The House
How are 401(k)s portrayed in movies and pop culture?
It’s cliché to ask if life imitates art or art imitates life, but the way in which the retirement savings vehicle plays out on the celluloid (now digital) screen lends insight into how it’s understood and accepted by the general public.
We like lists, so we put together a few of the funnier, dramatic and downright maddening movie quotes involving DC plans.
The House
The Johansens team with a down-and-out neighbor to set up an illegal casino in the cul-de-sac, attracting the attention of the police, mob and fellow suburbanites.
Scott: “It says, right here, we have four hundred and one thousand dollars.”
Dawn: “Uh, that says you have a 401k account.”
Zyzzyx Rd
The film opened with a discussion of 401ks and financial planning, which is ironic given the money lost by the film’s producers. Desert graves, dead bodies, psychotic sirens, the movie had it all—except an audience.
Playing It Cool
“Love is like your 401k; it matches your investment. You love a little, you’re loved a little.”
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
The most headshaking moment in this 2005 documentary came during a company town hall.
“Should we invest all of our 401k in Enron stock?” the HR rep is asked by an employee.
“Absolutely! Don’t you guys agree?” she says, looking at the Enron executives.
“You’re doing good,” CEO Jeff Skilling says.
The Intern
“In retirement, there’s an ongoing relentless effort in creativity,” the legendary actor intones. “I tried yoga, learned to cook, bought some plants, took classes in Mandarin—believe me, I’ve tried everything. I just know there’s a hole in my life and I need to fill it. Soon.”
The Wedding Date
Nick Mercer: “This happened to you?”
Kat Ellis: “Happened in the sense that I picked up the phone, tracked you down, flew you here, and gave you $6,000 out of my 401k.”