How come, in the movies, when they shoot guns they often hold the gun sideways?

Most experts agreed that the sideways trend started with the 1993 Hughes Brothers film “Menace II Society.” A character called O-Dog holds his gun sideways as he murders a grocer, then replays the security-system videotape of the event for his friends.

Are people that sheltered? People were asking this question 20 years ago.

My guess it is to control the recoil. Also to look cool.

@Blackberry I’m hardly sheltered. I’ve been seeing this for decades but it never occurred to me to ask about the purpose. Forgive me please for showing my ignorance.