The Star Wars trilogy has transformed itself from extremely popular movies to a culture icon. Some people believe the reason this series is so popular is because it depicts a world that people want to live in; it provides an “escape from reality” or a sense of a clear line between right and wrong.
Other people believe it is because it relates to the reality of life whether it is the characters representing politicians or fundamental human desire of accomplishment.
Here is a list of some of the most popular movies from 2000 to now.
TITLE WORLDWIDE GROSS INCOME
Titanic $1,842,879,955
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $895,921,036
Finding Nemo $864,625,978
Star Wars Episode II $649398,328
Iron Man $582,030,528
What do these movies say about our culture? Are these movies helping us relate to the world around us or escape to a fantasy world? Do you think this trend will continue?
34 comments:
i think that movies serve multiple purposes, and can be both an escape from reality and a reflection of our culture. movies can also be used to send a message or express a theme. i think the purpose of most movies depend on the cultural context, so it may change with the political and social conditions.
I think that movies both help us relate to the world around us as well as escape to a fantasy world. I think Titanic is interesting because, in my opinion, part of what made it so popular is that we were so curious about the actual Titanic, and the movie provided us with an entertaining, dramatic way of learning about it. It falls under the category of wanting to relate to the world around us. Movies help us view the world in different ways and help us understand difficult events/concepts.
Movies are made to make money. Movie makers make money by giving the audience what they want. Usually what people want is an escape from reality, so they do this by creating exciting, romantic, or comedic movies. They take us away for two hours into a fun world we wish we could be apart of.
This trend will definitely continue. Why fix it if its not broken? People like these types of movies, they have even before the year 2000 (which Titanic was before that year). And I'm excited for these movies. Just think of 2009 alone ... Watchmen, Star Trek, Wolverine, Harry Potter, Transformers, G.I.Joe ... just to name a few! How excited are you for the summer?
I think that most movies provide a sense of escapism to a fantasy world. For me, however, I don't buy this fake world. Maybe I don't have a good imagination, but I frankly don't enjoy these films. I would rather watch something that is real that I could actually believe.
Not only do movies offer an escape, but they also offer a reflection about the world through the eyes of others. People get to imagine such worlds and events and then interpret such ideas in ways they like. Movies are form of expression mostly for the creators and I'm sure they'll continue. After watching movies, I'm led to ponder did I use my time beneficially? How did it make me feel? In many instances, I could be doing something better with my time and feel good.
I really do think that people want to escape from their lives. However, TItanic is different. I have many thoughts on this subject. First, it's historic so it relates to a lot of people. Second, there's a love story, so every girl wants to see that. Third, there's a 3-minute nude scene and because it was PG-13, it gave a lot of young men the opportunity to get the porn feed. I'm sorry to say that last point, but I think it's true. I know too many men who have/had a pornography addiction that have seen Titanic. So anyways, that's what I think.
these movies help me escape from reality and focus on both the "best" of human beings and the "worst"
These movies are definitely an escape from reality for me since most focus on the two extremes (good and evil) and nothing inbetween.
I don't really buy the whole "escape" theory to describe why these movies are so popular. All of the movies on the list not only MADE tons of money, but they COST tons of money; they are all some of the most technologically ambitious movies of their time. They have at least one, if not hundreds, of huge and highly complex special effects. The visuals are as pristine as possible and the sound is crisp and inspiring. Honestly, I think we go to these movies to be dazzled. If it were for an escape, then I think other movies, which have much better stories for us to "escape to", would be more popular.
I think these movies lead us into a world where things are possible, we can be or do things we couldn't normally, and that's half the fun of movies. I think people like being taken somewhere they've never gone and as long as we keep that desire, these movies will continue to be successful.
I think these movies offer an escape from reality. I think our society wants a place where they can go to that does not remind them of real life. I think these movies offer just this. Movies are a way for us to forget about reality. I also think this trend will stay around. Why change. This has proved to work in the past, so why stop now?
Each film serves a different purpose. Each is created with a different vision and agenda. The film business is just that - a business. Some of the top movies are made to make money. Right now old 80s and 90s cartoons are being made into films - because they are making money.
I think that most films in the US are for escapism and entertainment purposes; however, they can and many do have political agendas hidden in the jokes and dialogue.
The movies tell us that people like to be entertained and forget about everyday life every once and while for a couple of hours.
I think the movies say that we are a culture of consumers, and that we enjoy stories. I think that most of the time movies are made based on what the producers think is going to be hit, but then we vote with our tickets. If we don't vote, the movie fails.
I believe that these movies, with the exception of Titanic, are meeting a void of fantasy and escapism. And I don't believe that it's just our culture here in America, I believe that it's really in the culture of human beings. We desire something new and exciting, into a world we can never comprehend, away from the norm and somewhat boring lives we live (at times). I definitely believe this trend will continue and that we will continue to see movies that take us to new heights and ideas of fantasy.
