The infamous movie moment adds a whole new layer to the age-old question: is Willy Wonka a bad guy? The answer is yes, a thousand times yes. Upon release, “Epic Movie” emerged as one of the worst-reviewed films of all time — it has a whopping 2% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite poor critical receipt, the film grossed over $85 million worldwide and has become a weird fascination for Gen Z, who nostalgically grew up with the movie. Over on TikTok, user @megandeborah posted a video about watching the sequence and how jarring it was.
@megandeborah #willywonka
♬ Bad Feeling (Oompa Loompa) – Jagwar Twin
The clip struck a chord with users as it has over 7.5 million views and likes north of 450K. Several users, like @SJSG, highlighted how watching “Epic Movie” was a key part of their pop culture diet, writing, “The Epic Movie is a core memory for me.” And for some, like @edencheeseisyummy, this was the first “Wonka” movie that they ever watched. Yikes.
Still, many fans have positive things to say in the comments section for the YouTube video showcasing the scene. “I remember this scene being a lot less funny in my head as a child. I very much enjoyed that 15 years later,” wrote @jakblue7724. “Can we at least admire this Willy Wonka’s dance skills first of all,” shared @brockragni1053.
Want to reclaim your childhood after that “Epic Movie” scene? Here’s where you can stream all the Willy Wonka movies.