In the 90s, everybody was obsessed with advertising and how much it was taking over our lives. These days, primitive advertising strategies like product placement feel ancient. The 90s were so good that the only thing people had to complain about was Times Square billboards. At least, that’s what they complained about in the 1997 film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, and that’s the best reference I’ve got. 

The world has changed a lot in the past 30+ years. Now, intellectual property dominates the whole media landscape. The only movies that are being made are sequels and remakes of movies that got made years ago. The surefire, guaranteed way to sell something is to dress up an IP as something cool instead of as obviously cash grabby. Imagine knowing that Greta Gerwig was going to direct a Barbie movie five years ago. There’s nothing more indicative of the times than a Barbie movie parading itself as an indie experience. If you will only watch things with intellectual property attached, these hilarious memes will not disappoint.