What comes to mind when you think of iconic cars? There’s no shortage of memorable vehicles from TV and movies: Doc Brown’s DeLorean from Back to the Future, the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard, even the Batmobile from The Dark Knight. You might be surprised, however, to learn about another pop culture staple: the RV. Yes, RV’s are ingrained into our modern pop culture DNA. Sure, they may not exude class and sophistication like James Bond’s Aston Martin, but hey, you can’t argue with their functionality. Here is a carefully selected list of some of the most iconic scenes featuring our favorite recreational vehicles.
- Ludicrous Speed – Spaceballs
The Millennium Falcon has nothing on this Winnebago Chieftain 33. Spaceballs is a quintessential Star Wars parody from legendary comedian Mel Brooks. In it, a ragtag crew of space fighters fly around inside a beat-up Winnebago known as the Eagle 5. It may not look like much, but you can never underestimate the power of a Winnebago. The Eagle 5 is so fast that Darth Vader wannabe Dark Helmet has to fly “ludicrous speed” to catch it.
- Jinxy Flushes Moses – Meet the Fockers
Let’s face it: we’ve all been embarrassed by our families. Whether it’s a political rant from your drunk uncle at Thanksgiving or a way too revealing Facebook post by grandma, family humiliation is a rite of passage. Fortunately, it can’t get any worse than the series of mishaps in the Meet the Parents franchise. Meet The Fockers plays out like a waking nightmare for Ben Stiller, who’s tazed, drugged, and arrested all in the name of love. In this scene, his father (played by Dustin Hoffman) and future father-in-law (played by Robert De Niro) duke it out inside a luxury RV. The scene culminates in the family cat Jinxy flushing dog Moses down the toilet (much like Little Fockers did to Robert De Niro’s career).
- Waterfalls – We’re The Millers
We’re The Millers is about a small-time pot dealer who hires a fake family, buys an RV, and heads south of the border to pick up a large shipment of drugs. It may seem like a forgettable comedy starring Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston, but it does have one thing going for it: Will Poulter (better known as “eyebrows kid”). Will has many bizarre scenes aboard the film’s RV, but none are quite as iconic as his rapping rendition of TLC’s 1995 hit “Waterfalls.” I’ll let Will take it away…
- Glue, Strong Stuff!- The Blues Brothers
Oh, the 80s. A simpler time, when ludicrous plot lines were casually accepted by the average moviegoer. Case in point: The Blues Brothers. The Blues Brothers is a memorable 1980 comedy starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as recently paroled band mates hellbent on saving an orphanage. Along the way, they’re chased by police, Nazis, and country musicians because…the 80s. Eventually, the brothers lace their rivals’ RV gas pedal with glue. Unable to stop its momentum, the RV takes a nose dive off a pier and into a nearby lake. The RV may not be as iconic as the “Bluesmobile”, but this scene is 80s comedy at its most absurd.
- The Perfect Parking Job – The Incredibles
“Are we there yet?”
“We get there when we get there!”
Who hasn’t heard this exchange during a tense road trip with their family? In this case, however, it’s dialogue between the Incredibles family during a secret mission in an RV. The Incredibles put a clever twist on the family road trip dynamic in this scene, which featured Elastigirl using her body to paraglide the RV to safety. Really, though, the highlight is the parents bickering over directions. Superheroes: they’re just like us!
- Eddie’s Sewage – Christmas Vacation
Nothing says holiday spirit like Christmas Vacation. This Griswolds are as much a part of the holiday season as Lifetime specials and Black Friday mobs. That’s thanks in large part to Cousin Eddie and his monstrous eyesore of an RV. Is there any more perfect scene in cinema history than a robe-clad Randy Quaid emptying a chemical toilet into a sewer? That’s what the holiday season is all about.
- Winnebago Crash – Breaking Bad
Let’s be honest: no list of famous RVs is complete without Breaking Bad. The revered AMC drama had so many RV scenes it deserves an entire list of its own. In fact, this series’ RV is so iconic you can now take RV tours of AMC’s filming locations in Albuquerque. There may be several worthy entries from Breaking Bad, but none are quite as powerful as its opening scene. We’re introduced to an erratic Walt, wearing nothing but a gas mask and underwear, as he drives through the desert to evade police. This scene set the tone for the wild, unpredictable ride of one of television’s greatest dramas.
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