The Lego Movie: A Testament to Childhood Nostalgia

Background

In 2014, the cinema world was changed with the release of the very first full-length theatrical film focused on and starring LEGO figures. 

The Lego Movie, a PG-rated film full of silly jokes and very obviously targeted towards the younger members of the general population, follows Emmet, an ordinary, rule-following construction worker that gets confused for “The Special” and is tasked with saving the world from the evil plans of President Business. 

When I was younger, I was only allowed to watch TV on Saturdays and Sundays, and The Lego Movie was a common selection to watch in my household. Now that I can watch TV whenever I want, The Lego Movie still ends up playing. 

The movie recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and thus provided me with the perfect opportunity to discuss why it remains such a special film years later. 

But First… The Lackluster Movie Scene

I think many will agree with me when I say that it seems that the world of cinema has been feeling a bit uninspired lately, with seemingly unnecessary live-action remakes and movie sequels as opposed to fresh, original ideas. 

I used to go to the movie theater like it was my job, but after the experience that was Avengers: Endgame, and then, of course, the pandemic, I haven’t really felt that pull to get to AMC like I used to. 

Certainly, there were some outliers in 2023, such as Guardians of The Galaxy: Volume 3, Oppenheimer, and Godzilla Minus One, but overall, going to the movies just hasn’t been the same for a while. 

Now, I have to turn to the comfort of my home movie library to find movies that make me feel a semblance of what I used to experience in the theater. I never actually saw The Lego Movie during its run in the theaters, but when I watch it at home, I get the experience that I tend to find myself missing when I go to the movies these days. An exciting, never-before-told story that is just pure fun and has the ability to bring people together regardless of the circumstance. 

The X (Twitter) Thread That Inspired Me to Write This

On the actual date of The Lego Movie’s 10th anniversary, February 7, user @greg_jenner posted a thread on X talking about one of the most memorable movie-watching experiences he ever had: watching The Lego Movie on a plane. 

Jenner tells the story of how he was on a 7-hour flight and watched in real time as one man turned on The Lego Movie, laughed so hard that he caught the attention of the guy next to him, that guy turned on The Lego Movie as well, and eventually more than 50 people on the plane were watching The Lego Movie, laughing. 

Jenner likened this steady spread of people watching The Lego Movie on the plane to something going viral on Twitter, and I found that to be a rather reasonable comparison. Jenner’s experience is a physical representation of happiness spreading, and it was all because a grown man decided to watch a movie made for kids. 

Naturally, after reading this thread, I once more felt the need to watch The Lego Movie, and I did. I had just watched it recently, when I was severely in need of some laughter, and it had worked like a charm. 

As I watched it, I thought about Jenner’s story and how fun it must have been to be on a plane full of people enjoying the movie together. 

You can check out the thread here. It’s not terribly long, but it warmed my heart, and I hope it warms yours too. 

Why The Lego Movie is Still “The Special” to Me

The Lego Movie has such an important message, and I can’t wait until I have kids of my own so I can show them this movie. Sure, you can say that the movie was used as a big project to convince more kids to want LEGOs, but it means so much more than that. 

The movie encourages creativity above all else, and how you don’t have to follow the “rules” when it comes to your creations. You can still feel lonely and unnoticed even if you follow the rules of society, but when you unleash your inner creativity you’ll find your own special place in the world. 

For me, The Lego Movie has always been particularly special. I find myself watching it more often than not, particularly when I need a pick-me-up. It takes me back to childhood memories of watching it with my brother and crying from laughter when Emmet goes flying through the sky screaming. I’ll confess: that part still cracks me up. 

It mixes “dumb” humor and a timeless message into a masterpiece of a movie that is still worth watching 10 years after its release, especially when you need that reminder that your creativity can only come from you and that makes you “The Special.”

The Lego Movie is nostalgic, but not in a way that hurts—in a way that feels good; like I’m a kid again, if only for a short time.