This Week in Nerd History | July 3-9

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred from July 3rd to July 9th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times

July 3, 1985 | “This is Heavy, Doc.”

On this day, Back to the Future premiered in American theaters. This classic sci-fi comedy film follows the adventures of Marty McFly, a teenager who accidentally travels back in time to 1955 in a DeLorean car modified by his eccentric friend Doc Brown. There, he meets his young parents and must ensure they fall in love, or else he will cease to exist.

Nerdy Fact: The script was rejected over 40 times by every major studio at the time.

Photo Credit: The Ringer

July 3, 1991 | “I’ll Be Back.”

On this day, Terminator 2: Judgment Day was released in the US. This sci-fi action film follows the mission of a reprogrammed Terminator to protect John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance, from a more advanced and deadly Terminator sent by Skynet, the rogue artificial intelligence. The film explores themes of fate, free will, and human nature.

Nerdy Fact: The film’s budget was $102 million, the highest ever at the time.

Photo Credit: CBR

July 3, 1996 | “Today is Our Independence Day!”

On this day, Independence Day released in theaters. This sci-fi disaster film depicts the global response to an alien invasion on July 4th. The film follows a diverse group of characters, including a fighter pilot, a computer expert, and the President of the United States, as they try to stop the aliens from destroying humanity. The film features spectacular special effects and patriotic themes.

Nerdy Fact: The film lost its military support due to its references to Area 51, a secret base rumored to house alien technology.

Photo Credit: The Cinema Critic

July 3, 2007 | Autobots Roll Into Theaters

On this day, Transformers debuted in theaters. This sci-fi action film is based on the popular toy line and animated series. The film follows the war between two factions of alien robots, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, who can disguise themselves as vehicles and other objects. The film also stars Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky, a teenager who gets caught up in the conflict and befriends the Autobot leader Optimus Prime. The film features spectacular visual effects and explosive action sequences.

Nerdy Fact: The voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, was also the voice of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

Photo Credit: The Spruce

July 3, 2015 | Codenames

On this day, Codenames was released by Czech Games Edition. The party game was a hit among gamers and critics alike and won several awards and nominations. The game involved two teams of spies trying to identify their agents on a grid of words using one-word clues given by their spymasters. The game also featured various modes and variants that added more challenge and fun to the gameplay.

Nerdy Fact: Codenames won the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award in 2016, which is considered the most influential prize in the board game industry.

Photo Credit: IndieWire

July 3, 2020 | Hamilton Comes Home

On this day, a filmed version of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton was released on Disney+. The film features the original cast, including Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, and showcases the musical’s blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway styles. Hamilton tells the story of the American Founding Father and his role in the Revolutionary War and the early years of the nation.

Nerdy Fact: The film was originally planned for a theatrical release in 2021, but was moved to Disney+ due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo Credit: PokeMonGOlive.com

July 6, 2016 | Pokémon GO Takes You Around Town

On this day, the PokéMon GO app was released. This popular mobile game lets you catch and battle virtual creatures in the real world. You can explore different locations, join teams, and compete with other players. PokéMon GO is fun, addictive, and social.

Nerdy Fact: The game was inspired by a 2014 Google April Fool’s joke in which a job ad was placed for a Pokémon Master and asked players to explore a map catching Pokémon. The huge interest in the prank sparked an idea, and here we are today.

Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Stories

July 7, 1996 | New World Order

On this day, Hulk Hogan shocked the wrestling world when he turned heel and joined the nWo at Bash at the Beach 1996. He betrayed his friends and fans by attacking Randy Savage and aligning with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. Hogan’s heel turn was one of the most memorable and influential moments in wrestling history.

Nerdy Fact: Hogan almost missed the opportunity to be the third man, as he was hesitant to turn heel and join Hall and Nash. He only changed his mind when he realized how much money and buzz the nWo was generating, and when he learned that Sting was the backup “third man” if he declined.

Photo Credit: PlayVS

July 7, 2015 | Rocket League

On this day, Rocket League was first released. This fast-paced and exciting game combines soccer and racecar driving. You can play online or offline, solo or with friends, and customize your cars with various items and decals. Rocket League players can participate in Competitive playlists to compete in ranked matches. These playlists allow players to earn a rank based on their Skill Rating, which is a measure of their skill in the game.

Nerdy Fact: Rocket League is actually a sequel to a game with a much longer name: Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars. This game was released in 2008 for PlayStation 3, but it did not get much attention or success.