5 reasons watching movies is actually good for you
By: Chris Smith (MusicMagpie)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
5 reasons watching movies is actually good for you
Remember when your parents told you you’d go square-eyed if you watched too much TV?
Well, they’re wrong (kinda). Watching a movie is actually pretty good for you. Here’s why!
Laughter is the best medicine… and so is crying
Photo by Jordan Whitfield on Unsplash
The American author Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning do to do afterward.”
It turns out Kurt was onto something. According to some scientists, laughter can boost your immune system and decrease the hormones associated with stress too .
One study by the University of Maryland looked at the effects of comedy movies specifically. The researchers found that laughing at the film shown caused the subjects’ blood vessels to dilate by 22%, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress.
Sad films can have a positive effect on your brain chemistry too. Research from Oxford University suggests that watching a traumatic film boosts the production of endorphins , a chemical associated with increased pain tolerance and, ironically, feeling good.
Movies can help on a psychological level too, to the extent that some therapists now prescribe movies as a form of treatment. Practitioners of cinema therapy suggest watching a movie that mirrors your current worries ”“ like Forgetting Sarah Marshall if you’ve just broken up with someone or Predator if you’re dealing with an indestructible killer from space ”“ can shift your perspective on your problems and help you deal with them better.
Rewatching movies is good for you
A 2012 study found that rewatching a movie is relaxing because our brains find them easy to process and the predictability is comforting . Remember that the next time someone questions you watching Robocop for the 200 th time.
The nostalgia evoked by rewatching your favourite movie can have positive effects too. Nostalgia is often associated with wistfulness and melancholy, but recent research suggests it promotes a positive outlook , boosts self-esteem and improves our connection with friends and family.
They can inspire you to be a better person
Movies have a major effect on real life, whether we realise it or not. Take Sideways , for example; Paul Giamatti’s character spends most of the movie dissing Merlot and talking up Pinot Noir and, lo and behold, Pinot Noir sales increased by 16% after the film’s release .
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They can also have a major effect on our personal development too. In America, The Karate Kid caused a full on karate boom, while Rocky has inspired countless people to take up boxing. It’s not just sports either; The Dude from The Big Lebowski has inspired a movement dedicated entirely to taking it easy.
In short, watching a movie can inspire you to make positive changes in your life ”“ even if it’s only a small change!
They make you smarter
… although that obviously depends on which film you watch! But a good documentary or an intelligent historical drama can educate you on important issues and events in a much more interesting and enjoyable way than a dry old textbook.
Movies can make you more emotionally intelligent too. The legendary film critic Roger Ebert once described movies as “…like a machine that generates empathy. It lets you understand a little bit more about different hopes, aspirations, dreams, and fears.” Watching films can change our perspective on the people and issues we encounter every day, as well as increasing our understanding and sensitivity to people and issues in places we may never visit.
Escapism
No matter who you are or what you do, sometimes you just need to get away from everything for a while. And what better way to do that than to watch a schmaltzy movie with two impossibly beautiful people falling in love, or a fantasy epic with elves duking it out against orcs?!
Here are the five main reasons watching movies is good for you:
- Laughter is the best medicine (and so is crying)
- Rewatching movies is comforting and promotes a positive outlook
- They can inspire you to be a better person
- They make you smarter
- Escapism is necessary
About the Author
Chris is a copywriter and editor of the musicMagpie Blog.
Save that two members besides the Group Administrator have blanket approval to post and promote seeds and articles, all members of this group are welcome to post to the Group seeds, articles and comments provided that: 1) Promotion to the Front (Home) Page of seeds and articles must first be approved by the Group Administrator, and 2) Discussion of politics and/or religion will be limited to the plots and themes of the movies or TV movies and series themselves and any religious comments or proselytizing or commentary concerning current political circumstances not in reference to the movies or TV movies and series themselves will be deleted along with all CoC and ToS violations. As well, anything posted that the administer of this group deems to be offensive or off topic will be deleted. Videos and images that the administrator cannot open must be described in text or they will be deleted.
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If what that article says is right, I'm going to be a very happy and healthy physically and mentally person for a long time, cause these days I'm usually watching 2 movies a day, sometimes three.
It was the year that the pandemic hit that found me in front of the TV for long periods of time. I watched many movies that I never had the time to see. I found many hidden gems. I discovered an old movie which I related to quite a bit called "The steel trap." I wish that ending had been mine.
I even caught up on the best of TV shows. I got to watch all the "Breaking Bad" episodes, in order in a single marathon weekend and I watched reruns of "King of Queens" for the first time. That might have been the best sitcom of all time.
It did make me lazy. I was having all my food delivered and sent out all my laundry.
I had to fight it with morning walks when the pandemic finally eased up, otherwise I'd end up like a recluse.
I've been a recluse for more than a month and will still be one for a bit more. Chongqing has been seeing temperatures up 110 F day and night and although it's not such a big deal for my wife who is a Chongqing native, I'm from a country where the winter could last 5 months with snow on the ground.
The wartime capitol of the Republic of China during WWII. That reminds me of the other thing I did during the pandemic: Played "War in the Pacific."
I believe that is one of China's most important cities today.
China's home base for America's Flying Tigers, Chongqing (known as Chunking back then) is mentioned in the movie "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" as where the American bombers should head towards after bombing Tokyo since they would not have enough fuel to make it back to the carrier.
Pretty good article, although the points he makes are basically self-evident.
I appreciate your approval.
I watch a lot of movies... The 4K BluRay restoration of American Werewolf In London will be in today's mail. I'm hoping I can set that up to watch tonight.
I recall watching that movie myself, about 2 American college students.
During pandemic we watched many movies from our collection we hadn't watched in years plus some bought for $1 at flea market and never watched. That has continued after pandemic, having a movie night at least once a week. We also found several video series on You Tube we continue to watch, bush craft videos like Kent Survival, travel type videos like Living The Van Life.
I have more than 100 movies on CDs, but for the equivalent of US25 cents each on a streaming service here I watch movies every day, besides the ones that are free on 8 standard TV channels that show foreign movies 24 hours a day. They often show the Jason Bourne movies and I'm addicted to them. The TV screen is 4.5 feet wide so it is quite theatre-like.