10 Movies That Are Incredibly Resonant With Nostalgia

Warning: Spoilers for Deadpool and Wolverine ahead!Nostalgia bait can be one of the most frustrating parts about a movie, especially in the modern era of cinema where remakes, sequels, and adaptations are very common. It’s a tool that can often seem cheap, overused, or a combination of both. But, other times, nostalgia bait is executed very well, not just for the fan service, but in a way that adds to the intrigue of the movie’s story and its characters.

Whether it’s through a movie’s use of a well-placed cameo, or one that has the utmost respect for its source material, nostalgia bait doesn’t have to be completely written off as lazy film-making. Few movies can demonstrate the true potential of nostalgia bait, honoring the legacy of beloved franchises while acting as an open door for new and exciting material. When used badly, nostalgia bait can be one of the worst parts of a movie and even leave viewers confused, like what happened in The bottleBut when used effectively, it can elevate the movie to unprecedented heights.

10

Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)

Adapted from the Five Nights at Freddy’s video game franchise (2014–present)

Five Nights at Freddy’s was a horror movie under a lot of pressure when it first released, because it had to bear the weight of the beloved titular video game franchise in a movie while providing a fresh and compelling story. His respect for the US Five Nights at Freddy’s Franchise is evident by its excellent use of nostalgia bait. It’s a movie that manages to balance appealing to existing fans of the franchise while bringing in new audiences.

From the unchanged designs of the iconic animatronics, the proliferation of jump scares, and of course, William Afton’s (Matthew Lillard) final line is “I always come back“, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a movie that feels like it really understands what fans of the original games wanted. It’s not a perfect movie adaptation by any stretchBut it captures the core essence of what made these Five Nights at Freddy’s Games so popular and loved. It delivers the nostalgia in perfect portions, leaving enough room to tell a creative and engaging story.

9

Mother Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

The clever and joyful sequel to Mamma Mia! (2008)

Even before the use of nostalgia bait was revealed, it was clear that Mother Mia! Here we go again would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor from 2008 in the most important way – it would be a musical movie full of life, charm and joy. As it acts as a prequel and sequel to Mother Mia!The movie has the unique ability to create the perfect blend of nostalgia and genuine creativity as it tells the now deceased Donna’s (Lily James/Meryl Streep) backstory and focuses on her daughter Sophie’s (Amanda Seyfried) attempts to follow in her footsteps. Mother.

Audiences finally see how Donna meets Sam (Jeremy Irvine/Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Josh Dylan/Stellan Skarsgård) and Harry (Hugh Skinner/Colin Firth), a story that works as a nostalgic experience and also tells a brand new story. A brief cameo by Meryl Streep in the final scene of the movie, and the return of the ever-iconic ABBA song, Dancing QueenTo the soundtrack acts as the cherry on top of a wonderfully nostalgic, but refreshing movie. Mother Mia! Here we go againIt’s clever use of nostalgia bait means that It works as a prequel, a sequel and even as a stand-alone movie.

8

Halloween (2018)

A Fantastic Sequel to Halloween (1978)

Despite there being nine movies in the Halloween franchise released between the 1978 original and the 2018 sequel, Halloween (2018) completely disregards the movie’s plot. Because the movie is a direct sequel to Halloween (1978), the film easily returns to the roots of what made the original so terrifyingly iconic, albeit with a modern twist on the tale. Nostalgia bait is just one of the key factors that contributed to HalloweenIt was a critical and commercial success when it was released in 2018.

There are many thematic nods to the original, including the use of John Carpenter’s legendary score, which continues to play a key role in making the presence of Michael Myers terrifying. There is also a new twist instilled in a recreation of the famous closet sequence, which acted as a crucial plot point of the 1978 movie’s final act, showcasing Halloween’s ability to use the success of the original to create something truly special. Halloween (2018) is a relatively simple slasher, just like the 1978 original, and it’s the nostalgic nods to that movie that make the movie so endearing to both new and old fans.

7

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Misunderstood sequel to the Ghostbusters duology (1984-1989)

After the commercial failure of the 2016 reboot, Sony opted to deliver a canonical sequel to the iconic 80s comedy series with the release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021. It’s a movie that has often made headlines for its nostalgia bait, and not always for good reasons, with some critics arguing that Still life Focuses too much on fan service at the expense of a compelling story (via Kotaku). While the recycling of Gozer as the movie’s antagonist was a bit lazy, it’s also arguable that Still life‘s nostalgia bait is incredibly overcriticized.

Of course, there are proton packs and the return of the Ecto-1, however Still life Goes on like this, with all four original Ghostbusters In the story. This is where the movie is criticized for its overuse of nostalgic fan service, but that’s a misunderstanding. Watch the original Ghostbusters alongside Still lifeThe young cast evokes a true sense of the passing of the torch, and also acts as a touching tribute to Harold Ramis, the man who played Egon Spengler in the original and co-wrote it with fellow Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd.

6

jurassic world (2015)

Refreshing sequel to the Jurassic Park trilogy (1993-2001)

Jurassic World Helped to revitalize the beloved Jurassic Park franchise by building on the nostalgia and success of the 1993 original. Yes, the plot is certainly very similar, telling the story of escaped dinosaurs, but Jurassic World Goes far beyond that. It’s a movie that builds a sense of continuity to the iconic original with nostalgic references, but also has a lot to say for its intriguing story and brand new characters.

