advantages of watching movies essay

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Essay on Movies: Advantages and Disadvantages 

• Updated on  
• Dec 19, 2023

Essay on Movies:   Movies create a huge impact on human life. It can be positive as well as negative. People learn and implement new and innovative things from movies in real life. For example, learning new languages, getting inspiration, self-motivation, and gaining more insight and understanding are examples of the brighter side of movies. 

On the contrary, movies with a provoking message that disturbs peace and harmony, inappropriate content, and gender discrimination contribute to desensitization and normalizing harmful behaviors. 

Essay on Movies: Impact of Movies on Society

The motive for watching movies can differ from person to person. For some, it can just be a pastime, but for others, it can present a real-life context for learning. Therefore, it plays a vital role in shaping societal norms and influencing the culture.

Also, movies have the power to evoke emotions in the audience. Besides, it has the potential to raise awareness and promote social change by addressing important issues. Further, movies also serve as a form of entertainment and cultivate a sense of shared experience among the audience. 

Now, let us analyze the advantages and disadvantages of movies to evaluate their impact on society:

Advantages of Movies :

1. Source of Entertainment: Movies are the best mode of enjoyable and immersive entertainment. When one gets bored with the same routine work and needs relaxation, the cinematic experience, with its special effects, music, and storytelling techniques, helps provide a unique way of escaping reality. 

2. Form of Storytelling: Stories take us to a world where we can explore different stories, characters, and themes. Film directors, with the help of visuals and narrative methods, help convey a message and evoke emotions in the audience while developing a connection with the story being told.

3. Means of Social Bonding: Sitting in front of the television and watching a movie with family is fun on another level. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a night out at the cinema or a movie night at home; the experience of bonding among friends and family cannot be explained in words.

Also Read: Film Direction, Drama, and Theatre Archives 

Disadvantages of Movies:

Now, let us understand what adverse effects movies can have on the audience: 

• Negative Influence: Movies with harmful content such as misogyny, celebration of communal violence, racism, and glorification of patriarchy create an adverse impact on the impressionable audience. Therefore, as viewers, it is important to understand the message conveyed very carefully and its potential consequences. 
• Time-Consuming: Also, watching movies for long hours can interfere with work, studies, and other activities. It is, therefore, required to create a balance between leisure and responsibilities. However, this does not apply to present-day and future generations of filmmakers, actors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, camera operators, etc. 
• Expensive: Watching movies is a costly undertaking. Whether tickets, streaming subscriptions, or home entertainment comes with a heavy expense. If one is a regular moviegoer, watching movies can lead to a potential drawback. 

Thus, it is essential to carefully analyze the messaging of movies. It is our responsibility to watch movies as a source of entertainment and not indulge in wrongdoings. Also, cinema is a beautiful art form and a great source of learning for technicians, writers, and filmmakers.

Also Read: Film Making Courses

Ans. Time consumption, social isolation, and distorted realities are the negative impacts of movies on society. 

Ans. Career opportunities, technological advancements, and emotional impacts are some of the positive impacts of movies on society. 

Ans. The movies aim to serve content suitability, so movies are served with different ratings. 

Ans. Movies serve as a source of entertainment, a means of relaxation, and a platform for imparting moral values.

Ans. Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumiere are credited for inventing movies. 

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Hope this essay on movies is helpful to you. For more information on such interesting and informative topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Deepika Joshi

Deepika Joshi is an experienced content writer with expertise in creating educational and informative content. She has a year of experience writing content for speeches, essays, NCERT, study abroad and EdTech SaaS. Her strengths lie in conducting thorough research and ananlysis to provide accurate and up-to-date information to readers. She enjoys staying updated on new skills and knowledge, particulary in education domain. In her free time, she loves to read articles, and blogs with related to her field to further expand her expertise. In personal life, she loves creative writing and aspire to connect with innovative people who have fresh ideas to offer.

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Essays About Movies: 7 Examples and 5 Writing Prompts

Check out our guide with essays about movies for budding videographers and artistic students. Learn from our helpful list of examples and prompts.

Watching movies is a part of almost everyone’s life. They entertain us, teach us lessons, and even help us socialize by giving us topics to talk about with others. As long as movies have been produced, everyone has patronized them.  Essays about movies  are a great way to learn all about the meaning behind the picture.

Cinema is an art form in itself. The lighting, camera work, and acting in the most widely acclaimed movies are worthy of praise. Furthermore, a movie can be used to send a message, often discussing issues in contemporary society. Movies are entertaining, but more importantly, they are works of art. If you’re interested in this topic, check out our round-up of screenwriters on Instagram .

5 Helpful Essay Examples 

1. the positive effects of movies on human behaviour by ajay rathod, 2. horror movies by emanuel briggs, 3. casablanca – the greatest hollywood movie ever (author unknown).

• 4.  Dune Review: An Old Story Reshaped For The New 2021 Audience by Oren Cohen

5. Blockbuster movies create booms for tourism — and headaches for locals by Shubhangi Goel

• 6. Moonage Daydream: “Who Is He? What Is He?” by Jonathan Romney
• 7. La Bamba: American Dreaming, Chicano Style by Yolanda Machado

1. My Favorite Movie

2. movies genres, 3. special effects in movies, 4. what do you look for in a movie, 5. the evolution of movies.

“​​Films encourage us to take action. Our favourite characters, superheroes, teach us life lessons. They give us ideas and inspiration to do everything for the better instead of just sitting around, waiting for things to go their way. Films about famous personalities are the perfect way to affect social behaviour positively. Films are a source of knowledge. They can help learn what’s in the trend, find out more about ancient times, or fill out some knowledge gaps.”

In this movie essay, Rathod gives readers three ways watching movies can positively affect us. Movie writers, producers, and directors use their platform to teach viewers life skills, the importance of education, and the contrast between good and evil. Watching movies can also help us improve critical thinking, according to Briggs. Not only do movies entertain us, but they also have many educational benefits. You might also be interested in these  essays about consumerism .

“Many people involving children and adults can effect with their sleeping disturbance and anxiety. Myths, non-realistic, fairy tales could respond differently with being in the real world. Horror movies bring a lot of excitement and entertainment among you and your family. Horror movies can cause physical behavior changes in a person by watching the films. The results of watching horror movies shows that is has really effect people whether you’re an adult, teens, and most likely happens during your childhood.”

In his essay, Briggs acknowledges why people enjoy horror movies so much but warns of their adverse effects on viewers. Most commonly, they cause viewers nightmares, which may cause anxiety and sleep disorders. He focuses on the films’ effects on children, whose more sensitive, less developed brains may respond with worse symptoms, including major trauma. The films can affect all people negatively, but children are the most affected.

“This was the message of Casablanca in late 1942. It was the ideal opportunity for America to utilize its muscles and enter the battle. America was to end up the hesitant gatekeeper of the entire world. The characters of Casablanca, similar to the youthful Americans of the 1960s who stick headed the challenge development, are ‘genuine Americans’ lost in a hostile region, battling to open up another reality.”

In this essay, the author discusses the 1942 film  Casablanca , which is said to be the greatest movie ever made, and explains why it has gotten this reputation. To an extent, the film’s storyline, acting, and even relatability (it was set during World War II) allowed it to shine from its release until the present. It invokes feelings of bravery, passion, and nostalgia, which is why many love the movie. You can also check out these  books about adaption . 

4.   Dune Review: An Old Story Reshaped For The New 2021 Audience by Oren Cohen

“Lady Jessica is a powerful woman in the original book, yet her interactions with Paul diminish her as he thinks of her as slow of thought. Something we don’t like to see in 2021 — and for a good reason. Every book is a product of its time, and every great storyteller knows how to adapt an old story to a new audience. I believe Villeneuve received a lot of hate from diehard Dune fans for making these changes, but I fully support him.”

Like the previous essay, Cohen reviews a film, in this case, Denis Villeneuve’s  Dune , released in 2021. He praises the film, writing about its accurate portrayal of the epic’s vast, dramatic scale, music, and, interestingly, its ability to portray the characters in a way more palatable to contemporary audiences while staying somewhat faithful to the author’s original vision. Cohen enjoyed the movie thoroughly, saying that the movie did the book justice. 

“Those travelers added around 630 million New Zealand dollars ($437 million) to the country’s economy in 2019 alone, the tourism authority told CNBC. A survey by the tourism board, however, showed that almost one in five Kiwis are worried that the country attracts too many tourists. Overcrowding at tourist spots, lack of infrastructure, road congestion and environmental damage are creating tension between locals and visitors, according to a 2019 report by Tourism New Zealand.”

The locations where successful movies are filmed often become tourist destinations for fans of those movies. Goel writes about how “film tourism” affects the residents of popular filming locations. The environment is sometimes damaged, and the locals are caught off guard. Though this is not always the case, film tourism is detrimental to the residents and ecosystem of these locations. You can also check out these  essays about The Great Gatsby .

6. Moonage Daydream:  “Who Is He? What Is He?” by Jonathan Romney

“Right from the start, Brett Morgen’s  Moonage Daydream  (2022) catches us off guard. It begins with an epigraph musing on Friedrich Nietzsche’s proclamation that “God is dead,” then takes us into deep space and onto the surface of the moon. It then unleashes an image storm of rockets, robots, and star-gazers, and rapid-fire fragments of early silent cinema, 1920s science fiction, fifties cartoons, and sixties and seventies newsreel footage, before lingering on a close-up of glittery varnish on fingernails.” 

Moonage Daydream  is a feature film containing never-before-seen footage of David Bowie. In this essay, Romney delves into the process behind creating the movie and how the footage was captured. It also looks at the director’s approach to creating a structured and cohesive film, which took over two years to plan. This essay looks at how Bowie’s essence was captured and preserved in this movie while displaying the intricacies of his mind.

7. La Bamba:  American Dreaming, Chicano Style by Yolanda Machado

“A traumatic memory, awash in hazy neutral tones, arising as a nightmare. Santo & Johnny’s mournful “Sleep Walk” playing. A sudden death, foreshadowing the passing of a star far too young. The opening sequence of Luis Valdez’s  La Bamba  (1987) feels like it could be from another film—what follows is largely a celebration of life and music.”

La Bamba  is a well-known movie about a teenage Mexican migrant who became a rock ‘n’ roll star. His rise to fame is filled with difficult social dynamics, and the star tragically dies in a plane crash at a young age. In this essay, Machado looks at how the tragic death of the star is presented to the viewer, foreshadowing the passing of the young star before flashing back to the beginning of the star’s career. Machado analyses the storyline and directing style, commenting on the detailed depiction of the young star’s life. It’s an in-depth essay that covers everything from plot to writing style to direction.

