It’s the Movie That Can Change a Person Perspective

It is easier to watch movies in 10 to 60-second clips on TikTok than to sit through 60 minutes of a full film. However, longer movies often stimulate critical thinking by presenting diverse storylines and complex characters that challenge perspectives.

The standard of what defines a “good” movie, or a popular film has shifted over time. Others used to connect with movies through quality and acting but now it’s about storytelling, fascinating characters, memorable soundtracks, and cinematography.

Gen Z often overlooks deserving films due to a preference for short-form television. Influenced by convenience and trends on platforms like TikTok, this shift towards digital media limits their understanding of what is considered a great film.

Classic movies like “The Sixth Sense,” “Good Will Hunting "and “The Perks of a Wallflower” have the power to resonate deeply with audiences and widen their perspectives through engaging storytelling and the deeper meanings embedded within the story.

Few people in this generation take the time to explore niche movies unless they are trending on social media.

“77% of Gen Z discovers films through social media ads and 72% through posts by others,” according to Woke Waves.

TikTok has effectively transformed into a streaming platform; all a person needs to do is search for the movie name, and short clips will appear from various accounts with over 100 million views.

Social media like TikTok have changed people's interest in quality films from traditionally viewing movies to picking apart a scene by scene through short clips. TikTok, in particular, showcases brief segments from various movies, influencing viewers' judgments and preferences.

“While our generation does love entertainment media movies more than we realize, people in our generation have a hard time with their attention span watching longer form content,” says Abby Hennessey, the Editorial Director of The Lexington Line. “We turn to TikTok for videos or clips of movies, not even full versions.”

Films today have deep storylines, yet the younger generations are drawn towards entertainment from social media because of their daily consumption. Binge-watching short-form content like TikTok or Instagram Reels makes it difficult for them to engage in 60-minute movies.

“Our generation consumes a lot of media, so on the one hand, there are a lot of lessons being learned this way,” says Hennessey. “But there are things in the past we don’t dwell on, so we don’t turn to those specific pieces of films.”

Gen Z is out of touch with films, spending less time in theaters and favoring short content on their screens. There is a lack of communication about cinema within the generation, leading to disconnection from people and the real world, despite platforms providing movie recommendations.

“Talking to people is a big thing, a lot of the times other people give me recommendations especially people who are more into certain kinds of moves,” says Hennessey. “Talking to other people is the best way.”

Social media provides an opportunity to discover new ideas and cultures. Yet, the younger generation is drawn to excitement, allowing brief videos to transform their perspectives and interests by prioritizing convenience over deeper engagement.

Great films possess the ability to broaden our minds and expand our viewpoints by featuring relatable characters and authentic storylines.

“I watched Edge of Seventeen in high school, and didn’t necessarily connect with the entire plot but with the character, Nadine, and her experiences,” says Hennessey. “I find different ways to relate to the movie.”

Watching short clips of movies on TikTok can be easy and accessible, every time we scroll there is always something new, but we start to feel disconnected.

Social media can contribute to disconnection and make us forget how to communicate with one another, even talking about something as simple as a movie can be difficult.

How can we get in touch with watching great films that’s not on TikTok? Leave a comment down below!