it's really hard to explain what a huge deal "the big chill" was to them... Ive never seen it but I would imagine it validates their turn towards materialism and such.... Forrest Gump was also a huge deal in a similar way about 10 years later and I think a simpleton wandering through life and just happening to win at every turn really resonated with them

on tv, I think "thirtysomething" may have occupied the same mental space as "the big chill" but idk, never watched it.

if you ask me what their cinematic epitaph will be, it will be Peter Fonda in Easy Rider saying "we blew it, billy."