5 Prompts for Essays About Movies

Simple and straightforward, write about your favorite movie. Explain its premise, characters, and plot, and elaborate on some of the driving messages and themes behind the film. You should also explain why you enjoy the movie so much: what impact does it have on you? Finally, answer this question in your own words for an engaging piece of writing.

From horror to romance, movies can fall into many categories. Choose one of the main genres in cinema and discuss the characteristics of movies under that category. Explain prevalent themes, symbols, and motifs, and give examples of movies belonging to your chosen genre. For example, horror movies often have underlying themes such as mental health issues, trauma, and relationships falling apart. 

Without a doubt, special effects in movies have improved drastically. Both practical and computer-generated effects produce outstanding, detailed effects to depict situations most would consider unfathomable, such as the vast space battles of the  Star Wars  movies. Write about the development of special effects over the years, citing evidence to support your writing. Be sure to detail key highlights in the history of special effects. 

Movies are always made to be appreciated by viewers, but whether or not they enjoy them varies, depending on their preferences. In your essay, write about what you look for in a “good” movie in terms of plot, characters, dialogue, or anything else. You need not go too in-depth but explain your answers adequately. In your opinion, you can use your favorite movie as an example by writing about the key characteristics that make it a great movie.

From the silent black-and-white movies of the early 1900s to the vivid, high-definition movies of today, times have changed concerning movies. Write about how the film industry has improved over time. If this topic seems too broad, feel free to focus on one aspect, such as cinematography, themes, or acting.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the  best essay checkers .

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out our  essays about music topic guide !

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

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5 very real benefits of watching movies

By Grace Jennings-Edquist

• X (formerly Twitter)

Although streaming services provide on-demand entertainment that would've been unthinkable even a few years ago, seeing a film with friends remains an important ritual for many of us.

In fact, if you're like most Australians, you're spending more time in the cinema than you did 10 years ago.

It's not just that we're going to the movies more often. We're also just as interested in film culture as we've ever been. Online searches for "Oscars nominations" have almost doubled in the past ten years, Google Trends data shows.

So what's behind our ongoing love of movies? And is it just about being entertained, or do we get something deeper from the films we watch?

Going to the movies is not only about blowing off steam and having a laugh, explain the five experts interviewed for this article. Watching a film can also be a way of appreciating art (in a format more accessible to many of us than a gallery) and learning lessons about ourselves and the world.

Here's how.

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Films help us learn

"We can learn a huge amount about certain moments in time or certain perceptions of moments in time" from watching films, says Adrian Danks, lecturer and associate dean of media in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University.

In other words, films can shape the way we're making sense of the world we're living in right now — regardless of the period they're set in.

Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, an Oscars Best Picture nominee about a black police officer who infiltrates the local Ku Klux Klan branch, for example, uses footage from Trump-era rallies at the film's conclusion, positioning the film as a meditation on contemporary politics.

"It's obviously a film set in the 1970s and it's able to bring some of those issues or relationships to connect to something that's happening in the current moment," says Dr Danks.

How "fiction can explore historic events in different ways to a documentary" is a theme that has underpinned the career of Robert Connolly, the Australian director whose credits include Romulus, My Father (2007) and Balibo (2009). The former uses the story of a father-son relationship to say "something about that period of time, the immigrant experience, in that part of Australia," he tells ABC Everyday.

Mr Connolly points to Oscars nominee Roma — another biographical memoir, in this case inspired by filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón's upbringing in 1970s Mexico City — as an example of "an amazing film" that tells a real-life story in different ways to a documentary. The movie follows the story of a family's relationship with its live-in maid to raise issues concerning race, culture and class that remain relevant today.

Films can drive social change

Films have always inspired social change due to their ability to teach viewers about experiences outside their own perspective, inspire empathy, and raise politically charged questions.

"That's kind of their role, to be provocative," says Dr Danks.

In 2004, The Day After Tomorrow helped increase awareness on climate change, Yale researchers found . The 2013 documentary Blackfish sparked public outcry that culminated in SeaWorld announcing the closure of its controversial orca show, and in Australia, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (1994) was pivotal in introducing LGBT themes to mainstream audiences.

More recently, calls for action on racial hegemony and sexual harassment in Hollywood (see: the #OscarsSoWhite and #TimesUp movements) sparked new debates about racial and gender equality.

This led to audiences becoming "much more attuned to a non-binary understanding of gender, of different sexualities, of the importance of diverse communities," explains Scott McQuire, a media and communications professor in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne.

"There's now an awareness that if you want diverse stories told, it's not just about hiring different actors," says Dr McQuire.

"You've got to have a diverse group of writers and other people involved in production."

Oscars Best Picture nominee Black Panther reflects that progress. According to #OscarsSoWhite creator April Reign , it "shatters the notion that black films can't travel".

What does all this mean for viewers?

When we buy a ticket to a film made by a diverse team, telling a story of a group of people not often represented on screen, we're encouraging Hollywood to continue making diverse films, says Dr McQuire.

Films help us process difficult life lessons

"Of course stress relief is a key function of films, and it's a major function for large audiences of blockbuster films," says Dr Danks.

But the therapeutic benefits of films can extend further.

Jillian Lynch, a psychotherapist based in Sydney, says films provide "an opportunity for viewers to recognise themselves in a character or some part of a film's narrative in order to undergo change".

Dr Lynch completed her PhD thesis on 'cinematherapy' — the practice of psychotherapists and psychologists using film in their clinical practices as an adjunct to therapy (a practice well known to anyone who's bought tickets to a comedy for some light relief or switched on a tragic love story to cry to after a relationship breakdown).

In other words, films can be "a safe space" where we can find alternative role models to identify with, and observe those characters' behaviours as they tackle challenges similar to our own.

Some viewers also find metaphors or symbols in films that help them grapple with major life challenges.

Dr Lynch's research found the symbol of the ring in Lord of the Rings, for example, has been used by recovering addicts as a way of understanding their struggle. (Frodo is "on that journey to destroy that ring, to overcome that ring, and he never does, he never overcomes it," one interview subject told Dr Lynch. "Even though he's able to get away from it, it still tempts him, it's still there.")

Films are (still) a social experience

Box office ticket sales are on the rise globally — and the fact we still pay $20 to go to the movies, despite the popularity of streaming services, shows just how important movie-going remains to our social lives, explains Dr McQuire.

"The other growth area has been what you'd call 'para-cinematic exhibition experiences' — movie events in bars, or rooftop cinemas," says Dr McQuire. "There is a real flourishing of this sort of thing."

Even where we do stream movies at home, we increasingly find ways to connect with friends and communities over films — including on social media, online forums or pop culture websites.

Streaming has also facilitated some films to find a more mainstream audience than they otherwise would have.

"A film such as Roma, which otherwise might have been seen by considerably less people — through streaming is being seen by audiences from around the word. And that's certainly been critical to its popular recognition," says Dr Danks.

Films help us appreciate art

Films are often seen primarily as a form of entertainment, but it's worth remembering cinema is also an art form.

Because the medium can be understood as a "combinatory art form" (a type of art that combines other mediums) watching a movie can allow us to appreciate elements of, say, costume and sound design, architecture and theatre.

Simply watching a film can be a way of appreciating art and heightening your cultural awareness — in a format that is more accessible to many of us than a gallery.

Movies are simply "easier to take in" than books or other forms of storytelling, says Ian Davidson, president of the Australian Council of Film Societies.

When we watch a film, we're not just being entertained: We're also admiring something beautiful; learning about the world and ourselves; connecting with communities; and contributing to positive social change.

And, as Mr Davidson points out, "it's all over and done with in two hours."

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Why We Watch Movies

The ritual of cinema adds to its appeal..

Posted June 21, 2021 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

It is illuminating to consider how religion and belief have been transformed into seemingly secular activities in the modern world. One way to approach this is to identify our rituals, to think about what people do at night, in the darkness beyond the demands of labor and domestic life. We are thus led to the spaces we set aside for communal behaviors that are unique from prosaic life. These sacred spaces are separate from the everyday, the profane. As Émile Durkheim wrote over a hundred years ago, sacred spaces are those in which powerful, transformative events take place for individuals as part of a collective.

Rituals, like a sacrifice, occur in the enclosed space of the ritual arena. In these spaces, different rules apply. They bring about different ways of relating to the community, to ancestors, time, and fundamental notions of meaning and significance. In this essay, I claim cinema is such a sacred space and discuss how and why it works so effectively.

Movies and the power of ritual

Myth and ritual are central to how every society collates, creates, and perpetuates the core of its significances, values, aspirations, origins, goals , and ethical lineaments. Over the last 80 years, cinema has become a reliable, effective medium for telling stories. In other words, cinema is a preeminent mode for the generation of participation in the myths of our times. The emotional intensity of the ritual, of contact with mythology, is what draws belief, salience, and importance into the encounter.

In movies , the scale of human action takes on mythic proportions. Not only in size but also in terms of the importance of gesture, storyline, character, emotions, settings, and scenes. Archetypal characters bring to life finely-wrought scripts wherein storylines illustrate moral reflections, aspirational narratives, and the dramatization of historical events. The finely selected dialogue in movies is so crucial that it resembles the manifest content of dialogue in dreams . Freud of course claimed that every word uttered in a dream is of utmost importance since the medium of dreams is visual, and thus any words that sneak through the censor must be vital.

The art of filmmaking is extremely difficult; one look at the credits tells you hundreds of people and hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone into any given movie. The layers of censors from investors to editors to distribution companies (and so many more) make every scene highly improbable. Relative to the stories of all the people in the theater and the people who made the film, the production necessary to make a film demonstrates that it functions at a higher level of proportionality. Granted, not all movies are effective and worthy of the treatment I describe here, but many are—those are the movies to which I apply these reflections.

It is also the atmosphere of cinema that creates a form of ritual space. The movie theater, a room with no windows suffused with darkness but for the light burning through translucent celluloid. We sit among strangers with whom we share emotional reactions to shared events. By sharing reactions, we share and reinforce a cultural lens.

The communal setting of the ritual arena of theater itself elevates the event. It confirms us as a community and builds our shared history and interpretation of reality out further and further. Light flickers on the screen, which is 45 to 65 feet wide and as tall as 30 feet. Cinema is larger than life; that is how it can represent life to us in a mimetic ritual of drama . We understand something about ourselves by becoming other, by being taken in by the story and coming out the other end in a slightly different form.

