Movies That Matter

Movies “matter” for different reasons. 

The studios, of course, want films to generate a nice return on investment. Nothing matters more when it comes to the box office than a Marvel or Star Wars epic. The list of highest grossing films of all time is full of films that are universally recognizable, with worldwide numbers in the billions. 

The Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and other ceremonies determine which movies matter by handing statuettes to the best films, and those who created them. An Oscar or even a nomination can open doors for years . . . and the addition of “Academy Award-Winner” to a film, director, actor, or producer instantly increases clout and earning potential.

Critics value movies that matter for a wide variety of subjective criteria, often differing among themselves. The most critically acclaimed movies often don’t win awards or have the greatest pull at the box office.  The debate surrounding the “best ever” changes frequently, and no two lists look the same. Being in a movie that matters to the critics can be just as valuable to a career as an award.

But there is another way that movies can matter, too . . . 

Some films chose to take on a topical subject or significant event and present it so people stop, think, and have conversation. At a time when many opinions are delivered in tweet-length one-liners and talk-show arguments, it can be refreshing to listen and observe for two hours, and form an opinion based on a complete picture of a topic. A film can also deepen our knowledge and understanding of something that we thought we understood, by providing nuance and details that can’t convey through 280 characters.

Just Mercy expanded widely in January from its limited December 25th opening. The film details Bryan Stevenson’s monumental efforts to overturn the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of Walter McMillian for a 1986 murder. On face value, the story seems pretty clear-cut. Walter and Bryan battled against prejudice from individuals and a system that was both corrupt and difficult to challenge. These men succeeded in the face of adversity – a common theme, and one that could be learned even from a synopsis of the film. So what else can be gained from the act of viewing the film in a group setting?

We all have different backgrounds and life experiences.  And it’s entirely possible to know a bit of history without really understanding the experience that others are having. Watching the film in detail, the viewer can see the impact that the occurrences have on the main characters as well as their family, friends, and communities. Viewers can also see how it’s not just the blatant offenders who created the environment that led to a wrongful conviction and lengthy period of retribution . . . other less obvious individuals also contribute to the problem through smaller actions, including silence, inaction, and de facto acceptance of the norm.

Spending a couple of hours – with the phone and computer put away – intently watching and listening to a story like Just Mercy can genuinely impact the way we understand the way these actions affect others.

Having been a part of AMC Movie Theatres since 2018, I’ve had a chance to see companies and organization take advantage of these types of films in many ways. Some incorporate them into their Employee Engagement and Diversity and Inclusion programs. Combining a private screening with a group discussion and other aspects of the D&I or Employee Engagement curriculum is an efficient means of involving large groups of people from an organization in an interesting, impactful, and cost-effective experience. Other organizations hold events like this to help their families, friends, or allies better understand. Others – including many schools – utilize topical films to teach about and appreciate historical figures.

I’ve been fortunate to attend many of these events. The post-film reaction, and ensuing discussion, has amazed me. I have heard from people who’ve been through other tragic experiences and shared their emotions in watching a film that could finally articulate the totality of what they went through. I have witnessed others who haven’t been through these experiences express gratitude for being in a place where they could fully understand and discuss others’ predicaments. As a man shared stories from his past that closely mirrored the protagonist’s in Boy Erased, I saw an auditorium full of adults wiping away tears with the realization of what their friend had been through and what he carried with him every day.

While films like Just Mercy don’t come around every day, there are usually a handful each year that can really make an impact. Over the last few years we’ve seen The Hate U Give, Wonder, Harriet, The Farewell, Hidden Figures, and Boy Erased, to name a few. 

Don’t get me wrong, we all love a blockbuster, Oscar-winner, or critically acclaimed masterpiece. Sometimes, it’s nice to see movie that matters for other reasons.

Matt Graessle is a the National Sales Manager for the Field Sales team at AMC Movie Theatres. Box Office gross sales pulled from boxofficemojo.com. Movie rating example from imdb.com.