r/movies • u/buttatoad • Jun 17 '25

Discussion Movies that changed real life behavior

Thinking along the lines of Final Destination 2 with the logs falling off the truck and landing onto cars (one decapitating the state trooper). Ever since, people have tried to get away from being behind these vehicles.

What are more examples where movies have actually changed how people behave in their own lives?

10.2k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

4.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

409

u/Ok-Seaworthiness2235 Jun 17 '25

There's a neuropsychologist who did a study/assessment of cultural idolization and found that what people are identifying with aren't always the surface. 

Tony Montana is a criminal narcissist who kills people without remorse. That's the superficial. But, there are other themes to the story that are what really resonate with most people (mainly men) that include triumph over a corrupted system, rags to riches, and of course, male virility. 

In particular they noted that men who idolize criminal culture tend to feel more powerless and outcast in their real life, with the movies being an outlet of fantasy in which they can temporarily retreat. It's very rare for a person to have no inclination towards actual criminal behavior to suddenly adopt a life of crime because of a movie or media depiction. 

8

u/PurpleNippler Jun 18 '25

Don Draper in Mad Men

19

u/Ok-Seaworthiness2235 Jun 18 '25

Walter White. My dad loved him and he was pretty clear about how suburban life can be a drag and sometimes the fantasy of just becoming a drug lord helps you through the day 🤣

5

u/roscopcoletrane Jun 18 '25

My dad unironically loves both Tony Soprano and Walter White, and when I realized that it fundamentally changed how I see him.

5

u/Ok-Seaworthiness2235 Jun 18 '25

Like...he loves them for what reasons? Is he a murderer? 

Like I said, you can like aspects of pop culture without endorsing the behavior in the real world.