Then there is the narrative, the aesthetic charm poured into the dramatic form. That distillation of life into moments, sieved into distinct tales of definite memorability. The overwhelmingly melodramatic format of the journey, the love triangle, the conflict, etc., pushes us to identify with the characters. We are brought into an empathetic mood. Some movies bring us into the community of the characters such that plot development resembles nothing so much as gossip.

Time is transformed in the cinematic state; for us, it is an escape , a vacation, a portal out of the world and the uncontrollable nature of time. The liminality of being out of time in a dark room doing nothing allows for separation from so much that binds us. We are freed from speaking, from the dense maze of active interactions that make up public life. Here we are voyeurs who participate emotionally even when nothing is asked of us. The filmmaker does it all: through montage, a story comes together; through casting, we are directed to recognize characters; through lighting and sound, we are immersed in environments. All we have to do is keep our eyes and ears open. If we give our attention , the screen creates the illusion of four dimensions. It offers them to us; it takes them all up and drags us in its wake.

After the liminal space of the ritual of cinema, we walk out of the room discombobulated, sensitive to light and motion. We reaggregate ourselves after having become part of a different reality. We reflect upon what we saw and heard, in groups or in internal dialogue. The movie becomes part of our memory ; sometimes we get confused about whether the stories we remember come from cinema or stories we’ve heard about people. We take the movie in through the sacred space of the theater and leave with its messages.

When the ritual is over, when the crow and the raven are silent, we return to each other with stories and characters, memories of events that never happened. We want to share them further; we recommend movies, talk about their virtues and failures, and interleave them into our memories of all the other movies and stories we have lived through. The myth has been received, the experience has become a part of us.

Durkheim, Émile, 1915. The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, a Study in Religious Sociology. London : New York :G. Allen & Unwin; Macmillan.

Turner, V. W. 1969. The ritual process: Structure and anti-structure. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Company.

Rami Gabriel, Ph.D. , is Associate Professor of Psychology at Columbia College Chicago, where he is a founding Fellow of the Research Group in Mind, Science and Culture.

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Using Movies in Academic Writing – Benefits and Advantages

Academic Writing Goes to the Movies: Getting Critical in Your Essays

Introduction

Academic writing is an essential component of higher education , and it is crucial to master this skill for success in academic pursuits. However, many students find writing difficult, especially when it comes to critical analysis. One way to improve writing skills is by watching movies, which can provide valuable insights and improve critical thinking. This guide aims to explore the relationship between academic writing and movies and help students to develop critical thinking skills.

The Importance of Critical Thinking in Academic

Writing Critical thinking is a fundamental aspect of academic writing. It involves the ability to evaluate arguments and ideas, identify strengths and weaknesses, and form conclusions based on evidence. This skill is essential for developing high-quality academic writing. Movies can be an excellent tool for developing critical thinking skills because they often present complex issues and multiple perspectives. By analyzing and evaluating these perspectives, students can improve their critical thinking and develop more insightful academic writing.

The Benefits of Using Movies in Academic Writing

Movies offer several benefits for academic writing. They can provide vivid illustrations of complex concepts, help to engage students, and offer a different perspective on a subject. Furthermore, movies can be an excellent way to introduce students to new topics, as they often provide a more engaging and accessible introduction than academic texts. By using movies in academic writing, students can develop a deeper understanding of a subject and improve their writing skills.

How to Use Movies in Academic Writing

When using movies in academic writing, it is essential to approach them critically. Students should consider the context in which the movie was made, the intended audience , and the purpose of the film. Furthermore, students should analyze the plot, characters, themes, and message of the movie to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. By doing so, students can develop critical thinking skills and improve their academic writing.

The benefits and advantages of using movies in academic writing.

• Enhances Understanding

Movies can help in conveying complex ideas in a simplified manner. If you are writing about a challenging topic, using a movie to explain your point can make it more accessible and understandable to your readers. You can break down complex themes and concepts into simpler terms by using movie scenes that relate to your ideas.

• Engages the Reader

Movies have the power to evoke emotions, and academic writing can be dry and boring at times. By using movies, you can create a connection with your reader, grab their attention, and keep them engaged throughout your paper. Additionally, using a movie reference can pique your reader’s curiosity, motivating them to read further.

• Provides Real-Life Examples

Movies can provide a broad range of real-life examples that can be used to illustrate your point. Whether you are writing about human behavior, culture, or societal issues, you can use a movie scene to exemplify your arguments. These examples can make your work more convincing and can help to bring your ideas to life.

• Adds Creativity to Your Work

Incorporating movies into your academic writing allows you to showcase your creativity and originality. It shows that you have taken the time to think outside the box and find new and innovative ways to present your ideas. Using movies can also help you to differentiate your work from others in your field, making it stand out and memorable.

• Enhances Critical Thinking

When you use movies in academic writing, you are required to critically analyze and interpret the scenes and themes to relate them to your work. This process can help to sharpen your critical thinking skills and can be applied to other areas of your academic work. By using movies, you are also able to view the topic from different perspectives, leading to a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding.

• Improves Writing Skills

Movies can provide a source of inspiration and help in developing creative writing skills. By using movies as a reference, you can learn how to structure your writing, use literary devices, and incorporate vivid imagery into your work. This can lead to better writing skills , which are transferable to other areas of academic work.

• Diverse and Inclusive Content

Using movies in academic writing can also provide an opportunity to showcase diverse and inclusive content. Movies are a reflection of society, and by using them, you can promote different cultures, identities, and perspectives in your work. This can help to make your writing more inclusive and relatable to a broader audience.

In conclusion, academic writing is a crucial component of higher education, and critical thinking is essential for developing high-quality writing skills. Movies can be an excellent tool for developing critical thinking skills and improving academic writing. By using movies in academic writing, students can engage with complex issues, gain new perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding of a subject. We hope this guide has been helpful in understanding the relationship between academic writing and movies and how they can be used to improve writing skills.

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Why watching a movie could improve wellbeing

20 January 2020

Regular cinema trips may help boost wellbeing, according to a new study which shows a few hours behind the big screen has positive benefits on a person’s mental and physical state.

The study, conducted by researchers from UCL’s Department of Experimental Psychology (Division of Psychology and Language Sciences) and Vue Entertainment, found a direct link between watching a film and the impact it has on our brain function, social connections, productivity and creativity.

The scientific experiment used a combination of biometric devices, similar to a Fitbit or Apple Watch, and explicit questionnaires to investigate what happens to our bodies and minds during a two-hour film.

Remarkably, they found that the heart rates of the audience members were elevated during the movie, despite the fact that they were sitting still. Their heart rates were between 40-80 per cent of their maximum heart rate, which is what the British Heart Foundation calls the ‘healthy heart zone’, for about 40 minutes of the screening.

Professor Devlin said the study illustrates the strength of the physiological responses to seeing a movie.

“What we see is that the heart rate and electrodermal activity, an indirect measure of emotional arousal, go up and down with the narrative arc of the movie – meaning their heart rates elevate and drop depending on their engagement with the story.

“Big emotional moments in the film, like Aladdin and Jasmine’s first kiss, produced peaks of physiological activity indicating a strong emotional response from the audience,” said Professor Devlin.

Secondary research suggests that two unique elements of the cinema experience drove the findings: the focused activity and the shared social focus. These elements have proven long-term benefits on our overall brain function, memory, focus and productivity.

“Despite the fact that these people are all strangers to one another, their hearts begin to beat in synchrony while watching the film together.

“What we know from previous work is that when people demonstrate synchronised physiological responses like this, they also show stronger social and emotional bonds.”

Participants were asked about their feelings towards the other moviegoers both before and after watching the film. They reported feeling closer to their fellow audience members afterwards simply by watching the film together.

In addition, going to the cinema provides a distraction free environment. “Our modern lives are characterised by multitasking, social media distractions, and many items competing for our attention. Cinema and other cultural events provide space to concentrate and practice focusing. At the cinema specifically, there is nothing to do except immerse yourself.”

• Professor Joseph Devlin 
• UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
• Vue Entertainment  

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Home — Essay Samples — Arts & Culture — Theatre — Watching Movies at Home vs. Theater:

Watching Movies at Home Vs. Theater:

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

Words: 692 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Watching movies at home, going to the theater, making an informed choice, advantages:, 1. preference for cinematic experience:, 2. social or solo viewing:, 4. movie release schedule:, 5. distractions:.

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Books vs. movies: the age-old debate.

The Mountain Between Us , It , Murder on the Orient Express , Wonder , My Cousin Rachel . These films released in 2017 have one thing in common, and you may have guessed it already: They were all books that were later adapted into movies.

Similar to its affinity for sequels and remakes , it seems to me like Hollywood is increasingly looking to books for inspiration for the next blockbuster hits. From a business standpoint, it makes total sense because producers can draw on the popularity of a certain book and use that to their advantage when it comes to marketing the film’s release.

As an avid reader, I am always excited at the news that a book is being adapted as a feature film. My mind is occupied by thoughts of who the actors/actresses are going to be (and if I approve), if the film will stay true to the book, and most importantly, if the movie will be just as good as the book. The thought of finally being able to visualize what has only previously been limited to my imagination is always an exciting prospect.

However, I am usually underwhelmed after watching a certain film based on a book, and if you asked me a year ago which one I would prefer: the movie or the book, I would have immediately chosen the book.

Hands down. No doubt. However, within the past year, I have come to appreciate movie adaptations of books more because I have realized that comparing books to their counterpart movies isn’t fair; at the end of the day, the two mediums of storytelling have different advantages and different qualifications for what makes them good. Like Stephen King once said, comparing one to the other is like comparing apples to oranges. They are both great sources of entertainment, but they aren’t comparable. For those still reluctant to accept this theory, I’ll be delving more into this age-old question: “What’s better: books or movies?” I’ll make a case for each argument and let you make the final call.

The popular belief is that books are often a hundred times better than their movie counterparts; if you need any further proof, just take a look at the following Washington Post visual.

Books are great because they allow the reader to be a part of the story; we are the observers that have insight into the character’s thoughts and feelings, and all the nuances that create three-dimensional characters. With books, there’s just more. More detail, more focus on character development, and more depth to the meaning of the artwork. It’s also the more time-consuming form of the two, and after finishing a novel, after a couple of hours of being immersed into a different world and mind space, it seems like you have suddenly been thrust back into reality.

On the other hand, the great thing about movies is their ability to show, and the overall experience of watching one. While reading a book, I often have a movie reel playing in my head. I can map out the setting, I can see the characters’ expressions, and I can empathize with their emotions.

