What is today, today? When Rory Cochrane spoke those words as Lucas in Empire Recordsa whole generation of music-obsessed viewers rejoiced.
Directed by Allan Moyle, Empire Records wasn’t a critical or commercial success when it was released in September 1995, but it’s since become a cult favorite that even has its own holiday. (That would be Rex Manning Day, celebrated annually on April 8 in honor of the fictional pop star – played by Maxwell Caulfield – by visiting Empire Records.)
The film follows a group of employees at an independent record store as they fight to stop its owner from selling it to a soulless chain called Music Town. Store Manager Joe (Anthony LaPaglia) wants to buy it himself, but this plan is foiled when Lucas loses $9,000 of the store’s money playing in Atlantic City.
Lucas and his colleagues — Gina (Renee Zellweger), Corey (Liv Tyler), A J (Johnny Whitworth), To mark (Ethan Embry), Deb (Robin Tunney) and others – later come up with a plan to hold a fundraiser for the store. This time their plan works and Empire Records lives on.
“It’s really just a nice overall experience for me,” Embry said. Complex in October 2015, reflecting on the best moments in the making of the film. “If I think of my favorite moments, most of them include Allan, the director. I think one of the reasons why it is what it is now is because he gave us let the children be children.
the I can not wait the actor was only 15 when he shot Empire Recordswhen Tyler was only 17 years old. Because they were still minors, they had to be supervised by an adult on set – and the Armageddon the star’s chaperone was actually her costar. coyote chillswho played Berko, was married to her mother, Baby Buellat the time, making him Tyler’s stepfather.
“They had no idea when they cast me that I was related to Liv Tyler,” Shivers said Result in September 2015. “When they found out, I almost lost the gig, because it exposed the fact that I was indeed 20 years old.” (The ages of the characters remain vague, but most of them are apparently in high school.)
But Empire Records is loved now, the cast is just as surprised as anyone that the film has become such a hit with fans. “That’s the thing with cult classics — they happen without any prediction from anyone,” Embry said. Complex. “They take on a life of their own. It didn’t make any money opening weekend. I thought that was the end. And then people started circulating the VHS. Like, dollar bin life.
Keep scrolling to see what the cast of Empire Records done now.
