Olivia Rodrigo's "Good 4 U" music video includes several movie references and Easter eggs, so which films and artists does she acknowledge? The song itself is the third single from the musician's debut album Sour, and tells a story about romantic rejection and self-empowerment. The music video released on May 13, 2021., and immediately racked up millions of views.
"Good 4 U" was directed by Canadian artist Petra Collins, a photographer and fashion model who has directed music videos for Lil' Yachty ("Keep Sailing"), Cardi B ("Bartier Cardi"), and Selena Gomez ("Fetish"). As for Rodrigo, she's well-known for portraying Paige Olvera in Bizaardvark and Nini Salazar-Roberts in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, but reached a new level of fame after releasing her debut single "Driver's License," which reached #1 on the Billboard charts. With "Good 4 U," Rodrigo further establishes herself as one of the industry's rising stars.
Even though "Good 4 U" is a mainstream music video production, one of the early Easter eggs could be overlooked by those who aren't familiar with classic horror films. Some of the pop culture references are easily identifiable, while others call back to classic music videos from the early '80s and late '90s. Here's every movie reference and homage in Olivia Rodrigo's "Good 4 U."
Audition (1999)
"Good 4 U" kicks off with a subtle nod to the 1999 Japanese horror film Audition. Directed by Takashi Miike, the cult classic begins with a woman auditioning to become a man's new wife, and she's ultimately revealed to be emotionally stable. In "Good 4 U," two men record Rodrigo's character for a cheer team try out, and the collective lyrics allude to the narrator's failed relationship and mental health issues ("Like a damn sociopath / I've lost my mind"). So, the horror movie reference establishes a specific mood - rejection and revenge.
Born to Die (2012)
Rodrigo's wardrobe at the beginning of "Good 4 U" is aesthetically similar to the cover of Lana Del Rey's 2012 album Born to Die. Both productions are about relationships and sadness, and Rodrigo seems to pay homage to one of her pop predecessors. The Del Rey reference adds an extra layer of depth to the tragic romance premise.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
Rodrigo's cheerleader uniform in "Good 4 U" is an exact replica of Lana Thomas' outfit in the 2001 coming-of-age movie The Princess Diaries. Portrayed by Mandy Moore, Lana is the archetypal "Mean Girl," someone who theoretically be friends with Rodrigo's character in her 2021 music video. Not only does Lana correlate with Lana Del Rey, but the schoolgirl theme in "Good 4 U" also seems like a callback to the iconic 1999 Britney Spears music video "Baby One More Time."
Picture To Burn (2008)
The fiery climax in "Good 4 U" could reference a specific movie moment, such as the ending of the classic Dario Argento horror film Inferno. However, Rodrigo's performance demeanor may remind fans of classic Taylor Swift music videos about breakups and moving on. In the 2008 music video "Picture to Burn," Swift provides a scathing commentary about a former flame before a fiery backdrop.
Jennifer's Body (2009)
The final seconds of "Good 4 U" visually reference a moment in the 2009 comedy horror film Jennifer's Body. Megan Fox stars as Jennifer Check, a cheerleader who literally feeds on men. In Rodrigo's music video, she's initially looking for attention but ultimately takes control of her life; a new and hopefully improved woman on the prowl for love. She also admires herself in the mirror like Jennifer Check, and even wears long gloves like Megan Fox's character.
Thriller (1983)
"Good 4 U" ends with Rodrigo's character smiling at the camera and revealing herself to be possessed. In Michael Jackson's famous "Thriller" video, his character similarly breaks the fourth wall with a mischievous grin and glowing eyes. With "Good 4 U," Rodrigo acknowledges one of pop music's most famous music videos and its wink-of-the-eye final freeze frame. All in all, "Good 4 U" feels like a modern classic, a music video that positions Olivia Rodrigo as an emerging superstar.