It is incredible what Kevin Smith was able to do with his first film and so little money. The dialogue is fantastic. Just the arguing about stupid stuff is so fun and feels real.

Kevin Smith's real gift is writing funny, witty dialogue, and that's what carries this film. From Star Wars debates (did the destruction of the second Death Star in "Jedi" cost innocent contractors their lives?) to perfectly serious debates about sex ("Thirty-seven???"), this is the ultimate movie for anyone who's ever been going nowhere and doing nothing. It's a day in the life of the guy working at the corner store, no more, no less. But it's absolutely brilliant.

There are movies that stay with you for life. Clerks didn’t just make an impression on me — it earned a spot on my personal altar, right up there with The Return of the King and The Empire Strikes Back. I saw it at the Ideal cinemas, in the original version, and I laughed harder than I had in years. I walked out amazed by the script, by the music that fit every scene like a glove, and by the fast-paced, brutally honest, irony-soaked dialogue that dared to say what no one else did. And that line from Dante, repeated with existential resignation? “I’m not even supposed to be here today!” It’s impossible not to make it your own after watching. The film cost $25,000 — money Kevin Smith got from his car insurance after his car was lost in a flood in New Jersey. Just another detail that makes the whole thing feel even more like a miracle. With nothing but a fixed camera, black and white film, and a bunch of friends giving it their all, Smith created a generational gem. From the rooftop hockey game to the customer inspecting every carton of milk like it’s a diamond, the conspiracy-theorist gum rep, the surreal funeral, or the guy who keeps asking if everything costs a dollar... every scene is a tiny classic. And then there’s the gut-punch, like when Veronica tells Dante how many guys she’s been with — a moment that freezes the smile right off your face. Because yes, Clerks is hilarious, but it also talks about being stuck, about frustration, about lives going nowhere. It’s raw, irreverent, simple, human, and — above all — authentic. A film that proves you don’t need millions to make history. You just need something to say, and the guts to say it without holding back.

Randal: "What the hell's your problem?" Dante: "This life. Why do I have this life?" Randal: "Have some chips, you'll feel better."