Horrible Bosses 2 Features Bitcoin Cameo
Bitcoin made a brief cameo in Horrible Bosses 2 , a new comedy from Warner Bros. Although the film portrays a negative stereotype of Bitcoin, the pop culture reference indicates Bitcoin is making its way into the mainstream consciousness.
Bitcoin Featured in Horrible Bosses 2
After failing in their plot to kill one another’s employers in the first installment of Horrible Bosses, three friends–Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day), and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis)–start their own business and experience initial success. However, a larger retail mogul (Christopher Waltz) backs out of a distributor agreement, which leaves Nick, Dale, and Kurt’s business on the brink of ruin. To acquire the $500,000 they need to keep their business afloat, they collude to kidnap the retailer’s adult son (Chris Pine) and demand ransom.
While preparing to launch the scheme, the three friends reconnect with Motherf—er Jones (Jamie Foxx), a seemingly street-wise character who spent ten years in prison for recording movies illegally. Jones uses his black market connections to buy prepaid cell phones, which the friends intend to use to communicate with the father of their now-complicit captive. How does Jones know the cell phone purchase was untraceable? He paid with “Bit Coins,” of course. However, Jones simply mentions the transaction in passing; the audience does not see him make the Bitcoin purchase.
What this Means for Bitcoin
Clearly, Horrible Bosses 2 portrays the negative stereotype of Bitcoin that the mainstream media has propagated (although media representations have improved somewhat). Many people still believe Bitcoin is completely anonymous (it is not) and that only criminals use it (also false), so this reference will not improve mainstream perceptions of Bitcoin. However, the cameo indicates Bitcoin has begun to make its way into pop culture. A few years ago, hardly anyone would have understood the Bitcoin (or as Jones says, “Bit Coin”) reference. But the authors of Horrible Bosses 2 felt Bitcoin was ubiquitous enough to insert in the plot without explanation. Perhaps the day is quickly approaching when movies will feature Bitcoin purchases made by characters not portrayed as criminals.
What do you think about Horrible Bosses 2‘s mention of Bitcoin? Comment below!
Images from Warner Bros. Entertainment and Shutterstock.
