History Main / PopCulturedBadass

* ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'': Nyarko will beat the snot out of you while doing Series/KamenRider poses, quoting [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jotaro Kujo]], using [[Manga/RanmaOneHalf Ranma Saotome]]'s tactics, and much, '''[[ReferenceOverdosed MUCH]]''' more.

* When Dr. Drakken from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' accidentally sucked everyone into television reality, [[WesternAnimation/KimPossible Ron]] was able to navigate the reality with his extensive knowledge of shows and their subsequent timeslots.

** Peter Quill (Star-Lord) from ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' jams out to classic rock songs from the [=60s=], [=70s=] and [=80s=] while protecting the galaxy. His very first appearance has him searching for the Orb while rocking to Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love", even grabbing a lizard-like creature to use as an impromptu mic. He also says that the Orb has "a real [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Empty_(2003_film) shiny blue suitcase,]] [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk Ark of the Covenant]], [[Film/TheMalteseFalcon1941 Maltese Falcon]] sort of vibe" and later tells Gamora about ''Film/{{Footloose}}''.
** [[Film/SpiderManHomecoming Peter Parker (Spider-Man)]] even goes as far as to take inspiration from classic films like ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' and ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' to contend with his foes. Naturally, both he and Quill geek out when they meet in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' (although they have very different opinions on Footloose).

'''Rhodey:''' Star Trek, Terminator, Time Cop, Time after Time.\\
'''Scott Lang:''' Quantum Leap.\\
'''Rhodey:''' A Wrinkle in Time, Somewhere in Time.\\
'''Scott Lang:''' Hot Tub Time Machine.\\
'''Rhodey:''' Hot Tub Time Machine, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Basically any movie that deals with time travel.\\
'''Scott Lang:''' [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers Die Hard]]? No, that's not one.
* ''Film/TrueLies'': Harry Tasker is being tailed by two of Haziz's henchmen on the night of his birthday and offhandedly nicknames them [[Characters/BeavisAndButthead Beavis and Butthead]] when discussing a strategy with before leading said henchmen into a [[BathroomBrawl a fight inside a mall's bathroom.]]

* Though for much of his history he had a disdain for anything mortal, Loki became this after he was resurrected in the body of a child and discovered the Internet. He is now one of the very few Asgardians who carries a cell phone (he [[Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard even]] [[SuperCellReception boosts the reception]] with magic), will use the Internet to accomplish his goals, play video games, and is constantly making pop culture references, having apparently become quite the fan of many movies and TV shows which he gets via "torrents of bits".

* Nicolas Cage's ''Film/GhostRider'' '''really''' enjoyed the music of the Carpenters. And jelly beans.

** Peter Quill (Star-Lord) from ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' jams out to classic rock songs from the [=60s=], [=70s=] and [=80s=] while protecting the galaxy. His very first appearance has him searching for the Orb while rocking to Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love", even grabbing a lizard-like creature to use as an impromptu mic. He also says that the Orb has "a real [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Empty_(2003_film) shiny blue suitcase,]] [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk Ark of the Covenant]], [[Film/TheMalteseFalcon1941 Maltese Falcon]] sort of vibe" and later tells Gamora about ''Film/{{Footloose}}''.

* In the ''Literature/RedRoom'' series, Derek Hawthorne is a fan of Bruce Lee, the Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, James Bond films (enough to know details about individual films), several video games, Star Wars, and horror movies. {{Justified}} as it's mentioned Derek, despite the fact he's a super-cool spy, was more or less raised at home by the television.

* Deconstructed in ''Literature/AmericanPsycho'' and its adaptations. Patrick Bateman tries to define himself through his appreciation for music, art, and pop culture and relates this much to the reader/audience, but his grasp and understanding of his favorite music and artists is reduced to what material they make the most appealing to the widest audiences and LowestCommonDenominator, such as dismissing early Music/{{Genesis|Band}} albums with Music/PeterGabriel (and his "lame solo career") as being "too artsy, too intellectual" and favoring the more commercially-driven direction of the group after Music/PhilCollins became the group's frontman. Other assessments he makes of popular singers and bands are frequently off-the-mark and factually wrong, like being convinced that Music/WhitneyHouston is a ''jazz'' singer or believing [[Music/TheRollingStones "You Can't Always Get What You Want"]] is a song by Music/TheBeatles. In the book and musical, he often speaks of owning what's described as the original version of [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/5e/2e/c5/5e2ec5ee9ec77bb094ef1b45e762d45a.jpg "Sunrise with Broken Plates"]] by artist David Onica (while discreetly boasting of the high cost he paid to obtain it), only for his ex-girlfriend to later point out to him that he hung it upside down. All of this only serves to further demonstrate Patrick's shallowness and delusions about having "good taste."

