Millennial movies: the low-key traumatic films responsible for a generation's paranoia
Technically, a children's film. Spiritually, a grief seminar. This animated saga about orphaned dinosaurs was our gateway to intergenerational trauma. Littlefoot loses his mum in the first act, then wanders a desolate prehistoric wasteland learning hard lessons about death, scarcity and betrayal. For many, it sparked a lifelong fear of abandonment. That, and quicksand. 3. 'Brokedown Palace' (1999)
Two girls. One drug bust. Zero justice. This film was the sole reason entire school trips to Thailand were vetoed. Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale's sun-soaked holiday devolves into a Kafkaesque nightmare involving corrupt systems, filthy prison cells and years lost to legal purgatory. Millennial movies did warn us about drugs and terrified an entire generation into law-abiding submission. 4. 'My Best Friend's Wedding' (1997)
Presented as a romantic comedy, this movie is actually a psychological thriller where the protagonist ruins lives with shocking ease. Julia Roberts plays the deranged anti-hero whose 'grand gesture' is essentially emotional sabotage. Somehow, this got filed under "feel-good film" in DVD rentals, despite teaching us that even best friends are capable of Machiavellian manipulation. 5. 'When a Stranger Calls' (2006)
It was supposed to be a disposable horror remake, but to millennials babysitting for extra cash, this was a PSA with lasting effects. The line 'the call is coming from inside the house' wasn't just a jump scare but a foundational fear. Today, it continues to echo as a millennial threat disguised as a fun internet meme. Landlines became ominous, babysitting gigs felt like Russian roulette and houses with glass windows and a second floor? No, thank you. 6. 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006)
Is it a fashion fairy tale or corporate horror with decked out in couture? Anne Hathaway's character spirals into a soul-crushing career path, sacrifices every personal relationship and learns that 'success' often looks like burnout in an expensive (not cerulean blue) coat. Millennials entered the workforce fully expecting to be emotionally razed for a vague shot at editorial glory. This is why we girlbossed so hard for expensive shoes and lattes. Thank goodness we're over that. 7. 'Final Destination' (2000)
This wasn't just a film—it was a permanent shift in consciousness. Every mundane moment became a death trap. Log trucks transporting logs? Never drive behind them. Tanning beds? Absolutely not. Shower cords? Dangerous. This millennial movie warned us that death is not only inevitable but also ironic, complicated and vindictive. Yet in true millennial fashion, we're still watching Bloodlines .
Millennial movies were all fun and games until someone was fired, imprisoned or orphaned. Yet, we walked out of those theatres with our spirits high because they played an upbeat pop song over the credits. The emotional whiplash was dizzying. But somehow, we accepted it—maybe even expected it. After all, if Sixpence None the Richer is playing while your life falls apart, is it really that bad?
NOW READ
11 K-Drama villains with unexpectedly heartbreaking stories
10 books about travel that will spark your wanderlust
11 cancelled TV shows we still can't stop thinking about
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
3 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
SIMMONS: No reason to believe Maple Leafs could ever win in the playoffs with Mitch Marner
Realistically, what exactly are the Maple Leafs losing with Mitch Marner heading to Sin City? They're losing one of the great regular-season players in hockey and one of the great offensive players in franchise history. They're losing a top-five right winger in the game, ranking alongside Nikita Kucherov, Mikko Rantanen, David Pastrnak and their own William Nylander. They're losing a 100-point producer in an 82-game season. A 100-point guy who managed one goal against the Florida Panthers in Round 2 of the playoffs and one goal against Ottawa in Round 1. The Maple Leafs have not struggled to make the playoffs in Marner's time in Toronto. What they've struggled to do is advance in the playoffs — and score goals in the playoffs. So how do you replace Marner? You don't in a regular-season, 90-point kind of way. You do in a not-contributing-much-when-it-matters-most at playoff time way. Examine Marner's history with the Leafs. They lost in Game 7 to Florida this year, scored one goal in that game. Marner didn't score it. They lost in overtime in Game 7 to Boston the year before. Scored one goal and it wasn't by Marner. They lost in Game 5 to Florida in overtime in 2023. Marner didn't score in that game. They lost in Game 7 to Tampa Bay in 2022. Marner did not score in that 2-1 loss. They lost in that still-hurting seven-game series to Montreal in 2021. They scored on goal in Game 7. Marner had no goals in the series. None. Before that, they were eliminated by Columbus, Boston twice and Washington — no goals for Marner in any of the clinching games. In three of those games, the Leafs scored just once. Marner was a special-teams master with the Leafs. An instinctual regular-season wizard. The Leafs had the third best power play in his time here and were 14th on the penalty-kill. At playoff time, they were 20th on the power play, 25th on PK. So to recap, he hasn't scored much in the playoffs, goal-wise, hasn't set up much at even strength in the post-season, and hasn't been a central figure on the