Under the Cinematic Influence: 15 Contemporary Films that Swayed Society

Most of us have heard the tales about how people stopped showering after watching, "Psycho," or that "Jaws," gave a reason for not going near the water. In the spirit of films influencing people and pop culture, here is my list of contemporary films that have done just that.

Scarface (1983) - This Brian DePalma film was popular but stayed on the undercurrent... until the late Nineties when gangsta rappers cited it as their main movie influence. Now you can't go anywhere without seeing a Tony Montoya t-shirt, hat, poster, or used DVD.

Roger & Me (1989) - In the late Eighties, nobody knew who Michael Moore was (aside from the residents of Flynt, Michigan). Spending $25,000 and filming over the course of 3 years, Moore took on the task of trying to confront then GM CEO Roger Smith in order to find out why GM pulled out of their hometown. The film made $25 million and Moore has since gone on to cover topics such as healthcare, guns, and the war in Iraq, as well as becoming a target for Right Wing Conservatives. His "documentary" filmmaking approach has changed how we view the information we receive, as well as how documentaries are done. Note: So has Ken Burns.

Boyz in the Hood (1991) - The first film from director John Singleton has influenced many directors and became a staple for film. A story of childhood friends growing up in the L.A. ghetto, it went on to be nominated for 2 Oscars and has won several awards.

JFK (1991) - Oliver Stone's paranoid take on the Kennedy assassination. Before the "X-Files" tapped on the pulse of culture's distrust of government, "JFK" delivered the "back and to the left" Zapruder film. So much was stirred-up over what the government did and did not know about the event that it led to the Freedom of Information Act. Now if we can only get the truth on Roswell.