However, watching the same story unfold on the big screen is a different experience. While reading spurs your imagination, a movie helps you visualize all the elements of the books that were previously confined to your imagination. It immerses you into the story in a different way than a book.

For example, instead of reading about the magical world of Harry Potter, while watching the movie, I can actually see what J.K. Rowling means by “He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed, and so wild – long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face, he had hands the size of dustbin lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins.” To put it simply, movies make it easier for us to just lean back and enjoy the show.

An added benefit of movies is the music and visual designs that enhance the experience of watching a film. Imagine, for example, that you are watching an emotional scene. It’s the climax of the story, and in the background plays a gentle orchestra, that eventually swells into a big crescendo as the story reaches its resolution. In that moment, you feel exactly what the characters feel, and your heart races along with the melody of the music. So although (in some cases) the audience might not have a play by play of the characters’ thoughts and emotions, movies have another way of conveying the emotion and tone of a certain scene.

If you feel like further exploring this age-old debate personally, come down to Media Services to check out movies even the worst critic would have to admit are just as good as the books. Don’t know where to start? Try Pride and Prejudice, Psycho, Jaws, The Godfather, etc.

Until next time! RE

Robiati Endashaw is a sophomore studying public policy analysis in KSB with a minor in Economics. In her spare time, she enjoys reading non-fiction and watching crime documentaries.

Oh gee thanks so much . I also feel quite the same way too when it comes to books as in they are so much enjoyable because they allow us as the reader to explore the depths of my imagination and every thing happening Is felt dearly. 😊

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Essay on Impact of Cinema in Life for Students and Children

500 words essay on impact of cinema in life.

Cinema has been a part of the entertainment industry for a long time. It creates a massive impact on people all over the world. In other words, it helps them give a break from monotony. It has evolved greatly in recent years too. Cinema is a great escape from real life.

Furthermore, it helps in rejuvenating the mind of a person. It surely is beneficial in many ways, however, it is also creating a negative impact on people and society. We need to be able to identify the right from wrong and make decisions accordingly.

Advantages of Cinema

Cinema has a lot of advantages if we look at the positive side. It is said to be a reflection of the society only. So, it helps us come face to face with the actuality of what’s happening in our society. It portrays things as they are and helps in opening our eyes to issues we may have well ignored in the past.

Similarly, it helps people socialize better. It connects people and helps break the ice. People often discuss cinema to start a conversation or more. Moreover, it is also very interesting to talk about rather than politics and sports which is often divided.

Above all, it also enhances the imagination powers of people. Cinema is a way of showing the world from the perspective of the director, thus it inspires other people too to broaden their thinking and imagination.

Most importantly, cinema brings to us different cultures of the world. It introduces us to various art forms and helps us in gaining knowledge about how different people lead their lives.

In a way, it brings us closer and makes us more accepting of different art forms and cultures. Cinema also teaches us a thing or two about practical life. Incidents are shown in movies of emergencies like robbery, fire, kidnapping and more help us learn things which we can apply in real life to save ourselves. Thus, it makes us more aware and teaches us to improvise.

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Disadvantages of Cinema

While cinema may be beneficial in many ways, it is also very damaging in various areas. Firstly, it stereotypes a lot of things including gender roles, religious practices, communities and more. This creates a false notion and a negative impact against that certain group of people.

People also consider it to be a waste of time and money as most of the movies nowadays are not showing or teaching anything valuable. It is just trash content with objectification and lies. Moreover, it also makes people addicts because you must have seen movie buffs flocking to the theatre every weekend to just watch the latest movie for the sake of it.

Most importantly, cinema shows pretty violent and sexual content. It contributes to the vulgarity and eve-teasing present in our society today. Thus, it harms the young minds of the world very gravely.

Q.1 How does cinema benefit us?

A.1 Cinema has a positive impact on society as it helps us in connecting to people of other cultures. It reflects the issues of society and makes us familiar with them. Moreover, it also makes us more aware and helps to improvise in emergency situations.

Q.2 What are the disadvantages of cinema?

A.2 Often cinema stereotypes various things and creates false notions of people and communities. It is also considered to be a waste of time and money as some movies are pure trash and don’t teach something valuable. Most importantly, it also demonstrates sexual and violent content which has a bad impact on young minds.

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Watching a Movie at Home or Theater: An Exciting Adventure or the Ideal Place Essay

Introduction, it saves money, it guarantees comfort, opposing opinion, works cited.

For a long time now, going to the cinema has always been an exciting adventure. When most people think of a nice place to relax and enjoy time with friends and family, they mostly think of going to a movie theater. In general, a movie can be an impeccable way of spending leisure time, which is particularly true if there is not much action to take part in where people live. In regards to watching films, not many people seem to agree that cinema is the ideal place. Some people believe that sitting in the comfort of their home while watching movies is a better choice than visiting film houses. In this essay, one will be enlightened why watching movies at home is better than going to the movie theater

By watching movie at home, one will save a fair amount of money. In today’s society, money is everything, and people improvise different ways of acquiring, or saving it. Going to the movies might sound like a simple act of fun, but in reality, one ends up spending a lot of money. The cost of paying for tickets tends to grow annually as people visit cinemas. For someone to take his or her family and loved ones to pass time in theaters might be quite expensive. It is because, apart from entrance fees, other expenses which may be incurred are car fuel, parking charges, buying of snacks, plus other hidden additional costs (Meyer 46). When comparing it to watching a movie at home on one’s television, or doing video streaming on iTunes and Netflix, the video streaming option is by far way much cheaper.

Nevertheless, there are some minor drawbacks about watching movies at home. The first one is that the latest and highest-ranked movie releases get to the film and theaters first. It usually takes a long time before they extent to people’s homes. Second, at the cinemas, the quality of the film is of a higher quality and it is supplemented by the surrounding effects. Despite that, streaming at home remains the best option because one will save money, which can be utilized in catering to other family affairs and development.

Streaming movies at the comfort of one’s home gives the kind of comfort which cannot be found anywhere else, not even in a movie house. Almost everyone hates the front rows in cinemas, where they have to stretch their necks for a better view. Continuous straining can damage one’s neck after three or so hours of watching the favorite show. None of these issues will ever occur when people stay at the luxury of their own homes to watch movies. In the house, someone sits comfortably in their couch, wraps himself up in blankets, and watches all day long. It also means one has the freedom to choose the type of film they would like to watch and when to watch it (Gil and Gutierrez-Navratil 740). At home, the movie lover is at liberty to pause, eat anything the way they like or move around to attend to other matters without worrying about annoying or distracting anyone.

The safest place one can watch a movie is their home. Whenever people are in public, they have to share practically everything with everyone else. There are those individuals who might be annoying, particularly in the film houses, where rather than maintaining silence, there are those who cannot stop talking or speaking on their phones. Such actions can keep one’s attention away if he or she is the person who finds it difficult to focus on presence. Nevertheless, not everyone who goes to movies has good intentions. It means that one has to be careful and aware of his or her surroundings at all times. It is because issues such as people losing their personal belongings, for example, phones are widespread in movie halls (Peterson 452). A more recent risk which has made going to movies a personal risk is the Covid-19 pandemic. People are advised to keep social distance due to the rapid spread of the disease. To avoid the risk of exposing themselves to the virus, a significant number of movie lovers have resorted to watching at home. Clearly, staying at home and watching one’s favorite movie will keep you safe from undesired incidents.

Some opposing opinions claim that going to the cinema helps one to watch the movie with more clarity on a large screen. It also offers surround-sound which enhances one’s overall experience. However, home technology has undergone much development, and people now have high definition (HD) televisions. They also have excellent sound equipment, as well as remote monitoring gadgets. With all of these, it does not make a logical difference to seek theatrical experience in a public theatre.

All these explanations are a clear proof of how one might well be better off relaxed in the comfort of their home to enjoy the movie experience with more flexibility. Instead of going to the cinema, one should buy their favorite classic films and spend time with their families in the luxury of their homes. Watching movies is considered to be one of the best forms of entertainment. It only makes it better if one has the power over what, how and when to watch it. Furthermore, with advanced technology having reached people’s homes, many prefer to watch movies in their houses.

Gil, Ricard, and Fernanda Gutierrez-Navratil. “Does Television Entry Decrease the Number of Movie Theaters?” Economic Inquiry , vol. 55, no. 2, 2016, pp. 736-756. Wiley . Web.

Meyer, Birgit. “Watching Movies in Ghana”. Anthropology News , vol. 58, no. 2, 2017, pp. e44-e50. Wiley . Web.

Peterson, Elizabeth. “Hometown Show: Early Movie Theaters in Eugene and Springfield”. Oregon Historical Quarterly , vol. 117, no. 3, 2016, p. 452. Oregon Historical Society . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 30). Watching a Movie at Home or Theater: An Exciting Adventure or the Ideal Place. https://ivypanda.com/essays/watching-movie-at-home-or-theater/

"Watching a Movie at Home or Theater: An Exciting Adventure or the Ideal Place." IvyPanda , 30 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/watching-movie-at-home-or-theater/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Watching a Movie at Home or Theater: An Exciting Adventure or the Ideal Place'. 30 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Watching a Movie at Home or Theater: An Exciting Adventure or the Ideal Place." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/watching-movie-at-home-or-theater/.

1. IvyPanda . "Watching a Movie at Home or Theater: An Exciting Adventure or the Ideal Place." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/watching-movie-at-home-or-theater/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Watching a Movie at Home or Theater: An Exciting Adventure or the Ideal Place." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/watching-movie-at-home-or-theater/.

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Watching Movies in Cinemas and at Home

Which one is better: watching movie in theatre or at home? Both options have their pros and cons. Read this “watching a movie at home vs. theater” essay to learn more!

Introduction

Differences between watching movie in theater and at home, similarities between watching movie at home vs cinema, comparison between watching a movie at home and in theatres.

It does not matter whether a person likes action, drama, comedy, or another genre of films and movies. Almost everyone loves watching video materials. There are many reasons for people’s desire to watch video films and movies.

While most people watch videos to release stress or for recreation, others watch films for bonding and socializing. Movies can be watched either at home or in the available theaters. Therefore, one has to choose whether to stream movies alone at home or go to a movie theater with friends and family. Both types of places have differences and similarities that are tabulated below.

The activity is fun and compelling regardless of where one watches a movie. Both venues provide the stimulation and excitement that comes along with watching a movie. Many people tend to use the moment as the time for developing bonds with their relatives and friends.

It is achieved regardless of the venue chosen for watching the movie. Many people also like taking a snack like popcorn while watching movies. These items can be bought at the theaters. Similarly, one has the freedom to eat some snacks at home.

