The actor, director, and avowed comic book collector (read: fanatic) is known for using his movie platform to discuss, celebrate and debate all things comics. Lest we forget Comic Book Men, his AMC reality show all about that comic-book-store life. This guy has earned a spot, and maybe a statue, at all related festivals until, you know, the end of time.
Clerks, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Mallrats all feature tributes to the medium. Stan Lee, legend and one of the creators of Spider-Man, even appears in the latter, as himself, of course. Smith's characters also range from comic book artists and publishers to the geekiest of obsessives. In addition to writing quotable-as-hell movies and creating characters who are timelessly referenced, Smith also made some fun choices in soundtracking his flicks.
Let’s take a look at a handful.
'Chewbacca' by Supernova
Featured in Clerks
Who doesn’t love Chewbacca? Having warm fuzzies for that floofy giant is a prerequisite for Star Wars fandom. The band Supernova was one of several ‘90s acts with an outer space theme (think Aquabats, Servotron, and Captured By Robots). These guys maintained being visitors from another planet. They had the wardrobe to prove it.The song fits into the storyline as tightly as a Stormtrooper’s glove, with characters who live to discuss the George Lucas franchise ad nauseum. These southern California pop-edged punk eccentrics created a short and sweet, perfectly weird and fun little earworm about a beloved character.
'The Impression That I Get' by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Featured in Chasing Amy
Boston’s ska punk band has delivered fiercely infectious music since the ‘80s. This track from their 1997 record Let’s Face It is so punchy and full of hooks that it’s been in several movies. Before it was in Smith’s Chasing Amy, a story of love, comic books and sexuality, starring Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams, it was featured in another classic, Clueless. In the latter, the band performs the song at a party. It was also in Step Brothers and Digimon: The Movie, among others. It's a whole mood, wherever it gets placed. 'Mallrats' by Wax
Featured in Mallrats
Like Supernova, Wax was another ‘90s California band born under the broad punk umbrella. Their brand of pop punk, though, was less brash and little more on the croon-y, sweet side. They are also criminally underrated. The band only released a couple of albums, but easily proved they knew how to craft upbeat tunes that captured the complexities of youth with a breezy playground nostalgia that made everything feel okay. A perfect inclusion for a movie about one hilarious day at a Jersey mall.'Still' by Alanis Morrisette
Featured in Dogma
This late '90s Kevin Smith movie sure made the Catholic Church mad; they called it blasphemous. Groups protested and some parents probably threatened grounding to their kids who wanted to see it. The fantasy-comedy is about two fallen angels who find a loophole that would help them get back into heaven, starring the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck combo.The soundtrack that got released was predominately an orchestral score. Some other songs by bands like New Edition and Run-DMC were used in the movie, but only Alanis Morrisette’s song made it onto the release. The singer also starred as God in the movie and the track that combines her vocals with guitar and piano has a haunting vibe.
