"Nuking the fridge" refers to the moment in a film series when it becomes apparent that a certain installment is not as good as previous installments, due to ridiculous or low quality storylines, events, or characters.
Originating from the film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," Harrison Ford's character survives a nuclear detonation by getting into a lead-lined fridge before being blown thousands of feet only to crash back down and emerge safely.
The absurdity in this occurrence is that, although lead is radiation proof, lead melts at 620°F and is not resistant to the millions of degrees, that say, an atomic bomb would put out. This is the prime example of the lower quality and outlandishness disgorged as a continuation of the series, and thus the phrase was coined.
The saying is also a reference to the phrase "jump the shark," referring to an episode of Happy Days where the Fonz jumped a shark on water skis, considered the lowest point of the show. "Jumping the shark" is applied to a television series alternatively to film.
Originating from the film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," Harrison Ford's character survives a nuclear detonation by getting into a lead-lined fridge before being blown thousands of feet only to crash back down and emerge safely.
The absurdity in this occurrence is that, although lead is radiation proof, lead melts at 620°F and is not resistant to the millions of degrees, that say, an atomic bomb would put out. This is the prime example of the lower quality and outlandishness disgorged as a continuation of the series, and thus the phrase was coined.
The saying is also a reference to the phrase "jump the shark," referring to an episode of Happy Days where the Fonz jumped a shark on water skis, considered the lowest point of the show. "Jumping the shark" is applied to a television series alternatively to film.
"Star Wars really nuked the fridge when Jar Jar Binks was introduced."
"Indiana Jones 4 nuked the fridge when they nuked the fridge."
"Indiana Jones 4 nuked the fridge when they nuked the fridge."
by Atalaya May 26, 2008
Nuke the fridge is when you are very mad at your fridge so much so that you drop a nuclear bomb on it ( I do not recommend)
by Johnny bob999988885555 February 26, 2021
Nuking the Fridge is a colloquialism used by U.S. Cinema critics and fans. It has a meaning similar to jumping the shark.
It is used to denote the point in a movie or movie series at which the characters or plot veer into a ridiculous, out-of-the-ordinary storyline. Films that have "nuked the fridge" are typically deemed to have passed their peak, since they have undergone too many changes to retain their initial appeal, and after this point critical fans often sense a noticeable decline in their quality.
It is considered as the movie correspective of what Jumping the shark means for television.
The term is an allusion to a scene in the 2008 film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull of the Indiana Jones series, when the title character Indiana Jones is literally hit by a Atomic Bomb blast while hiding inside a refrigerator in a desperate attempt to escape a nuclear test facility. The fridge is hurled several miles through the sky, and tumbles hard to the ground. The scene was considered so preposterous that many believed it to be an attempt at outdoing the over-the-top action of the classic introduction sequence of the series.
Nuke-the-fridge moments may be scenes like the one described above that finally convince viewers that the film has fundamentally and permanently strayed from its original premise. In those cases they are viewed as a desperate and futile attempt to keep a series fresh.
Origin
The phrase refers to the opening scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, first worldwide released on May 22 2008. The infamous scene was seen by many as betraying the normal half-serious tone of the series, by introducing an element of cartoonish factuality and typical excess.
The first public use of the phrase as a direct metaphor is reported to have been on May 24, 2008, on IMDB boards by user beachedblonde.
The phrase has been used more recently outside the realm of popular culture, representing anything that has reached its peak and has turned mediocre. If one thinks a stock or a sports team or a subcultural phenomenon has reached its peak, for example, one can say that it has "nuked the fridge."
It is used to denote the point in a movie or movie series at which the characters or plot veer into a ridiculous, out-of-the-ordinary storyline. Films that have "nuked the fridge" are typically deemed to have passed their peak, since they have undergone too many changes to retain their initial appeal, and after this point critical fans often sense a noticeable decline in their quality.
It is considered as the movie correspective of what Jumping the shark means for television.