There are many differences between watching a movie at home and in theatres. The cost, for instance, is different. First, watching a film at a theatre requires a person to drive and pay for the ticket and any other facility or accompaniment. On the other hand, no cost is incurred when watching a film at home.

The quality of the video and sound is also a major aspect that shows significant differences between the two scenarios. Theatres have installed perfect sound systems and high-quality screens that create a perfect customer experience.

At home, one may have a good sound system, but it rarely matches those in theatres. Theater owners are aware that they are competing with affordable home theaters. Therefore, they include visual upgrades like IMAX and Real 3D. They increase the quality of experience at these facilities compared to the home-based systems.

One can sit on a couch, on the carpet, or watch a movie in any position to achieve comfort. Therefore, the comfort level when watching a movie at home is higher than in a theater. In fact, one needs to be aware of strangers sitting next to him or her. At home, there is a high degree of freedom of posture, style, music, and other aspects.

Convenience is also a significant aspect. For instance, people going to the theater are required to wait until their film choices are aired. In addition, they are required to make plans on how to get there. If one viewer wishes to leave the place for a moment due to any reason, an important scene is likely to be missed. These kinds of inconveniences are not experienced at home.

At home, a person can pause, rewind, or forward when necessary. In addition, one could watch a movie halfway, stop it and look for another if they do not like it. In theaters, viewers could leave the place for a while but miss some sections.

This means that watching movies at home is convenient. However, in theaters, one does not have to deal with commercial breaks between the movies, but a television telecast of the same movie is always full of frequent advertisements.

The issue of privacy is also a major aspect of this case. Noteworthy, theaters are shared facilities, while homes are privately owned properties. In particular, movies like “Titanic,” which invokes human emotions, are better watched at home. Few people like to show their emotions in public.

Another essential difference involves the desire to keep updated with the film market. For instance, watching a movie in theaters enables one to watch recent materials and movies in the industry. When watching them at home, one has to wait until they are released in a DVD format or aired on a television channel.

The environment in the two places is different. In theaters, viewers must adhere to the rules of the facility. For instance, one is not supposed to shout, but at home, one is free to shout.

On the other hand, watching some terrifying films is more exciting when a group is involved than when a viewer is alone. Thus, theaters are the best places to watch such films.

There are several differences between watching a movie at home and in a theater. The choice is based on personal tastes and preferences. Therefore, some people love watching movies in groups and choose theaters, while others like watching them alone and prefer watching the material at home.

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StudyCorgi. (2020, January 6). Watching Movies in Cinemas and at Home. https://studycorgi.com/watching-movies-in-cinemas-and-at-home/

"Watching Movies in Cinemas and at Home." StudyCorgi , 6 Jan. 2020, studycorgi.com/watching-movies-in-cinemas-and-at-home/.

StudyCorgi . (2020) 'Watching Movies in Cinemas and at Home'. 6 January.

1. StudyCorgi . "Watching Movies in Cinemas and at Home." January 6, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/watching-movies-in-cinemas-and-at-home/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "Watching Movies in Cinemas and at Home." January 6, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/watching-movies-in-cinemas-and-at-home/.

StudyCorgi . 2020. "Watching Movies in Cinemas and at Home." January 6, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/watching-movies-in-cinemas-and-at-home/.

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IELTS Task 2 Writing – Watching films

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people say that now that we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

Certain individuals take the position that since the advent of mobile media empowering people to view movies on their personal devices, there is no longer the necessity to go to the movie theater. However, opponents, believe that in order to really appreciate films, they need to be seen in cinemas. 

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words. – Ideally, write between 250 – 350 words. – AND make sure to spend from 5 to 8 minutes reviewing and revising your essay. 

Identify the topic – What are we talking about? – Watching films

Controlling idea – to fully enjoy movies theaters are necessary or this can be done with personal devices

What does it mean to watch a film? A: To watch a story with visual and auditory information on a screen. 

Why do people watch movies? A: For entertainment and enjoyment, for relaxation, for knowledge, to socialize, to feel powerful emotions

***Think about examples of movies that you have seen. 

How do movies work, how are they experienced by the audience?

Watching them on different media, phones, theater – they are created by a team of people, actors, directors, editors.

Ask questions around the controlling idea.

What are the key differences between watching movies on personal devices versus the movie theater?

Theater – big screen, big sound, comfortable, quality, attention to the film

Tablet/mobile – convenient, cheap, disturbance

Introduction – hook + background + thesis

Millions of people around the world love to watch films. (Background – definition of the topic/controlling idea ex. “to fully enjoy film”, + importance – be concise, do this in one sentence if possible) Seeing stories told through incredible sound and pictures has become a favored pastime for most people, and audiences seek the best ways to do this. Although people often watch movies on personal devices, for various reasons, I think theaters are still better for fully enjoying films because they offer both quality and immersive experience.

[Body 1 – films watched on personal devices – topic sentence a deeper definition of the thesis point – watch movies on personal devices for various reasons.]

Many people opt to watch most films on their phones, tablets, or laptops because it is convenient and cheap. (Explain) With the use of the internet, and many movie streaming services, people can watch their favorite films on the go, at home, or while waiting at the dentist’s office, and it is often free or just pennies compared to the high cost of movie theater tickets. (Example – real world, an example that your reader/examiner can relate to) Last week I streamed the Titanic from Netflix on the train while traveling to visit my parents and it was great entertainment. Clearly, this is a benefit of films with personal devices, but they do not give the ultimate move experience. 

[Body 2 – topic sentence – theaters offer a better quality movie experience]

In multi-million-dollar cinemas, much attention is paid to creating the best experience for audiences with not only state-of-the-art sound and pictures on a thirty-foot silver screen but also exceptional seating and snacks. (Example) For this very reason, I go to watch my favorite blockbuster movies like Avengers End Game, at the movie theater, as watching this on a phone would simply not provide the same caliber of emotions.

Body 3 – (Immersive experience – being a part of the story/film)

Furthermore, watching films at theaters allows individuals to truly be engaged in the film from start to finish whereby they deeply empathize with characters and catch most of the details. (Explanation) Unlike with mobile devices, such as smartphones, people are much less distracted in the dark ambiance of the theater where they follow the etiquette of paying attention to the film. This allows viewers to fully enjoy the movies’ storylines as is intended by the producers.

In conclusion, personal devices certainly have their advantages, but they do not provide the same level of enjoyment for movie fans as theaters. While it is true that people can be entertained on their phones and tablets if they are bored or just want to relax in daily life, I strongly believe that the best way to enjoy a film is by going with friends or family to the cinema. 

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10 benefits of watching movies

June 22, 2020 By BREO BOX

If you feel depressed, lonely or you are surrounded by negative thoughts, do not allow those emotions to accumulate in you. Instead of holding them inside and feeling awful all day, try to let them out. The best way to get rid of negative thoughts, and maybe find a solution to your problem, is watching movies.

Movies are not just a way to have fun, but also a form of therapy. And if you don’t believe us, search  cinema therapy  online. And if you spend most of your time in the living room, especially now because of the coronavirus, here are the top 10 benefits of watching movies!

1. Positive impact on your overall health

Did you know that cinema therapy exists? Cinemetherapy (movie therapy) is a form of expressive therapy for overcoming medical and mental health issues. This therapy can change an individual’s negative thoughts, bad habits, and the ability to manage life events. People who attend cinema therapy are watching movies that reflect their current issues.

Comedies, for example, make us laugh, and laughing for 15 minutes is just as good for your heart as exercise, said cardiologist Dr. Michael Miller of the University of Maryland. But don't underestimate the sad movies! Sad movies have a positive effect on your brain chemistry too. According to scientists from Oxford University, watching a traumatic movie can boost the production of endorphins, a chemical associated with increased pain tolerance. So, sad movies can actually make you feel good.

2. Boost your immune system

Movies can make you healthier! Researchers have found that watching horror films increases white blood cells, which are essential in injury recovery and fighting disease. But if you are one of the people with heart conditions, you should avoid scary movies. According to some scientists, laughter can boost your immune system and decrease the hormones of stress related to stress.

3. Help you cope with stress

Movies are the best tool for escaping reality. If you are feeling stressed and anxious, they can help you cope with stress. Romantic movies and comedies, for example, can help you overcome the issues in your real life. Comedies have been proven to decrease stress hormone levels and blood pressure. According to the study by the University of Maryland, comedies and movies that make people laugh, caused people’s blood vessels to dilate by 22%, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress.

4. Bring together families and couples

Movie nights bring together families, friends, and couples. They make us laugh and connect us, while we’re having time together. Now during Coronavirus, we all miss going to the cinema with our friends, or on a date. But if you want to have fun with your family and bring more positivity to your place, get a projector!

The projector is the ultimate entertainment device that will take your movie nights with family and friends to the next level. Ace of Spade Portable LED Projector, for example, features HDMI (up to 1080P), MMC, and AV inputs, therefore, this unit can project all your favorite movies up to a 60-inch screen! You can charge it via USB cable or keep it portable with an external power bank!  Get it in a summer subscription box by BREO BOX, grab some popcorn, and enjoy your private cinema projection!

Photo by  cottonbro  from  Pexels

5. inspire you to be a better person.

Do you have a favorite movie quote that you use whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation? If you do, that means that the film made a big impression on you. Even if you didn’t notice, movies have a major effect on real life, but also on our personal development.

Movies inspire us to be better people. It can inspire you to make positive changes in your life, forgive someone, makeup with your loved one, volunteer somewhere, or anything that will improve your life. Movies often teach us what's good and what's not, and certain events or sentences said by the main characters can motivate us to change our lives.

6. Help you learn new things

One of the biggest benefits of watching movies, especially when it comes to kids and young people, is learning new things. The youngest can expand their vocabulary and learn a foreign language by watching movies. A good documentary or an intelligent historical drama can educate you on important issues and events.

Also, watching movies can change our perspective on the people and issues we face every day. We can learn new languages, about other cultures, about historical events, and much more just by watching movies.

7. Make children more creative

One study found that kids who watched fantasy films like Harry Potter have scored significantly higher in tests of creativity. Such movies help them to develop creative ideas and use imagination in solving problems. And not only children, but many adults also get various creative ideas after watching an interesting movie.

8. Help us deal with difficult situations

Movies are not just a form of entertainment. They often teach us lessons and help us deal with difficult situations. According to Gary Solomon Ph.D., MPH, MSW, the author of two books on cinema therapy, if you’re facing some difficult life situation, you should choose movies with themes that mirror your current problems or situation. Let's give some examples.

