Movies: we all watch them. Some we think are good, and some we think are bad. We watch new ones, and we watch old ones. But there’s something unique about the variety of movies– all among different genres. We’ve all visited Rotten Tomatoes before, and seen the ratings of our favorite movies. But what do students think?
In pure curiosity, we decided to ask students at Fuquay-Varina what their favorite movies were and why.
While some answered with more popular, “mainstream” choices, it’s easy to underestimate a movie just because you’ve heard everyone talking about it. When listening to someone’s opinion, always make sure to consider their own perspective and how it differs from your own. A movie’s popularity doesn’t always reflect how good it is– or how much you’ll enjoy it.
It’s easy to get home and turn on a series that happens to show up on your recommendations. Series like “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game” in particular seem to be popular among high school students, but what about movies?
Senior Fiza Shah said, “[My favorite movie] is probably ‘Avatar,’ the second one. [But] my favorite genre is horror.”
When students were asked what genres they prefer, they were often completely different from the genres of their favorite movie, so it’s clear that there is a huge spectrum of different films that students enjoy.
Sophomore Chris Clemons’ answers were similar.
“I like ‘Titanic.’ I grew up watching it, so [I’ve] just always liked it. I like going to the movies and watching horror movies,” said Clemons.
So why is this the case? Why are their favorite movies so different from their preferred genre? It’s likely that, while a favorite genre is a broad category that reflects a general taste, a favorite movie is a specific work that can resonate with a person on a deeper, more unique or personal level.
“My favorite movie is ‘Whiplash,’ [with Miles Teller]. I really like the story it told, and I love all the music elements and how the story ended,” said junior Sasha Chesson. “[When I go to the movies] psychological horror is my favorite, just because it’s more interesting, and it’s different from other movies.”
Senior Livia Onkundi shared a similar answer.
“My favorite movie is ‘Little Women.’ I like it because it’s an accurate representation of girlhood.” Though her favorite movie is a classic coming-of-age story, she stated that her favorite genres are horror and action. Despite ‘Little Women’ not fulfilling any of the genres she stated, it’s still her favorite.
With horror movies being a school favorite, it’s clear that many students prefer more of an “experience” when it comes to watching movies in-theaters and on the big screen, and getting a scare seems to provide that.
Senior Emma Baker was the first to break this pattern, saying, “My favorite movie genre is comedy. [My favorite movie is] ‘Grown Ups.’ It’s just funny and it always gives me a good laugh and I love everything Adam Sandler.’’
It’s clear Baker is consistent when it comes to the types of movies she likes watching, but everyone’s different. It just goes to show that entertainment can be anywhere. From horror to action to physiological themes– you can unwind to anything. While horror movies are very popular among students, it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. The next time you open Netflix, or any other streaming platform you may use, try to consider the many options that you have; try looking beyond the recommending page and explore new genres.
