Movies have the power to evoke a range of emotions, from sadness to happiness, from anger to disgust (and no, I’m not just listing the characters in Inside Out 2)....
LEISURE
Movies have the power to evoke a range of emotions, from sadness to happiness, from anger to disgust (and no, I’m not just listing the characters in Inside Out 2). Certain movies seem to be universal “feel-good movies,” or at least among specific demographics. For example, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Dead Poets Society both seem to be top feel-good movies for teenage girls. This raises the question: why are some movies so feel-good, even if they aren’t positive or cinematically extraordinary?
To answer this, one must first examine what the term “feel-good” really means. Feel-good movies produce a “feel-good effect,” referring to the positive emotional and psychological impact certain stimuli or instances have on a person. This often results in the release of “feel-good hormones,” such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. The feel-good effect simply makes you feel good. This doesn’t necessarily mean feeling happy; feeling good can encompass a range of emotions like satisfaction, ease, and comfort.
Cinema has the ability to make us feel a multitude of things. At a basic level, feel-good movies manipulate brain chemistry to release hormones such as dopamine. This often occurs when we watch heartwarming scenes or see characters overcome their troubles. Themes of human connection elicit oxytocin, the ‘love hormone,’ making us feel more connected to the media. Movies characterized as “feel-good” often include themes of resilience, triumphing over challenges, overcoming adversity, and earning acceptance, or something similarly positive. However, this doesn’t mean that only happy movies produce this response.
A feel-good movie is a personal choice. While some movies are very popular feel-good movies, one person’s feel-good movie may have absolutely no effect on someone else. It is all based on perception and personal preference, but the science behind the decision applies to every choice. Psychology Today outlines four distinct criteria for a movie to be considered “feel-good”: it must be defined by the person experiencing the feeling, it must exist outside of genre, it must evoke replicable feelings when rewatched, and it must create an interplay of positive emotional experiences.
My personal feel-good movies are Mamma Mia, La La Land, and Dead Poets Society. It might be obvious why a positive, happy musical like Mamma Mia would make me feel good, but it is less clear why La La Land, with its sad ending, or Dead Poets Society, with one of its main characters committing suicide, would be my feel-good movies. Firstly, whether a piece of media is even sad is entirely up to individual perception. I might view Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as sad, while you might love it and describe it as bittersweet rather than sorrowful. However, I personally find both La La Land and Dead Poets Society to be sad movies with poignant endings.
Researchers have found that sad movies, music, and fictional events can actually increase endorphins. When the brain experiences sadness or pain, it seeks out endorphins and prolactin (another hormone that curbs grief). Consequently, when the source of sadness (in this case, the movie) is removed, the brain is left with a mix of pleasurable opiates that induce a sense of calm and happiness. Beyond this scientific explanation, watching sad movies helps us relate to characters, allowing us to experience their emotions and explore negative feelings in a safe space without personal harm. This emotional exploration contributes to a cathartic release, helping us feel less stressed and promoting cathartic feelings, akin to how some people need a good, long cry when overwhelmed. Additionally, the nostalgia associated with personal feel-good films provides a comforting familiarity, as revisiting old feelings and thoughts can be soothing due to predictability.
Lastly, many sad films offer a form of existential reflection. La La Land highlights the realization that not everything in life works out as we might hope; if Mia and Sebastian were meant to be together, they would have ended up together. The film illustrates this through its ending sequence, reminding us that not every story can be a fairytale, despite what is technically possible. Dead Poets Society demonstrates how sometimes the pressure can be overwhelming and how even a great mentor like Mr. Keating cannot fix everything. It underscores the importance of art, which has inspired many (it motivated me to start writing poetry), though for some, it might simply be a good movie.
Feel-good films are undoubtedly a highly personal experience, with each person having their own reasons for choosing specific movies as their go-to. This article aims to explore the psychology behind these personal choices.