If your loved one or someone in your family is struggling with addiction, try watching Clean and Sober or When a Man Loves a Woman. Another research found that the symbol of the ring in Lord of the Rings has been used by recovering addicts as a way of understanding their struggle. And if you’re coping with serious illness or death of a loved one, any movie with such a topic could help you with overcoming these issues.

Photo by  Andrea Piacquadio  from  Pexels

9. help you appreciate art.

Although movies are a form of entertainment in the first place, they are also a form of art. Pictures, costumes, sound design, architecture, theatre, and other elements of movies, are all part of the art. Many painters, designers, sculptors, musicians, and other artists work together to create a combination of all these arts, which is called a movie. Watching movies help us appreciate art and often make us interested in some kind of art or artist.

10. Escape from reality and entertainment

Sometimes, we just need to escape from reality for a while and get away from problems. And what better way to do that than watching movies in your cozy bed? Movies create a feeling of happiness and make us people laugh when nothing else can. Besides, movies were always one of the best kinds of entertainment. They’re something that will always improve your mood and make you have fun.

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Importance of watching movies

Watching a movie will relieve stress.

Nowadays lots of ways are there to watch films without dragging yourself to the movie theater. Moreover, many of them are even legal. We know that curling up on the couch with your Netflix subscription, let’s be realistic—some experiences are there that you can only get within the walls of your local cinema. A thing which many of us need to think about is a proper way to relieve our stress. The reason for this is that stress is something which can have a negatively impact on your health . It has been revealed that stress is caused by a continuous build-up of tension within the person and unless we release our stress we may end up with serious problems later on. Also, for those people who are feeling stressed, you should do something fun such as watching a movie?

Below we have provided you with some reasons as to the importance of watching movies and the reasons as to why we spend our hard-earned money to watch a new movie in the plush seats of a dark and chilly theater.

It helps to release stress: When we watch movies, it is a highly recommended way of releasing stress. The reason for this is that viewing a film transports the person into a different world where they will be able to forget their problems even for a few hours. It can also be said that viewing a film will not immediately erase the problems that you have in real life, you will at least be able to stop thinking of about those problems for some time meaning that your mind will be able to unclench itself. You should take into consideration that the mind is clenched like a ball whenever it is stressed. If you are in such a situation then the best antidote is to find a way to relax your mind before it clamps itself any further. A lot of emotions are aroused when we watch a movie: When we watch movies they arouse a lot of emotions. On watching a movie, we laugh, cry and are also filled with other emotions such us adventurousness or fear. Watching a movie provides us with an opportunity to express our emotions. Here are some more reasons as to why we should watch a movie:

• If you are aware of the fact that fiancée or your spouse loves watching a movie on the big screen, you will not have to hesitate. You can move forward without any hesitation.
• The movies are filled with emotions and feelings but also with ideas and assumptions. A movie is able to provide familiar story plots so that we are able to make meaning of our own lives.  They also provide order to the chaos of our world.  A movie is able to suggest to us what and who we should value and also as to what and who we should neglect.  In a nutshell, a movie teaches us as to how we should be and act.  However, we tend to watch movies instead of thinking about them, what they are telling us to do.  Asides from this many of us don’t want to think about watching a movie. This is why the movies are made in a way which teaches us to forget as to how we can think so that we are able to suck up the experience!
• There is no harm in watching the movies on the big screen: When you watch movies on the big screens it will in no way harm you.
• When you watch movies, a personal interaction is an important issue as there are many people who recommend going to the theater rather than watching a movie together. While watching a movie you may have to remain completely silent. There is also less scope for interaction. If this is the case then after the movie both of you may sit somewhere at the restaurant for a dinner. You will then have lots of opportunities to discuss a lot.
• You have always wanted to share your sorrows and joys. However, you have not felt the environment suitable enough: On having watched a movie together, you may want to have a conversation.
• You will be able to control your PC or laptop by using remote computer access.
• After watching a movie we discuss it: The storyline of the movie will make us tart talking. This is why both of you may find yourselves in deep conversation about reality and life. This will certainly lead you to a happier relationship. All in all, you are now familiar with regards to the importance of watching movies.

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According to Stephen King, This Is Why We Crave Horror Movies

The horror king breaks down our obsession with the macabre.

Stephen King and horror are synonymous. Are you really able to call yourself a fan of horror if one of his novels or film adaptations isn't among your top favorites? The Maine-born writer is hands down the most successful horror writer and one of the most beloved and prolific writers ever whose legacy spans generations. Without King, we might not be as terrified of clowns and or think twice about bullying the shy girl in school. One could say that King has earned the moniker, "the King of Horror." In addition to all he's written, King has also had over 60 adaptations of his work for television and the big screen and has written, produced, and starred in films and shows as well. He has fully immersed himself in the genre of horror from all sides, and it's unlikely that we will ever have anyone else like Stephen King. But did you know that King wrote an essay that was published in Playboy magazine about horror movies?

In 1981, King's essay titled " Why We Crave Horror Movies " was published in Playboy magazine as a variation of the chapter " The Horror Movie As Junk Food" in Danse Macabre . Danse Macabre was published in 1981 and is one of the non-fiction books in which that wrote about horror in media and how our fears and anxieties have been influencing the horror genre. The full article that was published is no longer online, but there is a shortened four-page version of it that can be found.

RELATED: The Iconic Horror Movie You Won't Believe Premiered at Cannes

Stephen King Believes We Are All Mentally Ill

The essay starts out guns blazing, the first line reading "I think that we're all mentally ill; those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little bit better." From here, he describes the general behaviors of people we know and how mannerisms and irrational fears are not different between the public and those in asylums. He points out that we pay money to sit in a theater and be scared to prove a point that we can and to show that we do not shy away from fear. Some of us, he states, even go watch horror movies for fun, which closes the gap between normalcy and insanity. A patron can go to the movies, and watch someone get mutilated and killed, and it's considered normal, everyday behavior. This, as a horror lover, feels very targeted. I absolutely watch horror movies for fun and I will do so with my bucket of heart-attack-buttered popcorn and sip on my Coke Zero. The most insane thing about all of that? The massive debt accumulated from one simple movie date.

Watching Horror Movies Allows Us to Release Our Insanity

King states that we use horror movies as a catharsis to act out our nightmares and the worst parts of us. Getting to watch the insanity and depravity on the movie screen allows us to release our inner insanity, which in turn, keeps us sane. He writes that watching horror movies allows us to let our emotions have little to no rein at all, and that is something that we don't always get to do in everyday life. Society has a set of parameters that we must follow with regard to expressing ourselves to maintain the air of normalcy and not be seen as a weirdo. When watching horror movies, we see incredibly visceral reactions in the most extreme of situations. This can cause the viewer to reflect on how they would react or respond to being in the same type of situation. Do we identify more with the victim or the villain? This poses an interesting thought for horror lovers because sometimes the villain is justified. Are we wrong for empathizing with them instead?

Let's take a look at one of the more popular horror movies of recent years. Mandy is about a woman who is murdered by a crazed cult because she is the object of the leader's obsession. This causes Red ( Nicolas Cage ) to ride off seeking revenge for the love of his life being murdered. There are also movies like I Spit On Your Grave and The Last House On The Left where the protagonist becomes the murderer in these instances because of the trauma they experienced from sexual assault. Their revenge makes audiences a little more willing to side with the murderer because they took back their power and those they killed got what was deserved. This is where that Lucille Bluth meme that says "good for her" is used. I'll die on the hill that those characters were justified and if that makes me mentally ill then King might be right!

What Does Stephen King Mean When He Tells Us to "Keep the Gators" Fed?

At the end of the essay, King mentions he likes to watch the most extreme horror movies because it releases a trap door where he can feed the alligators. The alligators he is referring to are a metaphor for the worst in all humans and the morbid fantasies that lie within each of us. The essay concludes with "It was Lennon and McCartney who said that all you need is love, and I would agree with that. As long as you keep the gators fed." From this, we can deduce that King feels we all have the ability to be institutionalized, but those of us that watch horror movies are less likely because the sick fantasies can be released from our brains.

With that release, we can walk down the street normally without the bat of an eye from walkers-by. Perhaps this is why the premise for movies like The Purge came to fruition. A movie where for 24 hours all crime, including murder, is decriminalized couldn't have been made by someone who doesn't get road rage or scream into the void. It was absolutely made by someone who waited at the DMV for too long or has had experience working in retail around Black Friday. With what King is saying, The Purge is a direct reflection of that catharsis. Not only are you getting to watch a crazy horror movie where everyone is shooting everyone and everything is on fire, but it's likely something you've had a thought or two about. You can consider those gators fed for sure.

Do Horror Movies Offer Us True Catharsis or Persuasive Perspective?

Catharsis as a concept was coined by the philosopher Aristotle . He explained that the performing arts are a way to purge negative types of emotions from our subconscious, so we don't have to hold onto them anymore. This viewpoint further perpetuates what King is trying to explain. With that cathartic relief, the urgency to act on negative emotion is less likely to happen because there is no build-up of negativity circling the drain from our subconscious to our reality. However, some who read the essay felt like King was just being persuasive and using fancy imagery rather than identifying an actual reason why horror is popular. Some claim the shock and awe factor of his words and his influence on horror would cause some readers to believe they are mentally ill deep down. I have to say, as a millennial who rummages through the ends of social media multiple times a day, everyone on the internet thinks they're mentally ill, and we all have the memes to prove it. It is exciting and fascinating to watch a horror movie after working a 9-5 job where the excitement is low. Watching Ghostface stalk Sidney Prescott ( Neve Campbell ) in Scream isn't everyone's idea of winding down, but for the last 20-something years, it has been my comfort movie when I'm feeling sad or down. The nostalgia of Scream is what makes it feel cathartic to me and that's free therapy!

What is the Science Behind Loving Horror Movies?

Psychology studies will tell us that individuals who crave and love horror are interested in it because they have a higher sensation-seeking trait . This means they have a higher penchant for wanting to experience thrilling and exciting situations. Those with a lower level of empathy are also more likely to enjoy horror movies as they will have a less innate response to a traumatic scene on screen. According to the DSM-V , a severe lack of empathy could potentially be a sign of a more serious psychological issue, however, the degree of severity will vary. I do love rollercoasters, but I also cry when I see a dog that is just too cute, so horror lovers aren't necessarily the unsympathetic robots that studies want us to be. Watching horror films can also trigger a fight-or-flight sensation , which will boost adrenaline and release endorphins and dopamine in the brain. Those chemicals being released make the viewers feel accomplished and positive, relating back to the idea that watching horror movies is cathartic for viewers.

