How 'Empire Records' rocked its way into cult status

In 1995, in the midst of the teen movie revival of the decade, a small production made it to theaters to minimal fanfare. The film was “Empire Records.” It was by no means a blockbuster hit, and after its run, it was found that even the soundtrack of the movie did better in terms of overall sales.

Image source: rogerebert.com

But as the years went by, “Empire Records” started to get a cult following, perhaps started by the fans that were there during its original release.

The plot was mind-numbingly simple as the film takes us through a day in the record store manned by a group of ridiculously quirky but painfully flawed teens and their no-nonsense manager. They each have issues, making the film an anthology of sorts, not unlike a collection of short stories all happening in a day.

While the performances were nothing to write your mom about, it was how the film was treated, with all its colors and characters blending seamlessly with its oddball humor and a superb soundtrack that make it incredibly easy to watch and enjoy.

Image source: mentalfloss.com

And speaking of the soundtrack, it stood out in an era of amazing soundtracks, with many of the songs still being played by radio DJs and club bands today.

Hi, the name’s Joe Cianciotto, and I’m a San Francisco Bay Area-based architect. I like to write about buildings, new gadgets, and movie blockbusters. Follow me on Twitter for similar updates.