Commentary

Why are vending machines always the bad guys on the silver screen?

Ever wonder why movies and TV always depict vending machines in a negative light? A veteran operator offers some insight, and the hope that things could change.

Image: Adobe Stock.

October 23, 2023 by Sam Roberts — Digital Marketing Manager, Connect Vending

Vending machines have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, offering convenient access to snacks and beverages in various public spaces. However, when it comes to their portrayal in film and television, these seemingly harmless machines often take on a sinister role.

Why is it that the entertainment industry consistently depicts vending machines in a negative light? In this article, we'll explore the reasons behind this trend and take a look at some high profile examples of films treating our beloved vending machines harshly.

A symbol of isolation

One common theme in film and TV is the portrayal of vending machines in settings that evoke feelings of isolation and loneliness. The cold, metallic appearance of vending machines can serve as a visual metaphor for characters who are disconnected from society or struggling with their own inner demons.

In the 2004 film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," Joel, played by Jim Carrey, encounters a vending machine in a desolate train station as he contemplates erasing memories of his failed relationship. The vending machine stands as a lonely sentinel, underscoring the emotional turmoil of the scene.

Snack vending machines and cold drink machines also feature regularly in post-apocalyptic films, where the flickering backlight of a vending machine punches through an otherwise dimly lit corridor, as the protagonist hides away for a brief moment of respite.

Take "World War Z" as an example, with its famous scene showing Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) bruised and cut up, grabbing a Pepsi from a cold drinks machine, unsurprisingly, in a dimly lit corridor.

Machines always up to no good

We can't write this article without making reference to one of the most famous vending machine scenes in film history — that's right, we're talking about the killer drinks machine in "Maximum Overdrive." In the film we see it taken over by an evil force, firing cans of fizzy drink at a field of baseball playing children and their parents.

While we appreciate the humor in the absurdity, it's another example of films and TV shows taking aim at our beloved vending machines, playing on the perception of vending machines as frustrating machines that can malfunction at a moment's notice.

How about "Jurassic Park"? An amazing movie with a brilliant cast of actors, directed by one of the world's greatest ever directors, Steven Spielberg. Well, even "Jurassic Park" uses vending machines as part of the story arc for the dodgy deeds of villain Nedry (Wayne Knight), as he makes up an excuse of "needing to grab a drink and salty snack" from the vending machine before escaping with stolen dinosaur embryos.

Frustrating and mundane

Films and TV shows love to give vending machines the unfair reputation of being constantly broken, and extremely dull. When they're not malfunctioning and causing immense frustration to whoever is in the scene, they're being mocked for being the embodiment of modern day mundanity.

If you've ever watched the 1998 classic, "The Truman Show," you'll recall Truman's best friend, Marlon, working as a vending machine operator. In one famous scene, the two characters are hitting golf balls from a bridge when Marlon comments, "you should try filling vending machines for a living" with exasperation.

Admittedly, the character fills the same vending machine with the same two products every day of the week for the purposes of shooting the TV show, but we can't help but feel that it's an unfair depiction of vending operators. Just ask our team, they love their jobs!

Finally, in the 1993 comedy, "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray's character, Phil Connors, becomes increasingly frustrated when he repeatedly encounters a malfunctioning vending machine, adding to the chaos of his time loop experience, and building a connection with the audience who the film's writers clearly believe would share in his frustration.

Disney takes a jab

We love Disney films — they delight and entertain millions of young people, and the classics of our childhood will forever hold a special place in our hearts. However, even Disney couldn't resist a sly dig at the vending machine in one of the most successful film franchises in their collection.

In "Toy Story 3," we see the committee of evil toys plotting and scheming in a bright green room, well out of sight of any meddling from Woody or Buzz. We learn that their meeting place is the backlit signage at the top of a snack vending machine — the perfect place to scheme without being heard, seen or accessible.

It is an incredible film, and we do love the tongue-in-cheek jokes and references throughout, so we'll let Disney off the hook on this one. But if it happens again, we might just need to find our own vending machine to assemble our revenge committee.

While vending machines play a crucial role in our daily lives, the film and TV industry often portrays them in a negative light for various artistic and thematic reasons. Whether serving as symbols of isolation, consumerism or unexpected peril, vending machines offer a unique storytelling tool that can enhance the emotional impact of a scene.

It has to be said that despite the negativity that can sometimes come from these film and TV appearances, they are also critical pieces of set within scenes to provide opportunities for dialogue, make characters more relatable to their audience, and can aid character development through their interactions with machines.

Hopefully, one day some creative director will come up with a positive portrayal of a vending machine.

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