Honest question: Has a movie or TV show ever taught you anything?
We're not talking about life lessons that stick with you and develop your character. Has a TV show or movie ever taught you a skill, word, recipe, or general life hack?
Maybe it was an off-the-cuff remark from one of your favorite reality-TV personalities. Or, maybe it was a critical scene in a classic movie. Maybe it's a piece of throwaway dialogue from that straight-to-VOD movie you watched one Sunday afternoon. In the end, the result was the same: A brief "Ah-hah!" or "I didn't know that!"
The point is, TV and movies often have little snippets of information — sometimes buried in mundane dialogue — that can be useful in real life.
Now, we're sharing some of the best movie and TV show life hacks we've ever seen on-screen. Click ahead and decide whether they're worth trying IRL.
Titanic (1997)
Lesson: How to navigate cutlery
The most important lesson from T itanic comes during the first-class dinner scene. The "Unsinkable" Molly Brown gives our beloved Jack Dawson (Leo DiCaprio) a quick lesson on cutlery: Go from the outside in. That's way easier to remember than the "tines" lesson from this scene in Pretty Woman.
The Godfather(1972)
Lesson: How to make perfect tomato sauce
Believe it or not, The Godfather teaches a valuable lesson about cooking. Always add a touch of sugar to your tomato sauce to balance out the acidity. Works every time.
Dynasty (1981-1989)
Lesson: Never freeze Champagne
The first lesson from Dynasty is how to throw shade. The second: never freeze Champagne. It ruins the taste — and that's a MAJOR Dynasty world faux pas. Never freeze Champagne or serve Dominique the wrong caviar.
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
Lesson: How to save money for a rainy day
Maybe Confessions of a Shopaholic was an awful movie. But if you're trying to keep a rainy-day fund (in the form of an emergency credit card), remember to stick it in the freezer. Try it — it really works
Keeping Up With The Kardashians (2007-present)
Lesson: Avocado pudding for breakfast
Kourtney Kardashian has been angling to become the Kardashian queen of all things lifestyle. So, it's no surprise that she would have a killer avocado pudding recipe. Since she introduced it to Kim on an episode of KUWTK, countless cooking outlets have attempted to recreate the recipe.
Photo: Courtesy of E! Networks.Clueless (1995)
Lesson: Vocabulary words
Here's the thing: You were probably very young when Clueless was released. Did you know what the word "sporadic" meant? How about "compelling"? Admit it: The kids at Bronson Alcott High School had impressive vocabularies.
The Parent Trap(1998)
Lesson: The ultimate Oreo snack hack
Maybe it's not quite a hack, but it's certainly a recipe you never thought of before. Dip your Oreo cookies into peanut butter and prepare for the best snack, ever. It's even better when shared with your long-lost twin.
Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
The In Crowd (2000)
Lesson: How to cure hiccups
Does anyone remember The In Crowd? No? Not surprising. But the one memorable takeaway from this movie was its hiccup cure. Drink water from a cup while bending over. It works.
Photo: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock.Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Lesson: How to play hooky
Ferris Bueller is probably not someone you want to mimic, but for children and teens everywhere, he does have some serious skills when it comes to faking an illness. The best one? Spitting in his hands so they feel clammy. Yes, it's gross. But they bought it, didn't they?
Goodfellas (1990)
Lesson: Slice your garlic razor-thin
What is it about mob movies and great food recipes? Goodfellas has an incredible scene where they cook dinner in prison. When it comes to slicing garlic, the voice-over says, "He used a razor and he used to slice it so thin that it would liquefy in the pan with just a little oil. It was a very good system." Genius hack. So genius, they even give it a shoutout it in that horrible movie You, Me and Dupree.
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