29 Years Ago Today, One of the Most Iconic Animated Movies of the ’90s Changed Everything

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It had been nearly three decades since an animated film truly surprised everyone by exceeding all expectations. 1996 saw a resurgence in Disney animation with hits like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, and followed Pixar’s groundbreaking debut with Toy Story, which redefined original animated features. However, a uniquely different film emerged that year, shattering box office records for animated movies despite strong competition.

Following the popularity of the animated MTV series, Mike Judge created the full-length movie Beavis and Butt-Head Do America in 1996.

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America Breaks Records

The animated MTV show Beavis and Butt-Head, which first aired in 1993 and ran until 1997, was a fan favorite. The series revolved around two friends, Beavis and Butt-Head, who mostly sat around watching music videos, making wisecracks, and poking fun at bands they didn’t like – especially Winger. They also created some unforgettable comedy bits, like the character ‘Cornholio.’ When the show’s creator, Mike Judge, decided to make a movie, it was unclear how it would turn out.

Judge sent Beavis and Butt-Head on a road trip after someone stole their TV. Desperate for money to replace it, they agreed to a strange job from a man named Muddy Grimes (Bruce Willis) – he wanted them to harm his wife. However, Beavis and Butt-Head misinterpreted his intentions. When they found the wife (Demi Moore), they discovered she was actually a terrorist. This led to a case of mistaken identity, with the authorities believing Beavis and Butt-Head were the criminals in charge.

No one expected it to succeed, but Beavis and Butt-Head Do America became a massive hit, earning $63.1 million and setting a new record for the biggest December box office opening ever. Although Scream 2 surpassed that record just a year later, it’s surprising to think about now, considering how common it is for blockbusters to open to over $100 million around Christmas. Back when Beavis and Butt-Head Do America was released, such huge openings weren’t typical, and this unlikely movie actually helped change that.

Beavis and Butt-Head Remains a Sensation to This Day

Beavis and Butt-Head made a successful return in 2022 with a new series on Paramount+, showing that fans still enjoy the two lovable slackers. Even better, Paramount has already ordered a fourth season of the revival! While the show still centers around the same two friends, one thing has changed: music videos aren’t featured as much as they were in the original 90s run, though Beavis and Butt-Head still enjoy their heavy metal favorites.

The show’s popularity also resulted in a movie sequel, Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe, released in 2022. The original film, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, received a respectable 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – a good score for an animated series geared towards a laid-back audience and fans of MTV. The 2022 sequel differed in that it premiered exclusively on Paramount+, meaning it didn’t earn money at the box office. However, critics loved it, giving it a near-perfect 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and praising it as a return to the show’s classic style.

This isn’t like the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America movie. Instead of a cross-country road trip to retrieve their TV, Beavis and Butt-Head are unexpectedly trained as astronauts and launched into space. It’s a crazy premise, and it gets even stranger when an attempt on their lives sends them hurtling into a black hole. They return to Earth 24 years later, physically unchanged, resulting in multiple versions of the clueless duo – and it’s just as absurd as you’d imagine.

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2025-12-20 19:43