During my childhood, my family had a holiday ritual that almost always ended poorly. It began with a group trip to the video store to choose a movie that all of us could watch—and hopefully enjoy—together. Our choices generally illustrated why the expression “compromises were made” is often accompanied by shrugs, sighs, and, in this case, Metacritic scores that rarely broke 50.
But there were exceptions, which give me some of my fondest holiday memories. These moments were fueled by the unique energy that’s created when different generations share a cultural touchstone—all at the same time, while sitting in the same room.
