The Unexpected Reason Movies Are More Popular Than Books

What is the big draw of movies? Why do I frequently encounter people who don’t read books, but hardly ever encounter someone who doesn’t watch movies? Why do even avid book lovers still enjoy movies though not all movie lovers enjoy books? Of course, there are some obvious reasons on the surface. A lot of money goes into ever more realistic special effects for movies which are eye catching and new, celebrity culture drives interest in actors and directors, movies are perceived as more accessible and less time consuming than books, etc. These are all contributing factors; however, I’d like to suggest that the draw to movies might be a deeper connection with oral storytelling.

Oral storytelling goes back much earlier than written storytelling and continues to be pervasive in some cultures today. Oral storytelling, like movie-going, is a shared experience, sometimes by a small group of family members or possibly with a much larger gathering of neighbors, religious community, school community, etc. Though it is also becoming more common for people to watch visual media on their own through a personal device, movies viewed in the theater or tv shows watched with a family or group of friends create a bond between people. It gives them a shared experience and shared references. If someone brings up a quote from the movie later, the group will know the context because they viewed it together. People are drawn to these kinds of connections and shared experiences.

Contrast this with reading. Beyond elementary school, reading is considered a solitary activity for individuals. People are very likely to invite someone to watch a movie with them, but when was the last time someone invited you to read a book with them? Granted, there are book clubs where groups of people read the same book individually and then gather to discuss. This is a great idea, but to reach the same kind of communal effect as watching a movie together, the book would have to be read aloud together. When reading aloud, everyone experiences the story at the same time and reacts or offers insights immediately. You aren’t just hearing someone’s book review later; you get to laugh aloud together or see them tear up when something touches them. As a first-grade teacher, I’m a huge fan of reading aloud! You don’t read aloud to children because they can’t read for themselves, you read aloud to children to engage them in the story, react with them, and hear their thoughts and questions real time. I’m also encouraged when the Bible is read aloud together in such a way that people can simply listen and soak in the story.

A second commonality between movie going and oral storytelling is that the shorter length of time it takes to watch a movie versus reading a novel makes it more realistic in our busy culture that the movie will be viewed again. I love reading books. I read dozens each year, but there are only five to ten books I have taken the time to read more than once. There is only one book I have read more than twice. (Can you guess which one?) Though I wouldn’t describe myself as an avid movie fan, there are dozens and dozens of movies I have watched not just once, twice, but several times. This also harkens back to oral story telling when the story was familiar and often repeated. The retelling and retelling allows different details to shine through, making each retelling richer. Humans learn (and enjoy) through repetition. When we listen to a story or watch a movie again and again, we learn from it and appreciate it in deeper ways each time (if it has depth to begin with!).

 One thing I hear from Marvel Studios and Pixar fans is that they love the “Easter eggs” these studios put in their films. While these little hidden references or images connect movies and make for a fun scavenger hunt, this isn’t really an original idea. Most good movies have all sorts of little verbal or visual references that serve as illusions, reminders, foreshadowing, hints of mood, etc. Of course, good books have all of these little subtle references too, but unless you are a literature professor (or reading a book in which the author is too direct), you probably won’t notice a lot of things until you read it a second or third time (if you take the time to read it again).

So, a few concluding thoughts, if you enjoy the experience of watching movies over and over again with friends or family, that may be a normal draw to shared experience and good stories. No need to be ashamed of that! If you wish you could get into books more, but don’t enjoy them as much as movies, maybe try asking a friend if they want to read a book with you, either “book club style” or aloud in person. Yes, some people might find it strange to read aloud together, but if you find the right person who is willing to try, you may be surprised how enjoyable the experience is. Another encouragement is to reread books you have already enjoyed once to see what you get out of it the second time. The experience might be even richer and you’ll probably notice all kinds of “Easter eggs.”  

P.S. If you guessed The Lord of the Rings, you’re right.