Eugene Levy’s Unforgettable American Pie Scene Still Haunts Him

Decades after its release, a wave of '90s comedies has come under fresh scrutiny for their outdated humor and questionable themes. Titles like There’s Something About Mary, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Swingers are often cited for their problematic takes on social issues. Yet, few movies have sparked as much debate as American Pie. Released at the end of the millennium, it captured a generation’s awkward coming-of-age, centering on a group of high school friends determined to lose their virginity before graduation. At the time, audiences were mostly drawn to the film ’s bold, irreverent jokes, not pausing to consider the deeper implications behind the laughs.

One of the film’s most notorious contributions to pop culture was the introduction of the term “MILF,” a phrase that quickly became part of everyday language. The movie also delivered a string of unforgettable moments—webcam mishaps, super glue disasters, and, of course, the infamous scene involving an apple pie. That particular moment, featuring Eugene Levy as the well-meaning but painfully awkward father, left a lasting impression on viewers and, as it turns out, on Levy himself.

Living With a Legacy

More than twenty years later, Levy still finds himself linked to that cringe-worthy scene. No matter what new projects he takes on, fans can’t seem to let go of his American Pie days. He shared,

“Now it’s Schitt’s Creek. All over the world. People came up and talked about the show in pretty much any location we visited. The American Pie thing got a bit tedious. People would bring me apple pie every time I went into a restaurant or to a wedding. Which is kind of funny, but it did happen a lot.”

The constant reminders have become a source of embarrassment for the actor, overshadowing his many other achievements.

While Levy has moved on to new successes, including his acclaimed role in Schitt’s Creek, the shadow of American Pie lingers. Fans continue to approach him with stories, jokes, and even actual pies, making it clear that some roles are impossible to escape.

Changing Perspectives

Jason Biggs, who played Jim—the character at the center of the infamous pie scene—has taken a different approach. Rather than shy away from the film’s legacy, he’s leaned into it, even partnering with brands to poke fun at the moment. Still, Biggs recognizes that times have changed. He’s spoken openly about how the scene, and the movie as a whole, would not be made today.

“That particular scene and the content of that scene could not be done now, and it shouldn’t be done now. It reflects the progress that we’ve made as a society in the last 25 years that we now think, ‘That’s inappropriate.’ It is, and it should be, but the movie stands as its own little time capsule – it’s a reflection of the times that we lived in, as most things are.”

As the holiday season approaches and apple pies start appearing on tables everywhere, it’s hard not to be reminded of that unforgettable moment in film history —whether you want to or not.