What do you think is the point of watching a depressing movie?

Calgary, Alberta
May 13, 2011 6:24am CST
Our life is already full of stress, problems and complications, There is too much drama going on with our lives. We were already stressed out about many things Yet most of us still watch movies with already depressing plots. It makes me wonder, weren't we watching movies to be entertained but people seemed to love to watch movies that has heavy duty drama, Uber dark theme and even apocalyptic stuff. Sometimes i wonder too why i watch stuff that is just too dark when I can actually something that might be able to make me smile.
6 people like this
15 responses
• United States
14 May 11
I have no time for something that is too silly. I prefer some deep , dark drama. It relaxes me. I get to dwell into another person's life for a while. I don't look and say ," See my life is far better!" I watch and say it all could be worse. and I get to see how someone else handles failure or trauma.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 May 11
It is more of an escape. I can forget about my troubles and dive into someone else's story. For a few hours My life isn't my main concern. And yes after seeing how bad things could really get , I do feel better about my life.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 May 11
Besides the romantic comedies that are being made these days make me so angry. i don't relax , I lose my temper.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
You mean it relaxes you to see people who suffer since it makes you realize how much lucky you where? Somethign like that? since sometimes when we see someone who is very miserable it makes us think our life is not bad at all.
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
14 May 11
Heavy drama I cant do but then anyone in imminent danger does it for me. I do like the darker tones for most of the movies I watch and that goes for comedies too. I think a lot of people have a fascination with the darker side of life, for me it it more interesting. Don't get me wrong there a a few feel good movies out there that I love, I just seen one on TV the other night yet again and it has never lost any of its power. It's cliche to say it now but it was The Shawshank Redemption, dark but always uplifting at the end
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
14 May 11
The thing is he was innocent, he did not commit the crime and was falsely imprisoned for 2 life sentences. I think the film is uplifting with the themes running throughout the movie such as hope and friendship even in such unbearable circumstances.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
16 May 11
LOL I dont remember much about his innocence since I havent reached puberty when i get to watch that movie in VHS. But I have the clear vision of the finale where he get to escape. Plus I dont understand English as much then but Its very clear for me he is prisoned because of his wife's murder.. so he is innocent. I also remember he became friends with Morgan Freeman's character.
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
i remember that movie, He killed his wife because he caught her doing woo hoo with another guy and in the movie he tried to escape jail. Its like an inspiration for Prison break but more drama.
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
14 May 11
hello cap, One thing i know is,because most people can relate with the story easily. It seems they like watching it and connecting some scenes with their personal life,something like that. I better watch comedy when i am so upset
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
14 May 11
I don't watch too much dramas. My life is already full of drama..watching drama is too much nah,not like that,i don't really watch those ones..spare me from telenovela's as well
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
I remember My mom is so grumpy, complaining how miserable and stressed out she is, then suddenly she watches dramas. Usually I noticed ladies loves to watch stuff that is very heavy and sad.
1 person likes this
@siliguri (4241)
• India
13 May 11
Hi capt how are you..? Absolutely i think the same thing although our life is full of trauma and getting rid of it we do something interesting but some people prefer to see boring movie make the life more stressful it is really inexplicable might they will give the answer of it in well manner. me too eagerly waiting to know the reason behind of it..
1 person likes this
@siliguri (4241)
• India
13 May 11
they cry not you are just kidding..it is true..?
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
13 May 11
Like for example, My mom and sister loves watching heavy dramas like those soap operas with super dumb protagonist and they even cry as they watch.
@leonsan (49)
13 May 11
Humans in general feel the need to be part of a 'group', so when we're depressed, it's nice to see that other people are experiencing similar emotions to ourselves, it's reassuring in a way.
• Calgary, Alberta
13 May 11
so its like they want to see other people being miserable aside from them and see someone to relate with through movies?
• United States
15 May 11
I agree with leonsan humans do feel like we need to relate we then feel like we are no longer alone
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
16 May 11
alone with being miserable.
