5 Movies That Are Popular For Reasons You'd Never Expect

5

Leonardo DiCaprio In Titanic Was The First Sexual Touchstone For Many Young ... Lesbians?

Gay women growing up in the '90s didn't have a whole lot of wank material. It was pretty much Ellen DeGeneres, Xena the Warrior Princess (right?), and Ross' ex-wife on Friends. And then came Jack Dawson from Titanic, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Remember when we explained that Titanic is a much more intriguing movie if you pretend DiCaprio's character is secretly female? Well, many gay women seem to agree. Titanic started a phenomenon in the late '90s which historians refer to as "Leomania" -- teenage girls losing their minds over DiCaprio and his baby-faced good looks. And that sea of girls included a surprising amount of budding lesbians. As the (also-lesbian) writer of this article explains, young DiCaprio, with his soft features, bisexual wardrobe, and nonexistent facial hair, embodied a certain androgynous look that many queer women possess. Some young women became Leomaniacs without realizing that they were attracted to him not as a girlish boy, but as a boyish girl.

Titanic and DiCaprio provided a "safe" way for homosexual women to fantasize without the anxiety of fully coming out. They could see the kind of thing they were attracted to, but it was on display by a man, so it didn't create any sort of personal crisis to think "I am attracted to this." DiCaprio remains beloved by the lesbian community to this day -- or at least we assume so, judging by these videos of lesbian "lookalikes" reenacting his scenes.

4

Frozen Is A Feminist Icon In Japan

While Disney's Frozen is beloved by children all over the world, Japan's obsession with the movie is something else. It's the country's third-highest-grossing movie of all time, and the highest-grossing 3D film ever. Nearly 20 percent of Frozen's box office returns came from Japan, and it's not like they have a shortage of animated films over there.

WikipediaRelax, Miyazaki fans, you can put down your pitchforks.

3

The Simpsons Is Now A Shining Mainstream Example Of Christianity

The Simpsons has been a mainstay on TV for so long that it's easy to forget how edgy and controversial it was in its early years. An actual president of the United States (the first Bush) even used the show as an encapsulation of American moral decay, and an audience of fiercely religious people applauded him for it.

2

Kingsman Represents South Korea's Class Struggle

South Koreans love spy movies, but their most beloved character isn't James Bond or Jason Bourne -- it's Harry Hart, Colin Firth's character in the Kingsman movies. The first film became South Korea's #1 R-rated foreign film ever, and the second one did the same thing, minus the "foreign" part.

1

Inside Out Is Helping Teach Autistic Kids About Emotional Response

In Pixar's Inside Out, emotions are represented as separate, unique people all squatting in the same brain. But while most people see that premise as a fun excuse to keep John Ratzenberger employed, those struggling with kids on the autism spectrum found it a godsend.

PixarAlso, you'll cry a whole bunch.

See, kids on the spectrum can have a difficult time understanding that other people's emotions can change on a moment's notice. A non-autistic person understands that someone can be mad that you ate all the cookies today, but somehow still love you tomorrow, while children on the spectrum sometimes struggle with that concept. That's why many families have found that Inside Out helps kids on the spectrum visualize the concepts of emotion, and even apply them to their daily lives.

This idea has caught on in the academic world as well. The University of Indiana's Resource for Autism declared that the movie has a "natural potential for teaching social thinking in individuals with autism spectrum disorders." The Autism Society even gave the directors an award for their service. Basically, this silly cartoon is helping some young people understand what it means to be human. We should probably be thankful that Pixar didn't turn that cute elephant into a violent anarchist.

OK, now cry.

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For more, check out American Flops That Are Insanely Popular In Other Countries and 23 Famous Movies Full Of Symbolism You Didn't Notice.

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