The 100 Greatest movies of the 1990s #32. Clerks (27 Viewers)

[Dennis Castro]

BS (before streaming) you were FORCED to rewatch movies since that's what cable did.

Like here.

TBS Dinner and a Movie

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

I don't have any issues with Tim's rankings on these. Say whatever you will about their "greatness" they are both memorable and get quoted ALL. THE. TIME. Clerks is the epitome of a cult classic that helped provide a runway for Kevin Smith to provide the world with some really great movies, one of which I fully expect to see later.

Dazed wasn't a masterpiece but it did well capturing 70s America and all it's high school antics and different social groups. I hear Matthew McConaughey's character quoted all the time, 30 years after the movie release so it had an impact.

Contrast that to some of Tim's movies I've never even heard of and it stands to reason where it's ranked.

He said all the other movies were disappointing from Smith, so you might have to wait for shuke.

Yep. I thought Red State was awesome. Same with Dogma
Cop Out sucks balls
Chasing Amy seemed so ahead of its time. Now people wouldn’t bat an eyelid

 

[Manster]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the folks think Dazed and Confused should be ranked lower, might also think Andor is the best Star Wars content ever.

 

[UncleZen]

Dazed is fantastic and seem appropriately ranked. I agree with @shuke that Clerks is too low. I believe both of these rank as 2 of the most quotable movies of the 90's, along with Tombstone.

 

[Manster]

Olaf!,...Metal!

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Love Dazed but the kid who played Mitch is a definite weak spot. Great movie though.

How dare you!

He's not great....but better than the 8th grade girl. I kind of enjoy his goofy not great acting chops as coming across as a sincere goofy kid (but never the "cool/chosen-one" kid they make him out to be). And I always lol at his pitching... Apparently never played baseball before, and it shows.

Yeah some people pick on the tick he has does over and over again with his hair but that doesn’t bother me. That’s actually a pretty realistic thing for his age but yeah his baseball is some of the worst ever put on screen which surprises me since I believe Linklater played college baseball.

His hair? If you drink every time he touches the bridge of his nose you won't finish the movie....

I like the movie, will watch when its on. A lot of actors in it who went on to bigger things but were relatively unknown at the time.

Yeah that’s it the nose, knew it was something with his head. Got mixed up.

I think he touches it at least 7 times in that one scene in front of the Emporium.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I enjoyed Clerks and find it properly rated I think. Definitely in the Dazed and Confused tier. I was in my early teens at the time they came out and both movies were pretty influential and were regularly watched by my peers through college.

That said, these were more influential and more heavily viewed for me and my peer group:

Spoiler

Old School
American Pie
Boondock Saints
Reservoir Dogs
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

At least two of those definitely don't belong on this list.

I didn't say they were great movies. Just that they stood out for me more as movies my friends and I watched in HS and college. For reference, I graduated HS in 2001 and college in 2005.

That said, I'm confident I know of one of the two (the Star Wars themed one) but I'm curious as to the second. The second one from a Don MacLean song?

I was more being an *** because 2 are from the 00s.

Boondock is the one on the list I personally don't like at all. Any others I'd for sure have a blast watching tonight.

I worked at a Blockbuster in college. I loved Boondock Saints and would recommend it to everyone. Curious how it holds up 25 years later

I watched it again about a month ago. I dont really think it’s all that good of a movie, but it is fun if you just kind of go with it. It feels pretty cliche and like the script is someone Is just writing up unoriginal knockoffs of action scenes that they liked. I probably wasn’t too worried about all that when I watched originally.

 

[zamboni]

Love Dazed but the kid who played Mitch is a definite weak spot. Great movie though.

How dare you!

He's not great....but better than the 8th grade girl. I kind of enjoy his goofy not great acting chops as coming across as a sincere goofy kid (but never the "cool/chosen-one" kid they make him out to be). And I always lol at his pitching... Apparently never played baseball before, and it shows.

Yeah some people pick on the tick he has does over and over again with his hair but that doesn’t bother me. That’s actually a pretty realistic thing for his age but yeah his baseball is some of the worst ever put on screen which surprises me since I believe Linklater played college baseball.

His hair? If you drink every time he touches the bridge of his nose you won't finish the movie....

I like the movie, will watch when its on. A lot of actors in it who went on to bigger things but were relatively unknown at the time.

Yeah that’s it the nose, knew it was something with his head. Got mixed up.

I think he touches it at least 7 times in that one scene in front of the Emporium.

Never understood the issue with his mannerisms - he’s an insecure kid and that seems realistic.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I did like Clerks although I liked other Kevin Smith stuff better. I'm not sure if I'd say it was better than any of this.

00. Total Recall
98. Any Given Sunday
97. The Doors
96. The Waterboy
95. Army of Darkness
90. The Sandlot
86. Man On The Moon
84. Babe
83. The Last of the Mohicans
80. Se7en
75. The Fugitive
73. The Nightmare Before Christmas
71. Pleasantville
69. Jurassic Park
66. Aladdin
62. Office Space
59. Independence Day
58. True Lies
57. Barton Fink
56. The Lion King
55. Life Is Beautiful
53. Mr. Holland’s Opus
52. The Sixth Sense
51. The Iron Giant
50. The Usual Suspects
49. Braveheart
47. Jerry Maguire
46. Clueless
45. Apollo 13
41. Beauty And The Beast
40. Forrest Gump
36. Being John Malkovich


maybe Waterboy