First there was "jump the shark"...now "nuke the fridge"

MartinBlank · 06-04-08, 07:44 PM

***This post contains spoilers to the new Indy movie***

Quote:

2. nuke the fridge

Nuke the fridge is a colloquialism used to refer to the moment in a film series that is so incredible that it lessens the excitement of subsequent scenes that rely on more understated action or suspense, and it becomes apparent that a certain installment is not as good as a previous installments, due to ridiculous or low quality storylines, events or characters.

The term comes from the film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, in which, near the start of the movie, Harrison Ford's character survives a nuclear detonation by climbing into a kitchen fridge, which is then blown hundreds of feet through the sky whilst the town disintegrates. He then emerges from the fridge with no apparent injury. Later in the movie, the audience is expected to fear for his safety in a normal fistfight.

Fans of the Indiana Jones series found the absurdity of this event in the film to be the best example of the lower quality of this installment in the series, and thus coined the phrase, "nuke the fridge".

The phrase is also a reference to the phrase "jump the shark", which has the same meaning, only applied to a television series instead of a film series.

This phrase is not in common use.
"Star Wars didn't really nuke the fridge until Jar Jar Binks was introduced."

"Peter Parker dancing around the bar in Spider-Man 3? Kinda nukes the fridge!"

"The Godfather: Part III nukes the fridge."

"Gremlins 2 more or less nuked the fridge."

Urban Dictionary

mhg83 · 06-04-08, 07:51 PM

Alien 3 nukes the fridge.

Daytripper · 06-04-08, 08:03 PM

Sorry, but "nuke the fridge" is really stupid.

Lazy Bum · 06-04-08, 08:13 PM

Awww, Daytripper nuked the fridge.

mdc3000 · 06-04-08, 08:13 PM

this will never catch on... jump the shark is catchy... nuke the fridge will be forgotten 3 weeks from now.

cactusoly · 06-04-08, 08:30 PM

this thread Nuked the fridge before it started

mndtrp · 06-04-08, 08:37 PM

As opposed to "ripped the heart out", which is applicable to the less liked Temple of Doom.

Nick Martin · 06-04-08, 08:50 PM

I don't care about being spoiled on the new Indy movie, so after reading that quote about him surviving a nuked fridge, I know I won't be missing anything but a hell of a funny scene. I'm laughing at the idea of that right now, it's so ridiculous

Dr Mabuse · 06-04-08, 09:14 PM

oh yeah and then he steps out of the fridge and stands right under the mushroom cloud... just stands there watching the mushroom cloud grow, from right under it...

it was a multimedia insult to the intelligence of the viewer...

'nuked the fridge'... i love this one...

RichC2 · 06-04-08, 09:48 PM

Wow, this one is just stupid. Mostly because there's dozens of big movie moments that are far more offensive to reality.

This saying completely hacks the mothership.

DthRdrX · 06-04-08, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichC2

Wow, this one is just stupid. Mostly because there's dozens of big movie moments that are far more offensive to reality.

This saying completely hacks the mothership.

But the hacking of the mothership came at the end of the film! There wasn't much left to be excited about anyway. I actually like this phrase!

RichC2 · 06-04-08, 10:32 PM

Jump the shark is the one everybody knows for a reason

Nuked the fridge just doesn't roll off the tongue.

Daytripper · 06-04-08, 10:41 PM

"Hacks the mothership" is way better than "Nuke the fridge".

This whole "nuke the fridge" reminded me of a scene in "Mean Girls".
I couldn't remember exactly what the saying was they were trying to
make popular. So I cheated and went to IMBD's memorable quotes
and it was:

Gretchen: That is so fetch!

Regina: Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen! It's not going to happen!

RagingBull80 · 06-04-08, 11:04 PM

I kinda like it.

PopcornTreeCt · 06-04-08, 11:08 PM

Nuke the fridge as in Indiana Jones threads at DVD Talk have nuked the fridge.

calhoun07 · 06-04-08, 11:28 PM

This thread nukes the jumping shark.

B5Erik · 06-04-08, 11:30 PM

Nuke the fridge. I like it.

Nuke the fridge, jump the shark - same basic idea.

Matthew Chmiel · 06-05-08, 02:56 AM

The definition of nuke the fridge nuked the fridge when they mentioned that Gremlins 2 nuked the fridge.

Dr Mabuse · 06-05-08, 03:10 AM

this is more popular than i thought...

there's already a 'nuked the fridge' discussion forum...

Link...

Rogue588 · 06-05-08, 05:07 AM

Wouldn't nuking the site from orbit effectively take out the fridge too?

droidguy1119 · 06-05-08, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhg83

Alien 3 nukes the fridge.

Boooooooo! Total disagreement!

SunMonkey · 06-05-08, 08:27 AM

This is THE internet here. It is aleady law.

Groucho · 06-05-08, 09:24 AM

"Jump the shark" was actually replaced by "Drove into a lake".

DeputyDave · 06-05-08, 09:33 AM

The scene didn't bother me at all.

Charlie Goose · 06-05-08, 10:01 AM

I'm still in favor of using "the bear walked by the pool".