Anyone who reads and studies research knows that correlation does not imply causation, but whether King's perspective is influenced by his position in the horror genre or not, psychology and science can back up the real reasons why audiences love horror movies. As a longtime horror lover and a pretty above-average horror trivia nerd, I have to wonder if saying we are mentally ill is an overstatement and could maybe be identified more as horror lovers seeking extreme stimulus. Granted, this essay was written over 40 years ago, so back then liking horror wasn't as widely accepted as it is today. It's possible that King felt more out of place for his horror love back then and the alienation of a fringe niche made him feel mentally ill. Is King onto something by assuming that everyone has mental illness deep down, or is this a gross overestimation of the human psyche? The answer likely falls somewhere in between, but those that love horror will continue to release that catharsis through the terrifying and the unknown because it's a scream, baby!

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The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu

An unusual outbreak of the disease has spread to dairy herds in multiple u.s. states..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise, and this is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The outbreak of bird flu that is tearing through the nation’s poultry farms is the worst in US history. But scientists say it’s now starting to spread into places and species it’s never been before.

Today, my colleague, Emily Anthes, explains.

It’s Monday, April 22.

Emily, welcome back to the show.

Thanks for having me. Happy to be here.

So, Emily, we’ve been talking here on “The Daily” about prices of things and how they’ve gotten so high, mostly in the context of inflation episodes. And one of the items that keeps coming up is eggs. Egg prices were through the roof last year, and we learned it was related to this. Avian flu has been surging in the United States. You’ve been covering this. Tell us what’s happening.

Yes, so I have been covering this virus for the last few years. And the bird flu is absolutely tearing through poultry flocks, and that is affecting egg prices. That’s a concern for everyone, for me and for my family. But when it comes to scientists, egg prices are pretty low on their list of concerns. Because they see this bird flu virus behaving differently than previous versions have. And they’re getting nervous, in particular, about the fact that this virus is reaching places and species where it’s never been before.

OK, so bird flu, though, isn’t new. I mean I remember hearing about cases in Asia in the ‘90s. Remind us how it began.

Bird flu refers to a bunch of different viruses that are adapted to spread best in birds. Wild water birds, in particular, are known for carrying these viruses. And flu viruses are famous for also being shapeshifters. So they’re constantly swapping genes around and evolving into new strains. And as you mentioned back in the ‘90s, a new version of bird flu, a virus known as H5N1, emerged in Asia. And it has been spreading on and off around the world since then, causing periodic outbreaks.

And how are these outbreaks caused?

So wild birds are the reservoir for the virus, which means they carry it in their bodies with them around the world as they fly and travel and migrate. And most of the time, these wild birds, like ducks and geese, don’t even get very sick from this virus. But they shed it. So as they’re traveling over a poultry farm maybe, if they happen to go to the bathroom in a pond that the chickens on the farm are using or eat some of the feed that chickens on the farm are eating, they can leave the virus behind.

And the virus can get into chickens. In some cases, it causes mild illness. It’s what’s known as low pathogenic avian influenza. But sometimes the virus mutates and evolves, and it can become extremely contagious and extremely fatal in poultry.

OK, so the virus comes through wild birds, but gets into farms like this, as you’re describing. How have farms traditionally handled outbreaks, when they do happen?

Well, because this threat isn’t new, there is a pretty well-established playbook for containing outbreaks. It’s sometimes known as stamping out. And brutally, what it means is killing the birds. So the virus is so deadly in this highly pathogenic form that it’s sort of destined to kill all the birds on a farm anyway once it gets in. So the response has traditionally been to proactively depopulate or cull all the birds, so it doesn’t have a chance to spread.

So that’s pretty costly for farmers.

It is. Although the US has a program where it will reimburse farmers for their losses. And the way these reimbursements work is they will reimburse farmers only for the birds that are proactively culled, and not for those who die naturally from the virus. And the thinking behind that is it’s a way to incentivize farmers to report outbreaks early.

So, OK, lots of chickens are killed in a way to manage these outbreaks. So we know how to deal with them. But what about now? Tell me about this new strain.

So this new version of the virus, it emerged in 2020.

After the deadly outbreak of the novel coronavirus, authorities have now confirmed an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of influenza, a kind of bird flu.

And pretty quickly it became clear that a couple things set it apart.

A bald eagle found dead at Carvins Cove has tested positive for the highly contagious bird flu.

This virus, for whatever reason, seemed very good at infecting all sorts of wild birds that we don’t normally associate with bird flu.

[BIRD CRYING]

He was kind of stepping, and then falling over, and using its wing to right itself.

Things like eagles and condors and pelicans.

We just lost a parliament of owls in Minneapolis.

Yeah, a couple of high profile nests.

And also in the past, wild birds have not traditionally gotten very sick from this virus. And this version of the virus not only spread widely through the wild bird population, but it proved to be devastating.

The washing up along the East Coast of the country from Scotland down to Suffolk.

We were hearing about mass die-offs of seabirds in Europe by the hundreds and the thousands.

And the bodies of the dead dot the island wherever you look.

Wow. OK. So then as we know, this strain, like previous ones, makes its way from wild animals to farmed animals, namely to chickens. But it’s even more deadly.

Absolutely. And in fact, it has already caused the worst bird flu outbreak in US history. So more than 90 million birds in the US have died as a result of this virus.

90 million birds.

Yes, and I should be clear that represents two things. So some of those birds are birds who naturally got infected and died from the virus. But the vast majority of them are birds that were proactively culled. What it adds up to is, is 90 million farmed birds in the US have died since this virus emerged. And it’s not just a chicken problem. Another thing that has been weird about this virus is it has jumped into other kinds of farms. It is the first time we’ve seen a bird flu virus jump into US livestock.

And it’s now been reported on a number of dairy farms across eight US states. And that’s just something that’s totally unprecedented.

So it’s showing up at Dairy farms now. You’re saying that bird flu has now spread to cows. How did that happen?

So we don’t know exactly how cows were first infected, but most scientists’ best guess is that maybe an infected wild bird that was migrating shed the virus into some cattle feed or a pasture or a pond, and cattle picked it up. The good news is they don’t seem to get nearly as sick as chickens do. They are generally making full recoveries on their own in a couple of weeks.

OK, so no mass culling of cows?

No, that doesn’t seem to be necessary at this point. But the bad news is that it’s starting to look like we’re seeing this virus spread from cow to cow. We don’t know exactly how that’s happening yet. But anytime you see cow-to-cow or mammal-to-mammal transmission, that’s a big concern.

And why is that exactly?

Well, there are a bunch of reasons. First, it could allow the outbreak to get much bigger, much faster, which might increase the risk to the food supply. And we might also expect it to increase the risk to farm workers, people who might be in contact with these sick cows.

Right now, the likelihood that a farmer who gets this virus passes it on is pretty low. But any time you see mammal-to-mammal transmission, it increases the chance that the virus will adapt and possibly, maybe one day get good at spreading between humans. To be clear, that’s not something that there’s any evidence happening in cows right now. But the fact that there’s any cow-to-cow transmission happening at all is enough to have scientists a bit concerned.

And then if we think more expansively beyond what’s happening on farms, there’s another big danger lurking out there. And that’s what happens when this virus gets into wild animals, vast populations that we can’t control.

We’ll be right back.

So, Emily, you said that another threat was the threat of flu in wild animal populations. Clearly, of course, it’s already in wild birds. Where else has it gone?

Well, the reason it’s become such a threat is because of how widespread it’s become in wild birds. So they keep reintroducing it to wild animal populations pretty much anywhere they go. So we’ve seen the virus repeatedly pop up in all sorts of animals that you might figure would eat a wild bird, so foxes, bobcats, bears. We actually saw it in a polar bear, raccoons. So a lot of carnivores and scavengers.

The thinking is that these animals might stumble across a sick or dead bird, eat it, and contract the virus that way. But we’re also seeing it show up in some more surprising places, too. We’ve seen the virus in a bottle-nosed dolphin, of all places.

And most devastatingly, we’ve seen enormous outbreaks in other sorts of marine mammals, especially sea lions and seals.

So elephant seals, in particular in South America, were just devastated by this virus last fall. My colleague Apoorva Mandavilli and I were talking to some scientists in South America who described to us what they called a scene from hell, of walking out onto a beach in Argentina that is normally crowded with chaotic, living, breathing, breeding, elephant seals — and the beach just being covered by carcass, after carcass, after carcass.

Mostly carcasses of young newborn pups. The virus seemed to have a mortality rate of 95 percent in these elephant seal pups, and they estimated that it might have killed more than 17,000 of the pups that were born last year. So almost the entire new generation of this colony. These are scientists that have studied these seals for decades. And they said they’ve never seen anything like it before.

And why is it so far reaching, Emily? I mean, what explains these mass die-offs?

There are probably a few explanations. One is just how much virus is out there in the environment being shed by wild birds into water and onto beaches. These are also places that viruses like this haven’t been before. So it’s reaching elephant seals and sea lions in South America that have no prior immunity.

There’s also the fact that these particular species, these sea lions and seals, tend to breed in these huge colonies all crowded together on beaches. And so what that means is if a virus makes its way into the colony, it’s very conducive conditions for it to spread. And scientists think that that’s actually what’s happening now. That it’s not just that all these seals are picking up the virus from individual birds, but that they’re actually passing it to each other.

So basically, this virus is spreading to places it’s never been before, kind of virgin snow territory, where animals just don’t have the immunity against it. And once it gets into a population packed on a beach, say, of elephant seals, it’s just like a knife through butter.

Absolutely. And an even more extreme example of that is what we’re starting to see happen in Antarctica, where there’s never been a bird flu outbreak before until last fall, for the first time, this virus reached the Antarctic mainland. And we are now seeing the virus move through colonies of not only seabirds and seals, but penguin colonies, which have not been exposed to these viruses before.

And it’s too soon to say what the toll will be. But penguins also, of course, are known for breeding in these large colonies.

Probably. don’t have many immune defenses against this virus, and of course, are facing all these other environmental threats. And so there’s a lot of fear that you add on the stress of a bird flu virus, and it could just be a tipping point for penguins.

Emily, at this point, I’m kind of wondering why more people aren’t talking about this. I mean, I didn’t know any of this before having this conversation with you, and it feels pretty worrying.

Well, a lot of experts and scientists are talking about this with rising alarm and in terms that are quite stark. They’re talking about the virus spreading through wild animal populations so quickly and so ferociously that they’re calling it an ecological disaster.

