Meaningful films make us feel more prepared to deal with life's challenges, study claims

Watching meaningful movies such as Up or Slumdog Millionaire can help us feel more prepared to deal with challenges and want to be a better person, a new study shows. Ohio State University researchers created two lists of films made after 1985 with high viewer ratings - one with meaningful and one with less meaningful movies. They then had 1,098 volunteers watch either the meaningful or less meaningful list of movies, before filling in a survey on their thoughts and reaction to the films. Watching meaningful films - those that we find moving and poignant - can make us feel more prepared to deal with life's challenges, the authors found. The team say this could explain why people turn to movies that make them both sad and happy and explore difficult subjects they may not always find uplifting.