The term is an allusion to a scene in the 2008 film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull of the Indiana Jones series, when the title character Indiana Jones is literally hit by a Atomic Bomb blast while hiding inside a refrigerator in a desperate attempt to escape a nuclear test facility. The fridge is hurled several miles through the sky, and tumbles hard to the ground. The scene was considered so preposterous that many believed it to be an attempt at outdoing the over-the-top action of the classic introduction sequence of the series.
Nuke-the-fridge moments may be scenes like the one described above that finally convince viewers that the film has fundamentally and permanently strayed from its original premise. In those cases they are viewed as a desperate and futile attempt to keep a series fresh.
Origin
The phrase refers to the opening scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, first worldwide released on May 22 2008. The infamous scene was seen by many as betraying the normal half-serious tone of the series, by introducing an element of cartoonish factuality and typical excess.
The first public use of the phrase as a direct metaphor is reported to have been on May 24, 2008, on IMDB boards by user beachedblonde.
The phrase has been used more recently outside the realm of popular culture, representing anything that has reached its peak and has turned mediocre. If one thinks a stock or a sports team or a subcultural phenomenon has reached its peak, for example, one can say that it has "nuked the fridge."
Examples of a film franchise nuking the fridge:
Star Wars - Jar-Jar Binks says "Ex-squeeze me"
Matrix - When 100 Agent Smiths attack a CGI Neo spinning around on a pole
Spider-Man - When Peter Parker turns Emo and starts dancing around a bar
Batman - When Batman has to fend off a bunch of glowing neon-painted hooligans to rescue Robin after he stole the Batmobile
Star Wars - Jar-Jar Binks says "Ex-squeeze me"
Matrix - When 100 Agent Smiths attack a CGI Neo spinning around on a pole
Spider-Man - When Peter Parker turns Emo and starts dancing around a bar
Batman - When Batman has to fend off a bunch of glowing neon-painted hooligans to rescue Robin after he stole the Batmobile
by Heyitsbeth May 26, 2008
Quite simply a reference to being absolutely famished. In other words, if there’s something in the fridge that’s yours, or you’re trying to save, you better get that shit now. Every damn thing in there is about to be microwaved and devoured.
3am...wasted...: “Yo, I’m about to nuke the fridge, girl.”
homeowner: “Shit, girl, let me get that leftover Zaxby’s out of the way first.”
homeowner: “Shit, girl, let me get that leftover Zaxby’s out of the way first.”
by DaddyWolverine March 8, 2021
Cinematic equivalent of the TV term "jump the shark." It is 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. Such moments are felt to mark the beginning of a low point in the quality of the franchise, as it attempts to explore more absurd avenues. "Nuke the fridge" is a reference to a scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wherein the title character incredibly survives a nuclear blast by climbing into a lead-lined refrigerator. The fridge is blown hundreds of feet into the sky, and, when it lands, Indiana Jones opens the door and walks away completely unscathed and apparently unaffected by any radiation sickness that would surely result from being in such close proximity to a nuclear blast.
The phrase was coined by disappointed IMDB users on the Indiana Jones 4 message board at that website who believed that the franchise had, in fact, nuked the fridge, and that this scene in particular marked its turn for the worse.
The phrase was coined by disappointed IMDB users on the Indiana Jones 4 message board at that website who believed that the franchise had, in fact, nuked the fridge, and that this scene in particular marked its turn for the worse.
"Man, when Peter Parker started doing the emo dance in Spider-Man 3, that franchise officially nuked the fridge."
"Aliens?! Oh God, did Indiana Jones just totally nuke the fridge or what?"
"Aliens?! Oh God, did Indiana Jones just totally nuke the fridge or what?"
by Edith Keeler May 26, 2008
You know, no country has gotten the opportunity to Nuke The Fridge yet, I wonder who will do it first?
by ShmexySocks January 11, 2021
Indiana Jones 4 nuked the fridge went they nuked the fridge.
by LMG9 May 26, 2008