* Gary Karkofsky in ''Literature/TheSupervillainySaga'' is constantly making references to everything from Star Wars to the Lord of the Rings to [[Wiki/TVTropes this very wiki]]. He's also capable of killing Kaiju with his superpowers. {{Deconstructed}} as it turns out Gary uses ConfusionFu to take down opponents who dismiss him as a fool.

* ''The'' [[TropeMaker progenitor]] and original. Franchise/SpiderMan has spouted off pop culture jokes while fighting since the beginning and still going strong despite Deadpool being the new poster boy of comedy references. From Music/{{ACDC}}, ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', Website/YouTube, VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft, Creator/DCComics, Creator/ComedyCentral plus [[Series/TheColbertReport Stephen Colbert]] etc. [[UpToEleven Taken to eleven]] in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan''.

* Nearly ''everyone'' in ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged''. Taken UpToEleven where presumably the entire galaxy has its own versions of Earth classics so that even characters like Frieza and Nappa can make references to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' and "[[Literature/OldYeller Old]] [[RecycledInSpace Space]] [[Literature/OldYeller Yeller]]"

[[folder:Film]]

* Deconstructed in ''Literature/AmericanPsycho'' and its adaptations. Patrick Bateman tries to define himself through his appreciation for music, art, and pop culture and relates this much to the reader/audience, but his grasp and understanding of his favorite music and artists is reduced to what material they make the most appealing to the widest audiences and LowestCommonDenominator, such as dismissing early Music/{{Genesis}} albums with Music/PeterGabriel (and his "lame solo career") as being "too artsy, too intellectual" and favoring the more commercially-driven direction of the group after Music/PhilCollins became the group's frontman. Other assessments he makes of popular singers and bands are frequently off-the-mark and factually wrong, like being convinced that Music/WhitneyHouston is a ''jazz'' singer or believing [[Music/TheRollingStones "You Can't Always Get What You Want"]] is a song by Music/TheBeatles. In the book and musical, he often speaks of owning what's described as the original version of [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/5e/2e/c5/5e2ec5ee9ec77bb094ef1b45e762d45a.jpg "Sunrise with Broken Plates"]] by artist David Onica (while discreetly boasting of the high cost he paid to obtain it), only for his ex-girlfriend to later point out to him that he hung it upside down. All of this only serves to further demonstrate Patrick's shallowness and delusions about having "good taste."

** Faith has brought up everything from ''Franchise/StarWars'' to ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' to ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', and she hasn't exactly been around Xander or [[HollywoodNerd Andrew.]]

They may very well engage in [[DiscussedTrope discussing tropes]] and ConversationalTroping, and weaponising their media awareness to [[GenreSavvy analyse and solve problems]].

* Nicholas Cage's ''Film/GhostRider'' '''really''' enjoyed the music of the Carpenters. And jelly beans.

* Gary Karkofsky in ''Literature/TheRulesOfSupervillainy'' is constantly making references to everything from Star Wars to the Lord of the Rings to [[Wiki/TVTropes this very wiki]]. He's also capable of killing Kaiju with his superpowers.

* The titular gecko from the VideoGame/{{Gex}} spends all his time watching TV. Not only is the games' level full of shoutouts to various popular movies and Television shows but Gex himself cracks around references throughout the game to pop-culture.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'': Clover is a ValleyGirl superspy whose wide knowledge about pop culture is often very useful in her spy missions.

