(Credit: Netflix)

There are certain movies – even if they’re not very good – that become childhood staples, dear favourites, cherished moments, or core memories for an entire generation, and The Little Rascals is one of them.

Almost everyone born in the late 1980s or early 1990s has seen it at least a handful of times, and its longevity means society is at least two generations and possibly three deep into the folks who grew up loving the family-friendly comedy showing it to their own children.

Adapted from the Our Gang series of short films that aired from the 1920s to the 1940s, The Little Rascals tracks the misadventures of the titular group, led by the staunchly anti-feminist duo of Spanky and Alfalfa. Unfortunately for the crew’s pivotal policies on women, the precocious Darla throws a spanner into the works.

In addition to trying to carry on their grassroots campaign of casual sexism, the Rascals also have a soapbox car race to win. That doesn’t go to plan, either, when their prized self-created vehicle is stolen and they’re faced with the overwhelming might and financial backing of wealthy bully and spoiled rich kid Waldo Johnson III.

One of the first things that strikes any adult viewer to revisits The Little Rascals is just how randomly-assembled the cast is. Strangely for a childhood favourite, none of the young stars went on to become major players, but a couple of the background actors did.

Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have uncredited roles, Disney favourite Raven-Symoné makes a brief appearance, Reba McIntyre plays famed racing driver AJ Ferguson, Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg pops up as Buckwheat’s mother, Mel Brooks is there as a bank teller, Daryl Hannah is the gang’s school teacher, and Home Alone 2‘s Donald Trump cameos as Waldo Johnson II.

Audiences may have loved The Little Rascals, but that wasn’t a sentiment shared by everyone. In particular, the original stars of the Our Gang series were left fuming they weren’t involved. “It’s real cold,” Eugene Jackson told the Los Angeles Times of the veterans being ignored when they inquired about being part of the remake. “They have no respect for the old-timers. At least they could have recognized some of the living legends surviving from the first films.”

Director Penelope Spheeris didn’t feel compelled to include them, but she did come up with something completely original that became a key part of The Little Rascals‘ legacy. The group’s signature chin wave was replicated everywhere by folks that saw the movie, and it came about as the result of a bonding exercise.

The filmmaker greeted her ensemble with the exact same gesture every morning when they reported for duty on set, and she found it so endearing it was included in the film. It went on to become integral to its enduring iconography, all because Spheeris wanted to put the kids at ease and make their environment as warm and welcoming as possible.