When you think of the game of bingo, it’s inevitable to think of retirement homes and their elderly residents. However, the game has become increasingly popular in recent years, with younger demographics taking an interest in the game. A 2022 survey from a Milwaukee casino revealed that more millennials are playing bingo than the elderly. According to the survey, 80% of those who play bingo regularly were under 41 years old.
Humorously, 45% of those surveyed still believe bingo is an “old person’s” game. Likewise, other games formerly associated with exclusively older generation players, like the Chinese tiles game mahjong, are increasingly played and hosted by millennials and Gen Z in hip, film-inspired settings around the US. For the younger generations, these classic games picked up from their grandparents and elderly family members are a chance to socialise and catch up with old friends away from dreary places like booze-filled nightclubs.
One of the factors associated with the increased popularity of bingo among younger generations is undoubtedly the rise of digital platforms. Nowadays, enthusiasts can easily play bingo online on betting sites and apps. Reputable betting platform Thunderpick offers a variety of bingo games depending on your preference, from the classic 90-ball bingo to newer variants like 30- and 80-ball bingo if you’d like a change of pace. Most bingo games from the site also borrow a lot of pop culture imagery we’re familiar with, from Greek or Egyptian mythology to cowboy Westerns which ties in closely to film and television. Plenty of on-screen depictions of bingo feature the very same games we see online, such as Big Momma’s House 2, which famously demonstrated the distinction between 75-ball bingo and 90-ball bingo as one player proclaims “bingo” even though they haven’t won yet — newer variants requires specific patterns to win.
Given how popular bingo is both online and offline, it’s no surprise that we see these crossovers happening in media. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the movies and TV series that helped make bingo famous:
Beach Blanket Bingo
Released in 1965, this film is the fourth in a series of five party films. Compared to other entries in this list, Beach Blanket Bingo actually stands out as one of the few films that didn’t feed into the stereotype that only the elderly play the game. Instead, the film follows a group of friends thrown into a series of absurd situations, including skydiving, kidnapping, and a love triangle.
While the film doesn’t feature the characters playing the game, it led to a hit song that heavily features the name of the game, performed by singer and actor Frankie Avalon, also known for comedy-musical hits like “Beauty School Dropout” from iconic greaser movie Grease. For what it’s worth, the film is a testament to the longevity of bingo’s popularity, dating back to the days of Buster Keaton cameos.
The Simpsons (Season 10, Episode 20)
Depending on who you ask, The Simpsons is arguably the most famous and iconic animated television series. While not exclusively about bingo, an episode in the series highlights Lisa Simpson’s visit to the Springfield Retirement Castle, where she hosts and plays bingo games for the retirement home’s elderly residents.
Like most media depictions of bingo, The Simpsons takes a few humorous jabs at the game’s popularity among the elderly, with a repeating gag courtesy of an elderly resident who says, “You sunk my battleship!” — a reference to an entirely different card game. This wasn’t the only instance of bingo in the legendary animated series, however. In season 25, episode 14, there was a scene in a bingo hall where a player revealed he didn’t know what game they were playing.
Big Momma’s House 2
Back on the big screen, Martin Lawrence’s Big Momma is another iconic film character due to Big Momma’s ridiculous character design. In the second film, Big Momma must go undercover at a retirement home to investigate a case. If you haven’t noticed the pattern by now — Big Momma proceeds to participate in the home’s daily bingo sessions and dominates.
In a scene that many regard as one of the funniest throughout its runtime, Big Momma also ends up trying to help one of the residents cheat at the game. Most recently, Martin Lawrence has been busy reviving his other action-comedy series, Bad Boys, alongside buddy Will Smith. Still, with moviegoers becoming increasingly nostalgic, it would be fun to see Big Momma on the big screen once again.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 5, Episode 4)
Finally, witty sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Larry David as himself, is known to put the comedian in seemingly regular situations, only for chaos to ensue. In this episode, David ends up accusing his father’s retirement home of “fixing” their bingo games.
In one of the episode’s many awkward scenes, David joins bingo night at his father’s retirement home and gets the much sought-after bingo, before the situation immediately escalates into a murder accusation. David, of course, didn’t actually murder anyone, and the scene closes with him being charged down by an elderly resident who may or may not have been a kamikaze pilot.
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