Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing a Backstreet Boys song gently thumping in the background, whether it was “Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)” at the mall or “As Long As You Love Me” at the local burger joint. They helped usher in a wave of boy-band jams that would permeate the airwaves for a decade, and they continue performing to this day. They’re also the subject of a new documentary by Stephen Kijak (pictured above with the Boys) called Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of that explores their rise to stardom, leading up to their 20th anniversary relaunch. Grae Drake got the opportunity to chat with them about their Five Favorite Films, but since five films each for every member would be a bit overwhelming, we asked Nick, AJ, Howie, Brian and Kevin to name just one. It’s okay, you can admit it: You want it that way. So read on for the Backstreet Boys’ Five Favorite Films:
Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975) 97%
Nick Carter: I have watched this movie — I can’t even tell you [how many times]. Jaws. It’s typical, but Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Steven Spielberg, I mean, it’s one of his first films, and the acting is superb. You put these guys on a boat and you have to sell this movie for 30 minutes. It’s some of the best monologues you’ll ever get.
RT: How scared did it make you to go in the water?
Completely terrified, and I’m a SCUBA diver and I love the ocean. It gives me nightmares.
AJ McLean: My all-time favorite, and it’s a remake of, I believe, a French film. With Steve Martin and Michael Caine, it’s phenomenal. Probably my favorite highlight is when Steve Martin is playing the slightly stupid little nephew, and he’s at the dinner table and he asks if he can use the restroom and they say yes, and he just waits… “Thank you.” That’s the best part; it’s so good. It’s my all time favorite. It’s so good.
The Outsiders (Francis Ford Coppola, 1983) 70%
RT: “Stay gold, Ponyboy.”Howie Dorough: “Do it for Johnny.” It’s one of those movies where you can definitely see why it started the careers of so many actors, and why they became superstars. Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, it’s a lot of great actors all in one movie.
Brian Littrell: I’m going to go soft on you for this one. It was a flop back then. It’s a story of inspiration, the guy that gives up everything to rebuild his community and share his life and his work, and it is returned to him in the end, and his family is stronger for it.
RT: Does it make you cry?
Yes, makes me cry every time. But if it’s not that [making me cry] it’s Hoosiers or Rudy.
Kevin Richardson: I was going to go all deep on you, but instead I’ll keep it light and say Weird Science. It just makes me laugh to this day. Me and my best friend in high school, we knew all the lines, and we’d get in trouble in geometry for sitting in the back of the class and just laughing our asses off. Also… Kelly LeBrock.