* Izuku Midoriya from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''. For one he is very knowledgeable about Pro Heroes, who are treated in-universe like celebrities, to the point of being an {{Otaku}} even knowing obscure ones such as Eraserhead & the Wild Wild Pussycats when no one else seemed to. For another he was personally chosen by All Might, the at that time the Number 1 Pro Hero, to become the next bearer of One for All after coming to the rescue of Bakugo when no other Pro Hero would despite being quirkless. He also not only completes All Might’s training to get into U.A. High School but also gives a realistic depiction of [[MusclesAreMeaningful Muscles Are Meaningful]] everytime [[ShirtlessScene he takes]] [[ClothingDamage off his shirt]] all the while surviving multiple villain encounters in his first year of high school.

* Applies to pretty much everyone from ''Manga/BinboGamiGa'', but especially Momiji, who tends to cosplay even while fighting.

* As revealed at the Memory Den in Goodneighbor, the Sole Survivor from ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' is a consumer of pop culture both real and fictional. For real fiction when interacting with Dr. Amari they reveal they have watched ''Film/Frankenstein1931'' film by quoting it. For in universe fiction when interacting with Kent Connolly they reveal they have listened to every episode of “The Silver Shroud” and can even take up the mantle of the titular character in a quest to bring peace and justice to the Commonwealth. The Sole Survivor can also play six minigames on their Pip-Boy based on real world video games from the 1970’s and 1980’s.

* As revealed at the Memory Den in Goodneighbor, the Sole Survivor from ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' is a consumer of pop culture both real and fictional. For real fiction when interacting with Dr. Amari they reveal they have watched ''Film/Frankenstein1931'' film by quoting it. For in universe fiction when interacting with Kent Connolly they reveal they have listened to every episode of “The Silver Shroud” and can even take up the mantle of the titular character in a quest to bring peace and justice to the Commonwealth.

* ''The'' [[TropeMaker progenitor]] and original. Franchise/SpiderMan has spouted off pop culture jokes while fighting since the beginning and still going strong despite Deadpool being the new poster boy of comedy references. From Music/{{ACDC}}, ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', Website/YouTube, VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft, Creator/DCComics, Creator/ComedyCentral plus [[Series/TheColbertReport Stephen Colbert]] etc. [[UpToEleven Taken to eleven]] in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderman''.

* Izuku Midoriya from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''. For one he is very knowledgeable about Pro Heroes, who are treated in-universe like celebrities, to the point of being an {{Otaku}} even knowing obscure ones such as Eraserhead & the Wild Wild Pussycats when no one else seemed to. As for the other he was personally chosen by All Might, the at that time the Number 1 Pro Hero, to become the next bearer of One for All after coming to the rescue of Bakugo when no other Pro Hero would despite being quirkless. He also not only completes All Might’s training to get into U.A. High School but also gives a realistic depiction of [[MusclesAreMeaningful Muscles Are Meaningful]] everytime [[ShirtlessScene he takes]] [[ClothingDamage off his shirt]] all the while surviving multiple villain encounters in his first year of high school.

* Izuku Midoriya from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''. For one he is very knowledgeable about Pro Heroes, who are treated in-universe like celebrities, to the point of being an {{Otaku}} even knowing obscure ones such as Eraserhead & the Wild Wild Pussycats when no one else seemed to. As for the other he was personally chosen by All Might, the at that time the Number 1 Pro Hero, to become the next bearer of One for All after coming to the rescue of Bakugo when no other Pro Hero would despite being quirkless and not only completes All Might’s training to get into U.A. High School but also gives a realistic depiction of [[MusclesAreMeaningful Muscles Are Meaningful]] everytime [[ShirtlessScene he takes]] [[ClothingDamage off his shirt]] all the while surviving multiple villain encounters in his first year of high school.

* Izuku Midoriya from ‘’Manga/MyHeroAcademia’’. In addition to becoming the ninth wielder of the One for All quirk, who was chosen by none of than the previous number 1 hero All Might himself, he is also knowledgeable of even the most obscure heroes who are treated as celebrities in-universe.

* Izuku Midoriya from ‘’Manga/MyHeroAcademia’’. In addition to becoming the ninth wielder of One for All quirk chosen by none of than the previous number 1 hero All Might himself, he is also knowledgeable of even the most obscure heroes who are treated as celebrities in-universe.

* Izuku Midoriya from ‘’Manga/MyHeroAcademia’’. In addition to becoming the ninth wielder of One for All quirk chosen by the previous number 1 hero All Might, he is also knowledgeable of even the most obscure heroes who are treated as celebrities in-universe.