Wow BROOKE! I read the blog and thought of what I was going to write, and then I looked at the very first comment (your comment) and BAM! you said it!
So nice work!
Different movies, made for different purposes, watched for different purposes.
I agree with what's been said about movies being made for different purposes to serve different audiences. I think that, similar to the movie industry, the driving force behind movies is money. If producers can make an entertaining and popular movie, they will make money. Sometimes that includes escapism, reflection or a political agenda.
I think the reasons these movies are popular is because they strike an emotional chord. Finding nemo is family relationships, Titanic is love, the others are a battle over good and evil. Those are emotions we can relate to but they are also all coupled with an unrealistic element. All (except Titanic) take place in an imaginary world and use special effects. This element combined with the emotional appeal is what makes them so appealing to us. We like to escape but it needs to still be relevant in some way.
I think we are only seeing "the tip of the iceberg" as Professor Cutri says. I think we will see an increase in movies that distract us from the hard realities in life like working hard to earn a honest living, death and taxes to mention only a few.
I think all the movies listed, besides Titanic, can be considered an escape from our everyday lives. However, I feel that different movies are created for different reasons. For example, movies are made to inform, entertain, and as a form of expression. However, I feel all movies have one thing in common: to make money. Personally, I go to movies, to forget about the homework assignments and exams that usually tend to stress me out. It's a great escape.
relate? to 99% of the crap out there? no. not a chance, american pie, star wars, lord of the rings... no way. its entertainment, but there are some I can relate to, but I dont take it to heart, its just entertainment.
I also think that Movies serve many purposes for us. I think for the most part though, movies do give us an escape and that is why we are intrigued to watch them. We go into a dark theater where we are completely engulfed in the movie, with no distractions around us. I think that this list of movies shows this trend.
Good questions. It's hard to tell why these certain movies that you brought up did so well, since there are so many other movies exactly the same as them that absolutely bombed at the box office. I do think that watching movies is a form of escapism for certain Americans. I also agree that movies serve multiple purposes.
To answer the last part of the question, yes, I think this trend will continue. It is understandably tempting for producers to follow the same formulas that produce huge earnings—adios originality. At the same time, however, I think there is hope. I see the fact that film festivals worldwide are continuing to become more popular as a positive sign. I'd like to think that slowly, as a world culture, we are becoming aware of the cookie-cutter phenomenon and longing for something more, something different.
These types of movies are an escape from reality and they are also entertainment. They have unique story lines, go places we have never gone and fulfill some type of fantasy (with the exception of Titanic which I dont know how that made so much money).
I think movies can be a way of escapism, but its main purpose is to make money. We all know what we want/look for in a movie, and producers will give us just that so that they can make the big bucks.
I think that these movies put us in a fantasy world and that's why we like them so much. Whether we are in space, the ocean, the Titanic, or a world of superheroes, it is foreign to us and inaccessible to most of us. However through the films' characters, who we can relate to, we feel that we are there and that it could happen to us to some extent. These films have characters that are based off of real people and put them in extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, we have a commentary on real life and escapism.
I agree with jessica that movies are made to generate income. On the other hand I was surprised to see that the movies that generated the biggest income were, with exception to Titanic, movies that did not depict our reality. On the contrary, they were very fictional, like Harry Potter. And I think this does tell us something about our culture. For some reason, these numbers shows that we love fiction movies... the real question now is why?
Both, movies, like other mediums, allow for a minute, people to leave the world they know behind. They can be whatever they want for a couple hours before they have to go back to the real world. However, a lot of movies pose interesting predicaments which help us relate to the world i.e. racial relations, ethical dilemmas, etc.
None of these movies were life movies. Titanic was a true story with the ship sinking and stuff but everything else with the love story was made up. I enjoy a good life movie every now and then. I loved the movie The Bucket List. But I like to escape into a fantasy world more often. I like fictional movies like Iron Man and Star Wars. These movies really aren't what some call artistic but they are entertaining.
If these movies are somehow used to represent the current condition of the United States, then it says 1) Americans like nudity, 2) American like sequels 3) Americans like science fiction.
I agree with most posts in that I think that movies serve multiple purposes. Movies can serve as both an escape from reality and a reflection of our culture. I personally prefer movies with fantastical themes that allow me to transcend my own mundane/stressful life.
I feel that one of the leading reasons that these particular five movies did so well has more to do with the consumer than the message. Looking at it from a consumer's point of view all three of these movies have something in common--history. With each one of these films the consumer has already had a strong tie to the movie's past. Titanic: a well known historical story of tragedy. Harry Potter, Iron Man, Star Wars: all have a strong cult following. And Finding Nemo: Pixar is renown for movies that don't disappoint. So, thinking of this from a consumers point of view, of course I will see these movies... because i already have a good idea that it will be worth the $9 to see them.
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