Top 10 Movies That Revolve Around Shops
Malls, convenience stores, record shops... sometimes, exciting things can happen in seemingly dull places. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 movies that revolve around shops. For this list, we've looked at films that feature shops as a key location, whether it's because of the main characters' occupation, or because a big part of the action takes place in a store. Now grab your shopping lists and let's go to the mall.
Special thanks to our user Radina Papukchieva for submitting the idea on our Suggestions Page at WatchMojo.comsuggest
Script written by Radina Papukchieva.
Top 10 Movies About Shops
Malls, convenience stores, record shops… sometimes, exciting things can happen in seemingly dull places. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 movies that revolve around shops.
For this list, we’ve looked at films that feature shops as a key location, whether it’s because of the main characters’ occupation, or because a big part of the action takes place in a store. Now grab your shopping lists and your credit cards and let's go to the mall.
#10: “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005)
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Andy’s job as an electronics store clerk at the age of 40 is not the only sign his development has been arrested. When his colleagues find out he has never been with a woman before, they decide to help him explore his manhood. SmartTech thus becomes the physical setting in which Andy is schooled in the ways of love and sex – as everyone who works there becomes involved in helping him, often leading to hilarious situations.
#9: “Bad Santa” (2003)
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Once you get over the shock of seeing a very profane Santa on screen, you can sit back and enjoy Billy Bob Thornton’s performance as Willie. In this black comedy Christmas film, he’s an alcoholic conman with sex addiction that poses as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve to rob malls. Though the film features a few other locations, it’s essentially at the mall where we witness all the bad behavior and a series of foul remarks, which is all very fitting for the holidays. Or not.
#8: “Be Kind Rewind” (2008)
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After erasing all their tapes by accident, two video store clerks decide that the only solution to save their business is to re-shoot the movies requested by their customers themselves. The comedy-drama is an ode to the dying technology of VHS tapes, and a tribute to film nerds everywhere. If this doesn’t make you miss renting movies, we don’t know what will.
#7: “Empire Records” (1995)
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Remember in the ‘90s when working at a record store was “the coolest job on Earth”? That’s what the characters of this 1995 sleeper hit think at least, and they’re trying their best to save their store from being bought by a large chain. Aside from the obvious feelings of nostalgia, the coming-of-age movie was actually written by a former employee of Tower Records No. 166, a record store that closed a decade after “Empire Records”’ release.
#6: “The Mist” (2007)
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If your worst nightmare is to be stuck at the local supermarket while monsters roam outside, then you will agree with our next entry. After a severe thunderstorm, the inhabitants of Bridgton, Maine head to the local grocery store to pick up supplies. But when a thick mist starts to surround the town, those who are already inside the supermarket find themselves trapped, and tensions begin to rise. The result is a sci-fi horror flick that director Frank Darabont describes as “less about the monsters outside than about the monsters inside.”
#5: “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986)
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How about a musical comedy that takes place in a flower shop and features a groovy plant with the voice of Motown legend Levi Stubbs? When nerdy florist Seymour discovers that one of his new plants - Audrey II - needs human blood to live, he becomes a local celebrity. Unfortunately, he is unaware of Audrey II’s plans for world domination. With music, laughs, and maybe some scares, this movie encompasses all genres into one little shop of horrors.
#4: “High Fidelity” (2000)
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Our next entry is about a chronic list-maker, just like us. Rob owns Championship Vinyl, a record store that he’s barely keeping afloat; and meanwhile, he is also going through a bad break-up. The comedy drama perfectly combines music with his personal top five breakups. Despite his knowledge of sad pop songs, Rob is clueless when it comes to relationships. The record store is where he muses over those, and the movie is essentially a coming-of-age story for adults – with an excellent soundtrack.
#3: “Mallrats” (1995)
In this romantic comedy, the mall is where two best friends try to mend their recently broken hearts. They get into all kinds of shenanigans, including an encounter with comic-book magnate Stan Lee. Unfortunately for them, their ex-girlfriends also have business that brings them to the mall. The film tells a seemingly pointless story, but it eventually won the hearts of fans and became a Kevin Smith classic.
#2: “Dawn of the Dead” (1978)
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So far on our list, the mall has been a place for Christmas craziness and for slacking off after a breakup. In this 1978 George Romero horror, however, a shopping mall becomes a refuge from a much larger threat than greedy Santa impersonators and ex-girlfriends; here, the danger is zombies. A reporter, his girlfriend, and two S.W.A.T team members attempt to escape via helicopter, but circumstances force them to make a stop at this secluded hideout. However first, they must purge it from any remaining flesh-eaters. In a critique of modern consumerist society, Romero uses the mall as a temporary paradise for his heroes - temporary, being the keyword here.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “You’ve Got Mail” (1998)
- “Notting Hill” (1999)
- “Elf” (2003)
- “Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie” (2012)
#1: “Clerks” (1994)
Our number 1 pick is the film that revolves around a shop. Dante and Randal are retail store clerks who hate their job, but do it anyway. The comedy follows one day in their lives, showing us how they annoy customers, discuss relationships and movies, and even find some time to play hockey on the roof. Nobody expected the movie to become a cult classic, including director Kevin Smith himself, but thanks to its realism, dark humor and relatable characters, that’s exactly what happened. It also spawned a prequel a year later, which you might remember from a couple of entries ago.
Do you agree with our list? Which movies that revolve around shops left a lasting impression on you? For more Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
