Have you ever wondered what characters are talking about when you are watching TV shows or films, when they say things that don’t seem to match the rest of the script. There’s a high chance that it’s a cultural reference.
Here are some examples:
“Here’s looking at you kid!” Casablanca
“Use the force, Luke.” Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
“To be, or not to be?” Hamlet
This is why it can be useful to read classic novels and watch classic films. With a larger knowledge of English-speaking culture, you can understand what characters in more modern books and films or television shows are talking about. It can even help you to understand jokes.