Why do we love movies?

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I’m assuming that if you’ve found your way to this page then you too have an affinity for the medium of film. (Or you may just be wondering why other people like movies so much). Either way, movies are so inescapably a part of our cultural consciousness that we think it normal to say things like “Have fun storming the castle” or “You’re killing me Smalls!” in ordinary conversation. Maybe that’s just me, but no one can deny the impact that movies have on both individuals and society.

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Movies serve many purposes. They allow us to escape, connect, and think. But above all they tell a story. And we love stories. Some stories are better than others and some stories are told better than others. But nonetheless we love stories because they allow us to dream, entertain our senses, and often force us to engage with the rest of the world, including the world between our ears. Stories reveal something about our world and ourselves, even if we don’t realize it. We cannot remain detached from the story because we are actively watching it, experiencing it. Movies allow us to be a part of the story.

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These stories, however, are only snapshots of the greater picture. The stories we tell serve a greater purpose than just pure entertainment, or escapism. Even those aspects point to something greater that our souls long for. We love movies so much because deep down we know that there is a greater story at play. And we want to be part of this story. The amazing and exciting part is that you and I are part of this bigger story. And it’s even more amazing than anything on the silver screen.

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Movies, like other forms of art, serve as guideposts. They point to greater themes and reveal things about ourselves and the world around us that simple propositions (factual statements) can’t really convey. I am convinced that movies do this better than any other medium. This is not to say that all movies perform this task well, but there is something more inspiring, more stimulating in the portrayal of film. It is one thing for me to tell you that you can’t run from your problems. It is another thing to see Simba face his fears and return home in the Lion King. I can easily claim that sin never comes through on its promises. It hits different to watch the worlds of all the gangsters in Goodfellas fall apart from their violent, selfish actions.

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As guideposts, movies can’t help but point to something deeper, more real. Even if they do so by accident, even if they can’t put their fingers on it, movies help uncover aspects of the greater story that each and every one of us find ourselves in. My hope is to aid in that discovery, be a guide for the guideposts, so to speak. Some movies may be well worth your time. Others may not be. Or they may portray parts of the story in ways that are unhelpful. If your conscience prevents you from doing so, then listen to it. God made it within you for a reason. I will do my best to provide the best preliminary information for you to make an educated and spiritually discerning decision. In so doing, major aspects of a film will be addressed and spoilers will be inevitable. So, please, don’t blame me for ruining a movie (especially for the vast majority of these movies which have been out for years and even decades). You have been sufficiently warned.

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The goal of working through this list of culturally relevant movies is twofold:

1. To engage seekers through a common and shared understanding of the stories we tell toward God’s narrative of redemption and

2. To help equip those who are following Christ to better engage the world around us.

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I hope you join me in this journey. It may just be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.