Reality Bites at 30: why the Gen X classic still stands up today

• “I was really going to be something by the age of 23,” says Lelaina Pierce, played by the radiant Winona Ryder in the 1994 Gen X classic Reality Bites.
• Lelaina is a dissatisfied university graduate confronting the realities of life after graduation while making a documentary about her equally disaffected friend group.
• Reality Bites continues to resonate with new generations of viewers.

A film for Gen X

• Hawke’s brooding intellectual and Ryder’s luminous yet sardonic girl-next-door established personas for the duo that persisted throughout the decade.
• Read more:
  Nostalgia, VHS and Stranger Things' homage to 80s horror

  The themes of the film are surprisingly relevant given the generational differences between audiences of the early 90s and today.

• Despite clear generational differences in fashion, lifestyle and music, the response to the film by new audiences tends to be one of resonance and recognition.
• Spoiler Alert: Lelaina forgives him for leaving, and their embrace and kiss is one of the final images of the film.

A worthy rewatch

• Watching the film as an adult who is closer in age to Lelaina’s parents, the choice is less clear.
• Whichever side you end up taking, the film’s rocking soundtrack, charming performances and snarky humour make it a worthy rewatch.
• Read more:
  Baby boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z labels: Necessary or nonsense?

Adam Daniel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.