But that’s a disaster that sometimes seems distant from us, both geographically, we’re talking about things that are happening maybe at the tip of Argentina or in Antarctica. And also from our concerns of our everyday lives, what’s happening in Penguins might not seem like it has a lot to do with the price of a carton of eggs at the grocery store. But I think that we should be paying a lot of attention to how this virus is moving through animal populations, how quickly it’s moving through animal populations, and the opportunities that it is giving the virus to evolve into something that poses a much bigger threat to human health.

So the way it’s spreading in wild animals, even in remote places like Antarctica, that’s important to watch, at least in part because there’s a real danger to people here.

So we know that the virus can infect humans, and that generally it’s not very good at spreading between humans. But the concern all along has been that if this virus has more opportunities to spread between mammals, it will get better at spreading between them. And that seems to be what is happening in seals and sea lions. Scientists are already seeing evidence that the virus is adapting as it passes from marine mammal to marine mammal. And that could turn it into a virus that’s also better at spreading between people.

And if somebody walks out onto a beach and touches a dead sea lion, if their dog starts playing with a sea lion carcass, you could imagine that this virus could make its way out of marine mammals and into the human population. And if it’s this mammalian adapted version of the virus that makes its way out, that could be a bigger threat to human health.

So the sheer number of hosts that this disease has, the more opportunity it has to mutate, and the more chance it has to mutate in a way that would actually be dangerous for people.

Yes, and in particular, the more mammalian hosts. So that gives the virus many more opportunities to become a specialist in mammals instead of a specialist in birds, which is what it is right now.

Right. I like that, a specialist in mammals. So what can we do to contain this virus?

Well, scientists are exploring new options. There’s been a lot of discussion about whether we should start vaccinating chickens in the US. The government, USDA labs, have been testing some poultry vaccines. It’s probably scientifically feasible. There are challenges there, both in terms of logistics — just how would you go about vaccinating billions of chickens every year. There are also trade questions. Traditionally, a lot of countries have not been willing to accept poultry products from countries that vaccinate their poultry.

And there’s concern about whether the virus might spread undetected in flocks that are vaccinated. So as we saw with COVID, the vaccine can sometimes stop you from getting sick, but it doesn’t necessarily stop infection. And so countries are worried they might unknowingly import products that are harboring the virus.

And what about among wild animals? I mean, how do you even begin to get your head around that?

Yeah, I mean, thinking about vaccinating wild animals maybe makes vaccinating all the chickens in the US look easy. There has been some discussion of limited vaccination campaigns, but that’s not feasible on a global scale. So unfortunately, the bottom line is there isn’t a good way to stop spread in wild animals. We can try to protect some vulnerable populations, but we’re not going to stop the circulation of this virus.

So, Emily, we started this conversation with a kind of curiosity that “The Daily” had about the price of eggs. And then you explained the bird flu to us. And then somehow we ended up learning about an ecological disaster that’s unfolding all around us, and potentially the source of the next human pandemic. That is pretty scary.

It is scary, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it. And I feel like I should take a step back and say none of this is inevitable. None of this is necessarily happening tomorrow. But this is why scientists are concerned and why they think it’s really important to keep a very close eye on what’s happening both on farms and off farms, as this virus spreads through all sorts of animal populations.

One thing that comes up again and again and again in my interviews with people who have been studying bird flu for decades, is how this virus never stops surprising them. And sometimes those are bad surprises, like these elephant seal die-offs, the incursions into dairy cattle. But there are some encouraging signs that have emerged recently. We’re starting to see some early evidence that some of the bird populations that survived early brushes with this virus might be developing some immunity. So that’s something that maybe could help slow the spread of this virus in animal populations.

We just don’t entirely know how this is going to play out. Flu is a very difficult, wily foe. And so that’s one reason scientists are trying to keep such a close, attentive eye on what’s happening.

Emily, thank you.

Thanks for having me.

Here’s what else you should know today.

On this vote, the yeas are 366 and the nays are 58. The bill is passed.

On Saturday, in four back-to-back votes, the House voted resoundingly to approve a long-stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and other American allies, delivering a major victory to President Biden, who made aid to Ukraine one of his top priorities.

On this vote, the yeas are 385, and the no’s are 34 with one answering present. The bill is passed without objection.

The House passed the component parts of the $95 billion package, which included a bill that could result in a nationwide ban of TikTok.

On this vote, the yeas are 311 and the nays are 112. The bill is passed.

Oh, one voting present. I missed it, but thank you.

In a remarkable breach of custom, Democrats stepped in to supply the crucial votes to push the legislation past hard-line Republican opposition and bring it to the floor.

The House will be in order.

The Senate is expected to pass the legislation as early as Tuesday.

Today’s episode was produced by Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Eric Krupke, and Alex Stern. It was edited by Lisa Chow and Patricia Willens; contains original music by Marion Lozano, Dan Powell, Rowan Niemisto, and Sophia Lanman; and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Andrew Jacobs.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• April 24, 2024   •   32:18 Is $60 Billion Enough to Save Ukraine?
• April 23, 2024   •   30:30 A Salacious Conspiracy or Just 34 Pieces of Paper?
• April 22, 2024   •   24:30 The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu
• April 19, 2024   •   30:42 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
• April 18, 2024   •   30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
• April 17, 2024   •   24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
• April 16, 2024   •   29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin
• April 15, 2024   •   24:07 Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel
• April 14, 2024   •   46:17 The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’
• April 12, 2024   •   34:23 How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam
• April 11, 2024   •   28:39 The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics
• April 10, 2024   •   22:49 Trump’s Abortion Dilemma

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Produced by Rikki Novetsky ,  Nina Feldman ,  Eric Krupke and Alex Stern

Edited by Lisa Chow and Patricia Willens

Original music by Marion Lozano ,  Dan Powell ,  Rowan Niemisto and Sophia Lanman

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

The outbreak of bird flu currently tearing through the nation’s poultry is the worst in U.S. history. Scientists say it is now spreading beyond farms into places and species it has never been before.

Emily Anthes, a science reporter for The Times, explains.

On today’s episode

Emily Anthes , a science reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading

Scientists have faulted the federal response to bird flu outbreaks on dairy farms .

Here’s what to know about the outbreak.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Special thanks to Andrew Jacobs .

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

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I work from a cruise ship for 3 months a year. Here's how I stay productive at sea.

• Walter Biscardi runs his travel business remotely from cruise ships for three months each year.
• He said WiFi reliability has improved, but video calls and finding power outlets can be challenging.
• Biscardi recommends Virgin Voyages for remote workers because of the spaces to work and the WiFi.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Walter Biscardi, a 59-year-old travel agent based in Orlando. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I used to work in film, television, documentary, and marketing, and I ran two creative agencies in Atlanta for 25 years.

A few years ago, my wife and I turned my second passion, travel, into " Where's Walter Travel ." We specialize in travel planning services for cruises , group vacations, theme park tours, and company retreats.

We live in an Orlando rental, but I run the travel-planning business from a cruise ship for three months out of the year.

We started taking advantage of our remote working situation after the pandemic

In a few short years of working on cruise ships, I've noticed that more and more people are starting to do the same thing.

We predominantly cruise the Caribbean. Last year, our three months were spread over six different trips on the Royal Caribbean , Oceania , Virgin Voyages , and Carnival cruise lines. If it were up to me, I'd be at sea for six months a year, but my wife prefers three.

This year, we'll be back on Virgin Voyages in June and on the Sun Princess in October. We're planning a few more, too.

WiFi speed and reliability onboard ships have been game-changers

I don't always look for speed but rather consistency and reliability.

Even though the WiFi is reliable on most ships , it's still not perfect, and you need to manage your expectations. The WiFi on ships is satellite-based, so the signal will be slower if there's a lot of cloud cover. Rain may also temporarily cut it out completely.

The WiFi signal in rooms can be weak. When I get on board, I walk around public places, look at the ceiling, and find the repeaters , which amplify the router's signal . I park myself under a repeater to work, so at least I know I'm getting the fastest signal.

Video calls can be dicey, but voice calls over WiFi work well

Most of my work is using emails, social media apps, and a web browser, so I don't tend to have problems. The upload speed is the most difficult thing about working on a cruise ship.

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Working from a cruise ship might not be for you if you're required to upload a video to YouTube or be on video for 100% of your Zoom calls. Zoom with video turned off works well. I post TikToks all day, but uploading to YouTube will fail almost every time.

Turn off your cell service on the ship, even if you have unlimited roaming overseas. Phones use satellite maritime cellular, and it's ridiculously expensive. I've heard of people who have come home with $1,000 cellular bills because they didn't turn off their roaming.

I can typically make most of my calls over WiFi, but you won't be able to on some ships. Texting from ship to land usually works well if you're using the same type of phone as the person you're messaging, but when you're texting cross-platform, sometimes it doesn't work.

Finding power outlets can be challenging

Typically, if you need to put in a full day of work connected to power, you need to stay in your room. One tip to finding power when you're looking around public areas is to see where they plug in the vacuum cleaners.

I strongly recommend bringing a powerboard with multiple USB sockets. I have one with 10 USB connections, so I can charge my phone, GoPro, and other devices simultaneously.

Virgin Voyages ships are the most friendly for remote workers

The galley on a Virgin Voyages ship is set up like a coffee shop, with easily accessible power and USB sockets at the table. There are dozens of outlets, as they're inviting people to bring their laptops and work from the ship.

I usually upgrade to the premium WiFi option, which can cost anywhere from $19 to $39 per day on most lines, but Virgin only charges $10 per day to upgrade.

I work in an office at home, so working on a cruise is a big change

I operate at sea as I do on land, with the same office hours available to my clients other than when I know we're going on an excursion.

Cruise ships are comparable to remote working spaces, but they offer so much more. On a cruise, almost everything is included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, entertainment, and most amenities.

If I want to take a break from work, I go to the pool. When I finish for the day, I'll go to the theater to see a show.

Meeting places are usually free on a cruise ship. Generally, all you have to do is reserve a conference room. AV facilities are usually included too, although you may have to pay a setup fee.

Remember to be respectful — many people are on board for a vacation. I've been out by the pool and seen people taking business calls on speakerphone, which is ridiculously annoying.

I suggest picking at least one port on every cruise and make it a 'ship day'

About 75% of people will get off the ship at any port, so staying on board feels like you have the whole place to yourself.

Activities like the pools will still be open, and the spas will often discount their services by 20-40% on port days.

Of course, I still recommend getting off and exploring as much as possible — that's what cruises are for.

Watch: Cruise ship captain breaks down 8 cruise ship disasters in movies and TV

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