Films and pop culture have a unique and symbiotic relationship. Major trends are apt to end up as part of Hollywood storylines, while unique scenes and moments in movies have the potential to launch global fads. Since the very first films were created and shown to audiences in the early 1900s, the industry has been a huge component of pop culture. Fans of Disney films from the 1990s, for example, likely remember seeing a growing number of Dalmatians on their street after the release of 101 Dalmatians.

A more modern example would be The Avengers helping put shawarma on the map. After Tony Stark’s character mentions wanting to try the food, it makes an appearance in a few other scenes—and garnered enough interest from viewers that shawarma sales boomed in the months following the film’s release. 

Dogs and delicacies aside, let’s take a look at some of the biggest trends from an array of films that have permanently left their influence on pop culture.

Rounders & the Poker Boom

Rounders, for those who don’t know, is a bit of a cult classic from 1998. This drama covers a trio of friends who are involved in an underground, high-stakes poker scene, featuring a young Matt Damon as a poker buff. The film went all-in on its Texas Hold’em content—which turned out to be a hit for viewers.

Thanks to a bit of narration, viewers are taken into the world of high-stakes poker, following each of Damon’s moves. It helped break down things like hand values, strategy, and when and how to bluff. It even touched on elements of poker like how to concentrate for long periods of time. Though poker content might sound dry to some, this film helped catapult the popularity of online poker in the early 2000s.

In fact, one of the world’s first major poker stars to make their name and fortune playing online, Chris Moneymaker, cited Rounders as the reason he started to delve into the world of poker. Today, it’s estimated that there are around 100 million virtual poker players worldwide.

Risky Business & Ray-Bans

Back in the 1970s, Ray-Bans were struggling with sales. Though the sunglasses brand had been around since the 1930s, the popularity of the wayfarers style hadn’t yet hit—until Risky Business was released in 1983. The film included multiple iconic scenes in which a young Tom Cruise sported wayfarer Ray-Bans, helping put the company back on the map. 

According to the L.A. Times, Ray-Ban sales skyrocketed following the film’s release, increasing by up to 50%. Not only did this help save the brand, but it also began the wayfarers trend—which continues almost forty years later. Today, Ray-Bans is a household name when it comes to sunglasses.

One of the biggest sponsors for the brand is Ferrari. Similar to Hollywood, Formula One is hugely popular and can help influence trends. Drivers like Charles LeClerc are picking up where Tom Cruise left off, attaching the Ray-Ban name to youth and fame.

E.T. & Reese’s Pieces

Let’s jump a bit further back in time. In 1982, Steven Spielberg released what would become one of the most iconic films of the decade: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The film quickly became a global hit, surpassing previous records to become the highest-grossing film ever released. And on its shoulders, it carried the Reese’s brand.

In one of the most effective and early forms of product placement, Reese’s Pieces candies are shown throughout the film. These tiny chocolates include a small portion of peanut butter, like a miniature of the classic Reese’s peanut butter cup. They took off with fans of the film, and quickly became the most popular candy of the season—and a staple that many enjoy today forty years later.

Oddly enough, the film was originally going to feature M&M’s. However, the executives at Mars didn’t want their product to be in a rewatchable film, meaning that Hershey’s and its Reese’s products won out.