Firstly, I wanna start by explaining what a “hangout movie” is. A hangout movie is a film subgenre, conceived by Quentin Tarantino. Oftentimes, a hangout movie consists of the following: an easy-to-follow plot, a LOT of dialogue, and extremely interesting characters (this is key). If these movies don’t have intriguing characters, then they fail, and they fail hard. The characters in these films are the story, and they have to pull the audience into the film. The goal of the hangout movie is to make a setting that’s so alluring along with the intriguing characters so that you want to be friends with the characters and hang out. Ya, see why it’s called a hangout movie now, hehehe.
I’m gonna shoot you straight, I love these movies, and I think that they are perfect to watch with friends. Also, this isn’t a Leo Phantom blog without some friendly recommendations, so here we go…
Leo Phantom’s Top 3 Hangout Movies:
3. Dazed and Confused - This teen comedy is bound to make you fall in love with all the characters pretty instantaneously. The movie has ZERO plot, so I legitimately don’t know what to write, but the plot isn’t the main point of this movie or any hangout movie for that matter. In my opinion, this is the best example of a hangout movie. Mathew McConaughey’s performance has to be my favorite part of the movie. Fun Fact: Dazed and Confused was Mathew McConaughey’s first film, and his famous phrase, ”all right, all right, all right,” was born.
2. The Big Lebowski - A cult classic comedy that features a man who gets his exquisite rug peed on. The man in question is known by his friends as The Dude. The Dude is one of a kind, and he and his goofy friends go on a quest to find redemption for his rug, which “really tied the room together.” Ultimately, they are roped into a ransom conspiracy. This film is SO funny, and it is without a doubt on my list for best comedies ever.
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood - Now, I’m a little biased because this is my favorite movie of all time, but it is AMAZING. This realistic fiction, comedy/drama is a must-watch hangout movie. Written and directed by the man who founded the hangout movie subgenre, Quentin Tarantino, this film has all the essential elements of a hangout movie: Snappy and hilarious dialogue, some of the greatest written characters in film history, and the most alluring setting I’ve ever seen. After watching this movie, you will want to live in Hollywood during the 1960s. But this movie is what it is because of the characters, Rick Dalton (Leo Dicaprio) and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). This duo is arguably the greatest acting duo ever seen on screen, and you will want to hang out with these two for hours on end. That’s a Leo Phantom guarantee.
