Do” Liv Tyler and Ethan Embry (Mark) are both in it and I think you’d like it!

Ever since this movie, when a sales person asks my name, it’s been Marc. With a C. Every time. Lolz

omg! I’m so glad I found your channel! I haven’t seen anyone react to this movie before! It’s so underrated and I wish more of these movies had more interest 🙏🏼

Probably one of my all time favorite 90s movie. This hit the 6ear I started college and I think I watched it in theaters 3 times, and hundreds of times since. A line i quote all the time is when Mark answers the phone and says Empire Records, open to Midnight.,..... Midnight! Loving music does add some depth to my appreciation. I think it did poorly because it had bo marketing, and it had a longer title too which normally means box office poison