• Philippines
26 May 11
i really hate it when a movie turns out to be a depressing one. it kinda robs you the purpose of watching a movie, which is to have fun or be inspired or at least make u forget about your troubles. One movie that is depressing is "The Mist", at first I thought its a good movie because its a Stephen King movie, but the ending is so pointless crazy and depressing.
• Calgary, Alberta
27 May 11
The girl goes with those ghosts.... I know that ending makes me scratch my head since I didnt understand it at all.
@youless (112135)
• Guangzhou, China
14 May 11
I like watching various kinds of movies, including the depressing movie. I am not afraid of cry or sadness. After all, it is a movie. It is important that this will be a good movie so that I can feel for it. Usually these movies are impressive. I love China
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
I dotn know but I wotn watch a sad movie if i am already sad, but yeah people seemed to prefer watching dramas even if they were super sad already.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 May 11
Sometimes it's good to cry. My ex agrees with you though. He likes to watch happy stuff.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
Thats my main complaint to my girlfriend, She loves watching all those sad movies and she forces me to watch them with me.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
14 May 11
When I am in a depressed mood, I would rather watch a funny and a silly comedy movie. This will get me back to smiling myself away. I don't like to watch movies that are related to apocalyptic at all. These kind of movies bring my spirit down and it makes me scared and very sad. I don't like watching movies that makes me feel depressed and stressed out at all.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
15 May 11
so for a woman, you are not the type who likes those uber sad and uber depressing dramas with a lot of heartbreak. I dont know why many people enjoy it.
@maezee (41997)
• United States
14 May 11
A depressing story can still be a GOOD story, even though it may have a sad ending or sad parts or whatever. It's an art - the direction, the writing, the characters, etc. Not all movies are meant to be uplifting.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
My girlfriend said something similar to what you said, thats her rebuttal to me when i refuse to watch a sad movie with her.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
13 May 11
Hiya captain The kind of movies or soaps as you mention seem to be quite popular among the female lot here... I almost avoid watching such movies but now as I am married, there are times when I am kind of forced to watch them at times I dont know what she gets out of that but me... I keep thinking how could I just forward such a scene And if unable to get the task done, I wonder whether should anything like this happen to us/me, will we be following the movie as a guide or referral
• Calgary, Alberta
13 May 11
I know its kinda hard to explain why people enjoys it, since its causing much more stress and stress kinda makes us feel down. I really don't get why people find it entertaining to watch something hopeless, miserable and hopeless.
@sashakiddo (1102)
• United States
14 May 11
Maybe it helps people see a part of life that is far worse than their own. We can say, well my life is not that bad so I should be happy. Or there are people who are so fortunate that they don't know what it means to be depressed. So they watch a sad movie and that makes them satisfied.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
15 May 11
Its like the easiest way for them to tell themselves that their lives are not as bad as they thought to be since there are people who suffers more much than them,
@casualkT (140)
• Canada
14 May 11
I wouldn't watch it ... it's function is to make known of how much more deep the abyss(how much more despair and desolate it is and people know it is fake so they refer to that) well I think that's the reason :reverse psychology is although if its not a animation I can't get so emotional , it's quite amazing that people can still cry as though it is real.. which points to one thing was there a depressing movie without drama?
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
Why do you the ladies enjoys drama so much while most guys kinda hate watching them? I just notice most women in my life really digs dramas, the sadder the better.
• United States
13 May 11
I think people mostly watch these movies because it is a nice, sobering experience. These movies teach us how NOT to act or how to appreciate things before they are gone. Like others have said, it could also be a way to relate to something. With depression in our lives it can be easy to get carried away with ourselves... Sometimes it's nice to just know someone else has been there too.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 May 11
I can see that moral lessons from am movie can help people what decisions to do in their life and if a heavy drama have a happy ending it can lift up and give hope and inspiration but the whole process though will be an emotional roller coaster.
@tammy27 (1241)
• Philippines
13 May 11
i love them!! hehe i dont know why, but most of my fave movies are those full of emotions, full of drama, full of twists and complications, and of course based on real life.. many people dont really like those kind of movies, and i have no concrete answer why i like them as well, what i know is i do... :)
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
13 May 11
do you watch with a box of kleenex or handkerchieft with you? usually the ladies loves tear jerkers flicks so much.