Rex Manning Day

Rex Manning Day History

Rex Manning Day celebrates the fictional music star Rex Manning from the movie Empire Records. Released in 1995, the film focuses on the record store Empire Records and its employee’s attempt to save it from being sold. Washed-up pop idol Rex Manning takes credit for the hype surrounding this holiday as he holds an autograph session at the record store. As the years went by, excitement and adoration grew for the movie and the iconic character. Decades later, Empire Records and Rex Manning continue to be celebrated through internet memes and the playing of Rex Manning’s song, Say no More, Mon Amour.

Rex Manning Day seems to have been started in 2015. It is observed annually on April 8th, a date chosen in memory of musician Kurt Cobain.

Top 8 Facts for Rex Manning Day in 2026

• The observance originates from the 1995 cult classic film Empire Records, which follows a group of rebellious record store employees attempting to save their independent shop from being converted into a corporate chain.
• The character Rex Manning, played by Maxwell Caulfield, is portrayed as a fading 1980s pop idol who visits the store to promote his fictional hit single Say No More (Mon Amour).
• The specific date for Rex Manning Day was selected by the filmmakers as a tribute to Kurt Cobain, symbolizing the industry's shift from the authentic grunge movement to manufactured commercial pop.
• Although the movie was a box office failure upon its initial release, the fictional event has evolved into a massive digital phenomenon characterized by the sharing of memes and intentionally "cheesy" 1990s-era music videos.
• The celebration is often anchored by the film's anti-establishment mantra, "Damn the man, save the Empire," which serves as a rallying cry for fans of indie culture and 1990s nostalgia.
• Many enthusiasts use the occasion to revisit the early career performances of major stars such as Renée Zellweger and Liv Tyler, who portrayed the employees Gina and Corey.
• A defining characteristic of the observance is the quoting of the character Mark, who famously exclaims, "We mustn't dwell. No, not today. We can't. Not on Rex Manning Day!"
• The music video for the fictional track Say No More (Mon Amour) is a centerpiece of the day’s online activity, featuring an absurd 1990s aesthetic that includes a four-poster bed on a beach.

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Top things to do for Rex Manning Day

• Watch the 1995 film Empire Records if you've never seen it.
• See what the cast of Empire Records looks like today.
• Listen to Rex Manning's hit song Say No More Mon Amour!