History YMMV / JackieBrown

* MisaimedFandom: InUniverse, Ordell brings up John Woo's ''The Killer'', and incorrectly claims that "The Killer had a .45" as justification for the popularity of M1911s, going so far as to suggest that his customers "want to be The Killer." The actual movie ''Film/TheKiller'' is a full-blown [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstruction]] of the HeroicBloodshed genre. The hero, Ah Jong, hates being a contract killer, and looks forward to never having to take a life again. During one of his hits, he accidentally blinds an innocent bystander, which kicks off the plot of the film. [[spoiler:To top it all off, the film has a [[DownerEnding tragic ending]] where [[TheHeroDies Ah Jong dies]] [[ShaggyDogStory before he can save Jenny's eyesight]], while the other hero goes to prison for killing the villain.]] By all means, nobody should want to "be The Killer."

* MemeticMutation: Ordell's infamous description of the AK-47: "When you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room. Accept no substitutes!"

* GirlShowGhetto: Laura Bogart noted that, coincidentally, the first Tarantino film with an unambiguous female lead (who's also [[MinorityShowGhetto African-American]] and over fifty) is often placed at the bottom of his film lists by fans.

* MisaimedFandom: InUniverse, Ordell brings up John Woo's ''The Killer'', and [[CriticalResearchFailure incorrectly]] claims that "The Killer had a .45" as justification for the popularity of M1911s, going so far as to suggest that his customers "want to be The Killer." The actual movie ''Film/TheKiller'' is a full-blown [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstruction]] of the HeroicBloodshed genre. The hero, Ah Jong, hates being a contract killer, and looks forward to never having to take a life again. During one of his hits, he accidentally blinds an innocent bystander, which kicks off the plot of the film. [[spoiler:To top it all off, the film has a [[DownerEnding tragic ending]] where [[TheHeroDies Ah Jong dies]] [[ShaggyDogStory before he can save Jenny's eyesight]], while the other hero goes to prison for killing the villain.]] By all means, nobody should want to "be The Killer."

* OvershadowedByControversy: The film attracted a lot of controversy, most notably from Spike Lee, for its heavy use of the N-word (thirty-eight times, if you're curious).

* AdaptationDisplacement: Many don't realize that it was based off the novel ''Rum Punch'' by Creator/ElmoreLeonard.

** Creator/QuentinTarantino was upset that Creator/PamGrier didn't receive an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for Best Actress. Although she was nominated for a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Bobby Womack's "Across 110th Street" (originally the theme from the film of the same name) during the opening credits; heard again as Jackie drives away at the end of the film.
* BrokenBase: This film generally gets placed at the top of Creator/QuentinTarantino's works or at the bottom. Because it's Tarantino's only straight adaptation, it's a departure from his standard style. It's also developed something of a reputation as "the Tarantino movie for people who don’t like Tarantino movies", with the likes of Creator/MarkKermode holding it up as his best work.
* EndingFatigue: It appears as though the plan in the clothing store will be the climax, as everything is building towards it. It can then be a surprise that the film drags on for twenty more minutes, as Ordell keeps one-upping the protagonists.
* GirlShowGhetto: Laura Bogart noted that coincidentally the first Tarantino film with an unambiguous female lead (who's also [[MinorityShowGhetto African-American]] and over fifty) is often placed at the bottom of his film lists by fans.

** Max saying "you can't get new stuff on records"; in the 2010s, vinyl records experienced a significant comeback, with new material being easily available.

* MagnificentBitch: [[NervesOfSteel Jackie Brown]] herself is a middle-aged flight attendant who makes a living by helping criminals smuggle in cash and more over the border. Caught by the ATF and used as [[TheMole a plant]] to help bring down gun runner Ordell Robbie, Jackie comes up with a scheme to win over her bail bondsman Max Cherry and [[StealingFromThieves steal Ordell's money]]. Reporting to the ATF that he is only moving $50,000, Jackie instead arranges so that she can take the other $500,000 with plants and clever misdirection before setting Ordell up for death when he tries to come for his money in retribution.
* MisaimedFandom: InUniverse Ordell brings up John Woo's ''The Killer'', and [[CriticalResearchFailure incorrectly]] claims that "The Killer had a .45" as justification for the popularity of M1911's. Going so far as to suggest that his customers "want to be The Killer." The actual movie, ''Film/TheKiller'', is a full blown [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstruction]] of the HeroicBloodshed genre. The hero, Ah Jong, hates being a contract killer, and looks forward to never having to take a life again. During one of his hits, he accidentally blinds an innocent bystander, which kicks off the plot of the film. [[spoiler:To top it all off, the film has a [[DownerEnding tragic ending]] where [[TheHeroDies Ah Jong dies]] [[ShaggyDogStory before he could save Jenny's eyesight,]] while the other hero goes to prison for killing the villain.]] By all means, nobody should want to "be The Killer."

* {{Narm}}: Ordell shoots Louis who looks down, looks over at Ordell, looks down again and says "oh", realizing Ordell shot him.

** Jackie shown to be old-school and little cash-strapped because she hasn't updated her musical collection from records to compact disks. Max asks why she hasn't jumped into the CD revolution. Nowadays, even [=CDs=] are old-fashioned. Max himself buys a cassette tape of the Delfonics and listens to it in his car. You can't even buy cars with cassette players anymore. Ironically, vinyl records made a comeback in the 2010s, making Jackie seem remarkably ahead of her time.
** There's a RunningGag that Ordell insists that Melanie answer the house phone even though every call is for him. Nowadays, this argument wouldn't occur because everyone would call Ordell's cell phone directly.
** Max gives his phone numbers without including the area code. In a few years, dialing an area code would become necessary even when making local calls, so it's become customary to always include them.
** One scene in which Jackie wears overalls pegs the film as being mid-90s, when overalls became a brief fashion fad.
* ValuesResonance: Revolving around a woman of colour who's pushing fifty and portrayed as strong and capable, while also allowed to be vulnerable - all have helped the film age very well in terms of female representation.
* VindicatedByHistory: The film was not nearly as successful or influential as Creator/QuentinTarantino's previous hit, ''Film/PulpFiction'', but some critics continue to hold it as Tarantino's best film.

* Narm: Ordell shoots Louis who looks down, looks over at Ordell, looks down again and says "oh", realizing Ordell shot him.

* MemeticMutation: Ordel's infamous description of the AK-47: "When you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room. Accept no substitutes!"

** Jackie shown to be old-school and little cash-strapped because she hasn't updated her musical collection from records to compact disks. Max asks why she hasn't jumped into the CD revolution. Nowadays, even [=CDs=] are old-fashioned. Max himself buys a cassette tape of the Delfonics and listens to it in his car. You can't even buy cars with cassette players anymore.

* MemeticMutation: The main article's page-topping quote.

* ValuesResonance: Revolving around a woman of colour who's over fifty and portrayed as strong and capable, while also allowed to be vulnerable - all have helped the film age very well in terms of female representation.

** Creator/QuentinTarantino was upset that Creator/PamGrier didn't receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Although she was nominated for a Golden Globe.