For example, the original Jurassic Park The movie portrays the velociraptors as vicious killing machines, and while they retain this trait in Jurassic WorldThe movie builds on the universe’s lore by having Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) train them. The idea that dinosaurs can be domesticated adds a whole new and exciting dimension to the franchise, which also has a lot of respect for the 1993 movie. Seeing BD Wong return as Dr. Henry Wu is also welcome and his new villain role again demonstrates the movie’s ability to take certain features of the original but tweak them in a way that keeps Jurassic Park Franchise Fresh.

5

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The Climax of the MCU’s Infinity Saga (2008-2019)

A movie that acted as the culmination of 11 years of the MCU, Avengers: Endgame Has a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders, pressure that ends up making a real diamond of a movie. Considering that the majority of End gameThe story revolves around the Avengers traveling back in time to key moments in the MCU, it’s a movie that doesn’t feel like it overuses nostalgia for fan service. It is, ultimately, a careful balancing act between the past and the present.

From the recreation of the Battle of New York, to Thor revisiting Asgard, End game is clearly full of longing, moments pleasing people. However, it is this nostalgia that seems to raise the emotional and material stakes in the movie. Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr) fatal sacrifice at the end of the movie is not only a call-back to when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) criticizes him for not being “the guy to do the sacrifice game”, but also signals the end of the character’s 11-year arc. End game is probably the most famous example of a movie using nostalgia to elevate its narrative, and it’s clear to see why.

4

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

Sequel to the two live-action Star Wars trilogies (1977-2005)

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens was a seminal moment in movie history, not just for its box office numbers, but for how it reignited them Star Wars Franchise for a new generation. It managed to achieve this watershed status by drawing heavily on the themes and characters of the original Star Wars trilogy, but used this nostalgia to depict a new story full of excitement. Perhaps the most famous use of nostalgia bait ever, it only takes a quick glance at the audience reactions to seeing the Millennium Falcon in The Force Awakens‘ trailer to realize the true cultural impact of a movie built on its predecessors.

His story may be criticized for being derivative of Episode IV – A New HopeBut this in no way diminishes the nostalgic excitement that The Force Awakens has to offer. From Kylo Ren’s (Adam Driver) cracked T-shaped lightsaber, to the return of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), The Force Awakens Bridged the gap between those who saw the original trilogy release, and those just starting to get into the franchise. It’s an exciting movie that expertly uses nostalgia to rekindle the love for a galaxy far, far away for a whole new generation.

3

Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)

An insanely fun installment to the MCU (2008-present)

A couple that Marvel fans have wanted to see for years finally came to be with the release of Deadpool & Wolverine. This is a movie that acts as a blueprint for how to make nostalgia work effectively for the movies of the future. At the time of writing, Deadpool & Wolverine has earned over $1.2 billion worldwide in just over a month, a major success that is largely due to the movie’s excellent blending of character chemistry with a clever take on nostalgia (via BoxOfficeMojo).

Of course, witnessing the return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is the primary, and most public, nostalgic appeal of the movie, but Deadpool & Wolverine It goes much deeper than that. Including a wide range of cameos from live-action Marvel movies (not just limited to the MCU), the movie uses the mountain of nostalgia to provide endings for characters including Blade (Wesley Snipes) and Elektra (Jennifer Garner). His approach to fan service is both meta and novel, using nostalgia bait as a means to push his story forwards, anchoring the two titular heroes to a story full of chaos, emotion and excitement.

2

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

Sequel to Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

El Camino Serves as an epilogue to the highly acclaimed TV show Breaking badTells the story of Jesse (Aaron Paul) after his escape from torture and imprisonment. As the story progresses, the nostalgia for Breaking Bad really kicks in, with Jesse having to face the ghosts of his past, with flashback cameos from many iconic characters from the TV series. like El Camino was directed and written by Breaking bads creator Vince Gilligan, it’s a movie that makes audiences feel like they never left the show.

El Camino captures all the nostalgia that made Breaking bad So special, and uses that to deliver a story that really feels essential, rather than just an afterthought. It provides much-needed closure to Jesse, while also featuring a scene with Walter White (Bryan Cranston). This scene, while certainly acting as nostalgia and fan service, also re-emphasizes the incredible chemistry between Walter and Jesse, and adds another level of depth and intrigue to the characters and their dynamic.

1

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Sequel to Top Gun (1986)

A sequel truly worthy of the metaphorical “better than the original” title, Top Gun: Maverick is a masterclass in how to do nostalgia bait right. It taps into the aesthetic and drama of the 1986 original, highlighting a level of continuity while also providing a brand new story with brand new characters. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell’s (Tom Cruise) is obviously the primary source of nostalgia for many fans of the original here, but so are the callbacks and references in other areas. Maverick An incredible movie.

From the opening scene set to Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone”, to the mirroring of the student-mentor relationship, and of course, the return of the iconic leather jacket and sunglasses, Maverick Honor the original Top Gun In the best possible way. It’s a movie that, while fueled by nostalgia, doesn’t depend on it and doesn’t use it in superficial ways. Emotional weight is added to the story by the return of Iceman (Val Kilmer), and Maverick pushes himself forward to constantly change while remaining true to his core, rebellious values.

Sources: Kotaku, BoxOfficeMojo.