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Why do we have comfort movies?
We all have our comfort movies. Sometimes they’re specific to an individual, sometimes there are what we have in common with others. Sometimes it’s what binds us together and sometimes it’s what separates us and facilitates the formation of an individual. It can be happy, and colourful and free like a Studio Ghibli film or something dark and serious, like a Scorsese film. Point is, if you were to ask anyone on the planet who has had the privilege of watching a good film, they’d have a list of movies they’d recommend to you and subsequently drone on about. People are beautiful that way, and you can tell a lot about a person from their comfort movie.
Admittedly, I got the idea to do this piece while planning to do a thinkpiece on Birds of Prey (2020). In retrospect, I can see almost all of these aspects I name in this article showcased in my reasons for loving Birds of Prey, it makes me laugh, it makes me happy, it shows a reality where superhumans and violence are depicted in such a way that makes it enjoyable. And also, Margot Robbie. I feel seen, as a woman and intrigued as a human which is why it is my favourite comfort movie and go-to movie in general. So I dug deeper into the reasons why we have comfort movies and thus, this piece was born.
Escapism and other pretty things
On initial inspection, it is pretty apparent as to why we have comfort movies; a sense of familiarity, nostalgia, escapism etc. They give us, as the term suggests, comfort. During a global pandemic, it’s an excellent idea to sit down and enjoy some of your favourite comfort movies. Our reality is often clouded with grim statistics indispersed with tragic events, as human beings, we want an escape, a break from reality. Art provides with this break and escape, and film is a part of that. It is subversive and an enjoyable medium, all it requires is that you sit and pay attention. Perhaps you like the fact that one of your favourite actors is in the movie, maybe you fell in love with the cinematography, the soundtrack, or maybe you admire the storyline. These are all different things that can contribute to you adding a movie to your list of comfort movies. Wes Anderson films are an easy contender for this instance, movies like The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) are so beautiful to look at, that it almost seems as though you’re living in a storybook. Pretty things make us feel good, and this extends to film as well. Why do you think there’s an Academy Award for Best Cinematography?
(The Grand Budapest Hotel. 2014. Photo via Indiewire)
Predictability and control
Nothing can compare to the feeling of watching the protagonist struggle their way through adversity to reach the third and final act. Nothing can make you smile as much as a clumsy old South American bear finally being accepted into his chosen family. Comfort movies make us feel many things; safety, happiness, enjoyment, hope. The list goes on. One could even say that watching a comfort movie is akin to a coping mechanism. Watching your favourite movie in times of uncertainty can provide you with ease and calmness. This is because there is nothing unpredictable that happens as you are already familiar with the plot and how the story goes, nothing is going to surprise you and it gives you control over the situation especially when you are facing uncontrollable difficulties.
(Paddington. 2014. Photo via Time Out)
Representation
Coming from an Indian lesbian, it’s quite hard to find films that represent me and that I can relate to accurately, (we’ll save the disparagingly shallow pool of diversity in mainstream media for a later discussion). While Bollywood has a rich history of cinematic masterpieces it also has his issues and places where it falls short, just like Hollywood. A film that incorporated both the South Asian and lesbian storyline, and that I genuinely like, is Angry Indian Goddesses (2015). The story revolves around the exploration of womanhood within an Indian context and features a main lesbian relationship, although it does have a rather grim ending, I still like it and settle for it to be one of my favourite South Asian LGBTQ films. Part of why it’s there is because it’s relatable to me and is an informative work of art.
(Angry Indian Goddesses. 2015. Photo via YouTube)
Childhood memories and nostalgia
Upon observing a list of comfort movies presented by my peers and a list of the Internets most popular comfort movies, I’ve found a common theme to link them together. Most of them, fall into the ‘Children’s Movies’ category. This can be linked to the aforementioned sense of escapism and predictability (after all, we’re all mostly certain the ending of a children’s movie will be a heartfelt resolution) but it can also be because we feel nostalgia from these.
Remember the feeling after watching Enchanted (2007) for the first time? The feeling of pure goodness and the temptation to burst out into song at any given moment? As an adult, we often suppress or do away with those childish feelings of innocence and pure joy because it is considered to be inappropriate and ill-fitting. We chase those feelings and the memories we share by watching movies from our childhood, the escapist nature of film works so well in this instance that we are transported to a world where we know nothing of chasing a degree or paying college tuition; just happiness and song. On some occasions, we even chase the sentimental memories that we identify and group with those movies. Perhaps, you had enjoyed watching the adventures of Winnie the Pooh, with a loved one who had passed on too soon, so watching it reminds you of them.
(Enchanted. 2007. Photo via IMDB)
Wishful thinking and projection
A sad reality is that not all people have had wonderful trauma-free childhoods or a functioning family and our real lives become so unbearable that we desperately need to escape from it all. We project ourselves into this little world and think of a life where our current reality does not exist, and this also ties in with escapism. These small moments of happiness and calmness that movies give us and where they transport us give us glimpses of better days and the positives of human existence. A film like My Neighbour Totoro (1988) carries a tone of childlike innocence and hopefulness. Many say that it is a feel-good film for people who come from dysfunctional homes, who find themselves projected into this realm of colourful dreaming and optimism.
