One! Two! Three! Four!: The 8-Bit Legacy of Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
- Olivia Smith
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
...Chicken isn't vegan?
Nearly sixteen years after its release, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World remains a key part of the pop culture pyramid. Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s acclaimed graphic novel series, the film’s popularity has only increased with time. The movie continues to influence style choices, expand music tastes, and strike fear into the heart of evil exes everywhere.
On Saturday, the Plaza Theatre hosted a sold-out screening of Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Local production studio/community creatives Reel Friends went all out for the event, rocking screen-accurate costumes and presenting an epic Battle of the Bands. Performed by the Reel Friends house band, Sex Bob-omb took on The League of Evil Exes to play soundtrack hits like “Garbage Truck,” “Threshold,” and even “I Am So Sad, So Very Very Sad.” Filmmaker Isa Maria Jones stepped in to close out the set with Brie Larson’s version of “Black Sheep.” Fans moshed at the stage and sang their hearts out—if you couldn’t catch The Clash at Demonhead live, this was easily the next best thing.
Before the film began, the Reel Friends crew pulled off one more extra-special surprise: a video introduction from Edgar Wright himself. As the crowd clapped in agreement, Wright expressed his love for the film, the Plaza, and the city of Atlanta.
The Plaza is a key part of Scott Pilgrim history. Way back in the summer of 2010, the theater hosted an advance screening of the movie with Wright, Michael Cera, and Jason Schwartzman in attendance. It was one of the earliest showings of the film and provided a glimpse into the future fanaticism surrounding this transmedia franchise. In his video, Wright also shared that the Plaza is home to one his favorite marquees. The director personally requested a photo of his film’s title against the iconic neon lights, so of course, Art Seen ATL had to deliver. Our very own Mikey Smith snapped a pic, and Wright praised the image online the next morning.
I’d seen Scott Pilgrim vs. the World on the big screen twice before and dozens of times in the comfort of my own home, but watching it with a sold-out crowd took the experience to an entirely new level. The film is the definition of firing on all cylinders. For starters, the cast is a lightning-strike ensemble, the kind of group so talented you question whether Wright can see the future with his ability to harness that much stardom under a single banner. The audience cheered as each name popped up during the opening credits. There was a noticeable uptick in excitement for fan-favorites Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, and Aubrey Plaza, all of whom have experienced a quadrupling of fame since the film’s release. To quote Wright’s intro video, “It’s just an absolute murderer’s row of talent in front of the camera—and behind the cameras.”
Furthermore, Wright and Michael Bacall (of later Project X and 21 Jump Street fame) developed an endlessly quotable script. The rapid-fire dialogue pulls from O’Malley’s original series while adding its own distinctive flair and reshaping the story into a refreshed big-screen journey. Throw in eye-catching visuals, Wright’s signature fast-paced editing, and a stellar soundtrack, and you’ve got a staple of 21st century cinema. Part comic book, part video game, total brilliance.
These factors and more give Scott Pilgrim an addictive nature. Many of the fans I met have found themselves rewatching it over and over again. Adam, for one, said he’s seen the film too many times to even recall his earliest viewing. “I’ve watched it probably ten times in the last week,” he laughed. His seatmate, Ivy, seconded the flick’s influence on her world: “I cut my hair like Ramona a week [after my first watch] because I loved it so much.” A few rows over, Amelie encountered the movie at a young age and subsequently fell in love with the graphic novels and the video game. “For Christmas, I begged my great grandma to knit me a scarf like the one that Knives [Chau] has,” she explained, pointing to the grey and black piece draped around her neck.
The film is more than a testament to the power of love (?) or self-respect as Scott discovers in the final battle. Rather, it’s a masterclass in creativity. Wright is just as much a fan as he is a filmmaker—take one look at his annual music and movie recap lists and you’ll instantly grasp his passion for art of all kinds. Every single frame of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is imbued with a deep zeal for storytelling and a desire to present a project unlike anything seen before. Often imitated. Never replicated. Always inspiring.
Ultimately, the massive turnout at the Reel Friends screening affirms that Atlantans are eagerly awaiting Wright’s return to the city. Action-packed crime dramedy Baby Driver was filmed here, and Wright said he’s “very keen” on coming back to his “stomping grounds.” For Scott Pilgrim fans in Atlanta and beyond, this event was certainly a night to remember.
Article by Olivia Smith. Photos by Mikey Smith. Please credit @mts2.photo or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.