As for Indy 4, I think the stupider part was

Spoiler:

06-04-08, 08:13 PM	#5
mdc3000 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 8,190	this will never catch on... jump the shark is catchy... nuke the fridge will be forgotten 3 weeks from now. __________________ Rank 'Em As You See Them 2009 2008 2007 Spending Tab 2009 2008 2007 Follow me on TWITTER

06-04-08, 08:30 PM	#6
cactusoly DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Up State NY Posts: 1,737	this thread Nuked the fridge before it started __________________ "Smoke Crack and Worship Satan." COB My DVD List http://www.myspace.com/dartholy

06-04-08, 09:14 PM	#9
Dr Mabuse DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge... Posts: 8,728	oh yeah and then he steps out of the fridge and stands right under the mushroom cloud... just stands there watching the mushroom cloud grow, from right under it... it was a multimedia insult to the intelligence of the viewer... 'nuked the fridge'... i love this one... __________________ "Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it." - Samuel Johnson "Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do." - Bertrand Russell

06-04-08, 09:48 PM	#10
RichC2 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 11,160	Wow, this one is just stupid. Mostly because there's dozens of big movie moments that are far more offensive to reality. This saying completely hacks the mothership. __________________ Toshiba HD-A2 / Sony Playstation 3 60gb Xbox Live Tag: Gumai / PSN Tag: Seihaku

06-04-08, 10:32 PM	#12
RichC2 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 11,160	Jump the shark is the one everybody knows for a reason Nuked the fridge just doesn't roll off the tongue. __________________ Toshiba HD-A2 / Sony Playstation 3 60gb Xbox Live Tag: Gumai / PSN Tag: Seihaku Last edited by RichC2; 06-04-08 at 11:03 PM.

06-04-08, 07:51 PM	#2
mhg83 DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,047	Alien 3 nukes the fridge.

06-04-08, 08:03 PM	#3
Daytripper DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 6,198	Sorry, but "nuke the fridge" is really stupid.

06-04-08, 08:13 PM	#4
Lazy Bum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 132	Awww, Daytripper nuked the fridge.

06-04-08, 08:37 PM	#7
mndtrp DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: May 2004 Location: a mile high, give or take a few feet Posts: 8,272	As opposed to "ripped the heart out", which is applicable to the less liked Temple of Doom.

06-04-08, 08:50 PM	#8
Nick Martin DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,060	I don't care about being spoiled on the new Indy movie, so after reading that quote about him surviving a nuked fridge, I know I won't be missing anything but a hell of a funny scene. I'm laughing at the idea of that right now, it's so ridiculous

06-04-08, 10:41 PM	#13
Daytripper DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 6,198	"Hacks the mothership" is way better than "Nuke the fridge". This whole "nuke the fridge" reminded me of a scene in "Mean Girls". I couldn't remember exactly what the saying was they were trying to make popular. So I cheated and went to IMBD's memorable quotes and it was: Gretchen: That is so fetch! Regina: Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen! It's not going to happen!

06-04-08, 11:04 PM	#14
RagingBull80 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: West of the Fields Posts: 1,409	I kinda like it. __________________ "Through fields of Cattle. Through fields of Cane." D V D S

06-04-08, 11:08 PM	#15
PopcornTreeCt DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 15,193	Nuke the fridge as in Indiana Jones threads at DVD Talk have nuked the fridge. __________________

06-04-08, 11:28 PM	#16
calhoun07 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 12,792	This thread nukes the jumping shark. __________________ You can only please a woman with a dick made out of chocolate that ejaculates money.-Rhemus Windowless vans do NOT have candy, only rape.

06-04-08, 11:30 PM	#17
B5Erik DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,917	Nuke the fridge. I like it. Nuke the fridge, jump the shark - same basic idea.

06-05-08, 05:07 AM	#20
Rogue588 DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: WAS looking for My Own Private Stuckeyville, but stuck in Liberty City (while missing Vice City) Posts: 15,082	Wouldn't nuking the site from orbit effectively take out the fridge too? __________________ Marshall Mann: "What exactly is your beef with humanity?" Mary Shannon: "I have no beef with humanity. It's the people I can't stand." "I'm not a fan of facts. Facts can change all the time, but my opinion will never change." - Stephen Colbert \| owned \| desired \| ditchin' \| listen Wednesday 10p \|

06-05-08, 02:56 AM	#18
Matthew Chmiel DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 6,830	The definition of nuke the fridge nuked the fridge when they mentioned that Gremlins 2 nuked the fridge. __________________ Now on Twitter! PlayStation Network / Xbox 360 Gamertag: CupboardOfLove

06-05-08, 03:10 AM	#19
Dr Mabuse DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge... Posts: 8,728	this is more popular than i thought... there's already a 'nuked the fridge' discussion forum... Link... __________________ "Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it." - Samuel Johnson "Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do." - Bertrand Russell

06-05-08, 08:27 AM	#22
SunMonkey DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lake Ridge, VA Posts: 5,233	This is THE internet here. It is aleady law.

06-05-08, 09:24 AM	#23
Groucho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 46,692	"Jump the shark" was actually replaced by "Drove into a lake". __________________ Panda Killers? Xbox Live: Runner Groucho PSN: RunnerGroucho

06-05-08, 09:33 AM	#24
DeputyDave DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 9,022	The scene didn't bother me at all. __________________ DVDSpot, RIP

06-05-08, 10:01 AM	#25
Charlie Goose DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's) Posts: 15,717	I'm still in favor of using "the bear walked by the pool". As for Indy 4, I think the stupider part was Spoiler: Shia LaDouche swinging from tree to tree with the monkeys. __________________ Ohwa Tagu Siam