5 Movies that Tapped into the Zeitgeist to Become Huge Hits
"The Purge: Election Year" hits theaters this weekend, and looks like it may break out at the box office. Its success will certainly be due to horror fans coming out in droves for Independence Day thrills, but the film will hope to capitalize on its timeliness as well. The film takes place in the near-future, where a 12-hour lawless period has become an annual, government-sponsored tradition. A U.S. senator who is running for president on the platform of eliminating this tradition becomes hunted over what may be the last "Purge" night of the year.
The movie may strike a nerve with audiences, given that this election year has already become one of the most contentious in recent memory. If this installment of "The Purge" can effectively tap into the feelings of political anger and uncertainty, its box office returns are sure to be huge. And it certainly wouldn't be the first film to tap into the zeitgeist in such a fashion. Here are five movies that saw box office success fueled by the events of the time.
This film, which follows a retired CIA agent (played by Liam Neeson) who must track down the human traffickers that took his daughter in France, became one of the biggest box office surprises in recent memory when it opened in January 2009. Indeed, expectations were low for the movie, and Neeson himself expected it to be released straight to video.
Instead, the movie opened to a strong $24.7 million and had minuscule weekend drops from there. "Taken" transformed Neeson into a bona fide action star and spawned two successful sequels.
And while, in retrospect, it doesn't seem all that surprising that "Taken" was a blockbuster -- who doesn't love the "very particular set of skills" speech? -- the real key to its success may have been its timing. The film came out just a few months after the recession, at a time when many Americans felt powerless after losing jobs and homes. Not only was "Taken" just the kind of escapist entertainment people were looking for during this time, but the premise of somebody snubbing the system to take matters into his own hands held great appeal. Neeson's "set of skills" certainly attracted interest, but it was his autonomy in this film that sealed the deal at the box office.
Domestic total: $145 million
A Congress gridlocked over the issue of gun control, even after several mass shootings. Two political parties, each frustrated by the other, in the wake of a U.S. presidential election. At a time when people were feeling uneasy about the United States political system, many Americans sought a sign that would prove the government could really effect change.
"Lincoln" answered this call. Abraham Lincoln may be the one person that Democrats and Republicans can both agree to celebrate, and Daniel Day-Lewis's portrayal of the president brought a bipartisan audience to the theater. But what made this movie a word-of-mouth hit was its dramatization of the 13th Amendment--which abolished slavery--making its way through the legislative arm of the government. As Lincoln used political maneuvering to drum up bipartisan support in the film, audiences were reminded that the U.S. political system can--and, occasionally, does--really work.
Domestic Total: $182.2 million
The shrinking middle class and the extravagant wealth of the 1% aren't just talking points of this year's election. They are issues that have been frustrating Americans for many years, and "The Wolf of Wall Street" provided just the kind of biting take on the upper crust that people were looking for.
Sure, there was a certain amount of vicarious glee that audiences took in watching corrupt stockbroker Jordan Belfort (played by Leo DiCaprio) engage in the excesses of the very wealthy. But it was equally compelling to watch Belfort's downfall, because audiences knew that the character deserved it. And while it was criticized in some corners for being a glorification of the excessive lifestyle, for just as many people the film was an affirmation of karmic retribution.
Domestic Total: $116.9 million
Though "Compton" is a period piece, its depiction of police brutality against African-Americans was incredibly timely. The film used the Rodney King verdict and the subsequent L.A. riots as a backdrop, and the parallels between the past and the present were clear. The film's release, in August 2015, came a few months after the death of Freddie Grey in police custody, which came soon after the decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the shooter of Michael Brown.
Therefore, N.W.A.'s anthem, "F**k tha Police," struck a chord with audiences frustrated by the ongoing issue of police brutality. The film opened to a huge $60.2 million, appealing not only to fans of the historic rap group, but also to people concerned about the targeting of black victims in the police force.
Domestic total: $161.2 million
"Zootopia," a recent release from Disney, looked like just another inconsequential anthropomorphic-animal film at first glance. Actually, this movie proved to have a bit more on its mind than cute talking critters. The film spins a tale about a world where animals who are historically predators live peacefully with animals who are not. When predators, who are a minority group in this world, begin turning uncharacteristically "savage", a bunny and a fox team up to expose the villains who have been brainwashing these animals as part of a larger plot.
The film becomes an allegory not only about the frightening power of fear-mongering, but also about the importance of setting aside differences and not letting stereotypes define you. In a time when xenophobia and Trumpism are pervading the news, families have flocked to this movie that celebrates diversity rather than attacking it.
Domestic total as of June 29, 2016: $340.5 million