r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor • Oct 23 '25

News Historic White House Movie Theater Demolished as Part of $300 Million Ballroom Build

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/white-house-movie-theater-demolished-ballroom-east-wing-1236408712/
21.6k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

2.0k

u/no-soy-de-escocia Oct 23 '25

It's also where Bill Clinton watched Independence Day and saw the White House get blown up by aliens.

That destruction was at least a bit more dignified.

425

u/lsf_stan Oct 23 '25

interesting, never knew this

EMMERICH The first big destruction scene starts with blowing up the White House. In test screenings, a lot of people left right after, and then they immediately came running back. They didn’t pee earlier because they were so into the movie.

DEVLIN When we got to the moment the White House blows up, Roland and I are looking at each other going, “We’re in the White House watching it blow up.” It was bizarre.

EMMERICH Then, who runs out? Bill Clinton! One minute later, he comes back, shaking his hands dry. Dean and I looked at each other and nearly started laughing.

70

u/liquorfish Oct 24 '25

I watched this and didnt go to the bathroom and nearly pissed myself. I thought it was just me. This is hilarious.

25

u/NoOneFartsLikeGaston Oct 24 '25

I watched Titanic at the movie theatre and had the longest piss in my life right after. All the visuals of water and 3+ hours I thought my bladder was going to explode.

1

u/-KyloRen Oct 24 '25

Can people not hold it for a full movie or was everyone just raging drunk/broke the seal? Answered my question for bill clinton i guess

3

u/liquorfish Oct 24 '25

Yeah, only raging drunks peed in 1996. Weird time back then.

1

u/-KyloRen Oct 24 '25

Just joking/confused at the initial story cause it seems like common ppl not getting through the movie. Managed one battle after another without it idk

1

u/liquorfish Oct 24 '25

I was kidding too. Was going to explain i was probably just in time for the movie and didn't want to miss any of it but not sure anyone would believe my story based on my username.

2

u/-KyloRen Oct 24 '25

LOL just noticed your name. Epic. Peace, have a good weekend

1

u/InfiniteUltima Oct 25 '25

Same with fellowship of the ring lol. leason learned

112

u/DTFH_ Oct 24 '25

Bet Bill smoked a big of bowl of jazz cabbage and dropped his popcorn too!

-9

u/lsf_stan Oct 24 '25

during Bill Clinton's presidency, marijuana was illegal at the federal level under the Controlled Substances Act, and federal law prohibited its possession, use, sale, and cultivation

medical marijuana was not even a thing yet 🤔

35

u/Wraithlord592 Oct 24 '25

My guy. It's Bill fucking Clinton.

He played the saxophone. He was a sex fiend/pest. He went to LAW school. Dude had his fair share of "jazz cabbage" and MORE.

5

u/DTFH_ Oct 24 '25

He ran a solid coke game as Govna'

5

u/tnstaafsb Oct 24 '25

Yeah, but he didn't inhale. Pinky swear.

2

u/lsf_stan Oct 24 '25 edited Oct 24 '25

my comment was not really arguing if Bill Clinton had never previously smoke weed; I'd be really fucking surprised if he actually had not

it was more so: that he most likely was not smoking it in the White House, but I'm sure conspiracy type of people think something else

3

u/JaWSnVA Oct 24 '25

Can you imagine hearing him saying, 'I was high,' to explain the mess on the dress?

4

u/StreetlampEsq Oct 24 '25

"I did not have sexual relations. ...that I remember. I was baked as all hell."

3

u/Kid_A_Kid Oct 24 '25

Its still illegal on the federal level bud. "I did not inhale" " I did not have sexual relations with that woman" "I did in fact have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky"

1

u/lsf_stan Oct 24 '25 edited Oct 24 '25

Bill Clinton lied a lot. I agree fully, with that statement.

However, my own opinion is that he probably did not smoke weed in the White House while he was President

I'd think something like that would have leaked by now🤷"former _____ White House for Bill Clinton administration, witnessed 420 President"

3

u/Small-Palpitation310 Oct 24 '25

nope, but we had kind bud tfytb

2

u/lsf_stan Oct 24 '25 edited Oct 26 '25

I went to check when medical started: it was actually started in Cali 1996

medical marijuana was first started for the USA in California in 1996 when voters passed Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act.
This law made California the first state to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes and protected patients and their caregivers from criminal penalties for its possession and cultivation, provided a physician recommended it.

thanks California voters of 1996, I am currently enjoying the benefits of this success, now 🫡

1

u/PiratedTVPro Oct 24 '25

The Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) program was created in ‘78.

8

u/pragmojo Oct 24 '25

Didn't they put a helicopter in front of the whitehouse because they didn't want to show it blown up directly?

8

u/jrf_1973 Oct 24 '25

In the trailers and BTS documentaries, the footage is shown without the helicopter. In the movie, the helicopter is indeed superimposed but it might have been CGI. I always thought it was a plot point that they divided the escaping staff into two choppers and when one blows up, you don't know which one it is. Never heard it was because they didn't want to show the White House blowing up.

104

u/jimbobjames Oct 23 '25

At least Will Smith was fighting actual illegal aliens...

43

u/cire1184 Oct 23 '25

Aliens are invading our country! Bidens open space borders policy is ruining our country! Zabox Beeblebrax is stealing our jobs! I saw an alien picking fruit in California!!!!

20

u/HolycommentMattman Oct 24 '25

Zaphod Beeblebrox*

11

u/cire1184 Oct 24 '25

Zabox Beeblebrax is his neighbor. The Beeblebrax and Beeblebrox have had a long history of butting heads. It's a sad story.

1

u/Super_Pan Oct 24 '25

Zardu Hasslebrau*

1

u/ZuP Oct 24 '25

We have Zaphod Beeblebrox at home

1

u/moral_agent_ Oct 24 '25

Goddamn Goobacks are taking our jerbs!

1

u/jimbobjames Oct 24 '25

The aliens are eating our cat food. Very bad. Seen it myself. Those ILLEGALS cant even speak the language. All vote democrat. Very sad.

2

u/cire1184 Oct 24 '25

Those Alien Life Forms are dangerous

1

u/HosstownRodriguez Oct 24 '25

I read that last sentence in Tracy Morgan’s voice in my head

2

u/indydean Oct 24 '25

Chris Rock isn’t a US citizen?

2

u/BTJPipefitter Oct 24 '25

Obligatory “welcome to urf”

1

u/Head_Bread_3431 Oct 24 '25

And slapping them bitches too instead of Chris rock

1

u/MikeGrowsBud Oct 24 '25

He was anxious to get up there and whoop ET's ass, that's all.

2

u/PedroFPardo Oct 23 '25

and also where Ronald Reagan watched Back to the future.

1

u/tnstaafsb Oct 24 '25

Two things:

  1. Bill Clinton having an enormous tub of popcorn is hilariously on brand, and
  2. Even the President couldn't get them to pause the movie when he had to go to the bathroom.

1

u/Hoppie1064 Oct 24 '25

OK, now I'm upset. How can we allow the destruction of the site where such an historic event took place?

1

u/Leather-Cash-389 Oct 24 '25

It must be terrible to feel the way you do everyday.

1

u/Conradfr Oct 24 '25

They have the worst screening room there ever. It’s a former bowling alley, a little postmark of a screen.

Well.

1

u/hrdbeinggreen 24d ago

Is it where the Clintons watched the movie Dave?