(My Neighbour Totoro. 1988. Photo via Den of Geeks)
Can’t overdose on laughter
Sometimes, we have no sentimental or artistic way of describing why we like a certain movie. The script could be terrible and acting could be horrendous but at least it made you laugh. And there’s our next reason, comedy! There are only two franchises that will never fail to make me laugh when I need it and that is the classic Mr Bean and Johnny English, both starring Rowan Atkinson. Originally, Mr Bean was pitched to debut in front of a French audience, despite it being a British comedy. However, despite the language difference the audience enjoyed and erupted with laughter when viewing the sketch of an alien-like man with a strange attachment to his teddy bear. This was because of the little dialogue in it, most of the comedy in it involves physical comedy, making it easy for a wider audience to enjoy. The old Mr Bean series are universal, but this was done away with when the two feature-length movies Bean (1997) and Mr Bean’s Holiday (2007) was released. The Johnny English trilogy is all in English and set in England, but has some of the running gags featured in the early Mr Bean shorts. Point being, that humour and comedy is a universal thing. Comedy is considered something as something that is easily enjoyable and easy to interpret, it is not too heavy and does not require you to pay too much attention. Yes, some comedy is subjective but the existence of comedy itself is a condition of being human and a condition that we all enjoy. Laughter allows our body to release endorphins, which can even temporarily alleviate pain, so it is no wonder why we enjoy funny movies as much as we do.
(Johnny English Strikes Back. 2018. Photo via Variety)
You’re not a psychopath for liking American Psycho
There are some oddballs and outcasts, and sometimes strange movies that can make their way onto our comfort movie list. These can be disturbing, thrillers, horror movies or depressive movies. For example, Coraline (2009) is one of my favourite films of all time and is subsequently also a comfort movie for me. Yes, it does contain disturbing elements that others may find very concerning, but it does have a deeply embedded place in my heart. I recently watched Perfect Blue (1997), an anime film directed by Satoshi Kon and it blew me away and made me slap myself for not watching it sooner. The themes within it are very dark and disturbing and even triggering, but what made it so good was that it was a psychological thriller that left an imprint on you after watching it. I always like to think that good films are ones that leave a considerable imprint on you that you cannot seem to shake off. Horror movies and psychological thrillers seem to be a little insane to be put on a comfort movie list but don’t sweat about it, there’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve done an article on The Haunting of Hill House and in it, I had briefly mentioned why one can find a strange comfort in horror movies and series. When watching something like Us (2019) it can be reassuring to know that by the end of the movie the main evil is defeated (most times…). If a film is particularly graphic and depicting gore, violence and murder, there is a potentially escapist nature in human beings to feel a subconscious release because know that we cannot commit such acts in real life. Now and then we come across a movie with a broader ending, perhaps hinting at a sequel or depicting the same atrocities that are parallel to real life, and it can spook you, therefore sticking with you. When something sticks with you, you want to learn more about it sometimes, so that it doesn’t scare you as much or so that you can understand it, and why it scares you. Or maybe you just find it interesting. Such is the case with Perfect Blue, I found myself rewatching the film over and over again, catching parts that I missed and watching video analyses of it. Maybe it was because it was beautifully done, maybe it was because it was terrifying or maybe I found a strange satisfaction in watching things that are insane to behold in reality, unfold on screen. Horrors and thrillers fascinate us because it fills us with emotions, and depicts unusual things, and therefore stimulate us.
(Be careful with idolising and fixating on the disturbing parts of film though, because there are plenty of cases where movie scenes have inspired real-life murderers and serial killers…)
(Perfect Blue. 1997. Photo via Letterboxd)
At the heart of it all, there are many reasons why we have comfort movies. It all boils down to how these mediums make us feel, which we use as coping mechanisms and evasive realities. Whether it reminds you of your childhood, or it gives you aesthetically pleasing visuals, your comfort movies are a thing that is specific to you. It can provide you with insight about yourself that you never really thought of before and it can provide for meaningful conversation on a first date. Maybe, after reading this, you are inspired to revisit your favourite comfort movies, and honestly, you should. We all deserve a break from reality, especially now. Popping in or loading up a comfort movie might not be such a bad idea, it can provide you with clarity and a mood boost.
Did I miss out on anything? What are some of your favourite comfort movies?
Sources
Cover Photo by JESHOOTS.com from Pexels.
Images were taken from Indiewire, Time Out, YouTube, IMDB, Den of Geeks, Variety and Letterboxd.
Screened (2020). Why we Watch Comfort Movies. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cMNRomN6XQ&ab_channel=Screened [Accessed 15 Feb. 2021].
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