Leafs power play or penalty-killing, neither of which have been up to up to Stanley Cup-winning standards in his nine playoff seasons. Marner earned 53 assists in the past two seasons on Auston Matthews goals. Matthews will certainly miss Marner's touch and vision. The captain may have to change his game slightly, which he seems to do every season anyhow. He now has Matthew Knies as his regular left winger, which there is a certain comfort with. If you look at the history of great lines in hockey, often the first two parts are consistently together and the third part of the line rotates in and out. Wayne Gretzky played with Jari Kurri and somebody. Mark Messier played with Glenn Anderson and somebody. Bryan Trottier played with Mike Bossy and a variety of wingers. Nathan MacKinnon played with Rantanen and fill in the blanks in Colorado. Doug Gilmour played with Joey Mullen in Calgary and Dave Andreychuk in Toronto. The Matthews-Marner-Knies line had a chance to become the best line in Leafs history. It wasn't together long enough to unofficially become that. But the better Knies plays now — and unlike Marner, he has already established himself as a player built for playoffs — the more he and Matthews should bond. The more Knies improves, the easier it will be to deal with Marner's departure. They have two-thirds of a powerful line with Matthews and Knies. Now they have to find the complementary third part, whether he's on the roster now or won't be until the season starts. John Tavares and William Nylander give the Leafs a solid second line if they don't move Nylander up with Matthews and Knies. Nylander has proven to be a playoff performer of some consequence. Tavares has not and neither has Matthews when compared to the degree of his talent. High scorers don't always score at playoff time. Sam Bennett, who had a career-high 51 points, scored 15 goals this playoff season. That's more in one playoff run than Marner, the 100-point guy, has in his career. Nicolas Roy, the third- or fourth-line centre picked up by the Leafs from Vegas in the Marner trade, is not an offensive player of note. But he has 10 playoff goals in his career. Three fewer that Marner. Roy is a 35-point player on average. Marner is a 90-point player on average. So what are the Leafs losing with Marner? They're losing creativity. They're losing skating excellence. They're losing vision and hockey sense. They're losing defensive acumen. They're losing a great regular-season scorer with great great regular-season power-play and penalty-kill work. And then playoffs began, year after year, without any real answers. In the nine games that ended Leafs seasons, Toronto scored only 12 goals. Marner had none of them. No goals for the hugely paid Mitch Marner. No reason to believe, after all these years, that was ever going to change here.
Edmonton Journal
3 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
Cowan: Canadiens' rebuild takes another step in right direction
Article content 'This is a big weekend for us and it's a big summer for us, but we're not going to do anything that's stupid,' Gorton said. The Canadiens have made some very smart moves since that statement in acquiring Dobson and Bolduc, while keeping two top prospects in defenceman David Reinbacher and centre Michael Hage, along with veteran defenceman Matheson. 'I think we can get in the playoffs again next year,' Hughes said. 'I hope that we do. I think when you're asked if it's a disappointment (missing the playoffs) it's a tricky thing in terms of the messaging. There's a messaging to the public, there's a messaging to your team. I hope we make the playoffs. 'As a roster, we probably have a better chance than maybe what we did last year at this time,' Hughes added. 'But we found our way and then other teams that maybe were expected to didn't. So we still got to play the games. I think we still have work to do here from a management perspective to get to where we want to be, but I like the direction we're heading in.'
Edmonton Journal
3 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
Matthew Knies believes the post-Mitch Marner Leafs can succeed
Article content Treliving was relieved to have 'a big piece' settled ahead of July 1. 'These RFA files can go well into the summer. I commend Matty, his representatives and (assistant GM) Brandon Pridham. We all dug in on this for what seemed like months and came to a good conclusion. 'We think he's just scratching the surface of what he's capable of.' Knies, who had 29 goals and 29 assists in his second full season said John Tavares' decision to come back with a hometown discount a few days ago made a major impression. Knies stayed at then team captain Tavares' house when he broke in a couple of years ago. 'That means a lot that he believes in the program and wants to stay,' Knies said. 'I've learned a ton from that guy and look forward to four more years soaking up all that knowledge. 'We have a great group of unbelievable players, we're continually making the playoffs and making pushes. That was a huge part of (wanting to return). The culture and the city, I just love it all.' Knies planned to celebrate his new deal with friends and family during Fourth of July week in his home country, but said he'll go right into training for 2025-26. 'I don't think I have to get any heavier,' said the 227-pounder. 'There is a lot of room in the skating aspect to be better and faster, turning a bit of that weight into muscle and becoming quicker and faster, more prepared, get stronger in the smaller areas (of the ice).'
