The Energon Pub

And don't give me an answer with just a movie title alone, what are they exactly? From what I have heard the term 'popcorn movie' stands for pile of filth, or a waste of time. Other times I hear it be used for describing a great movie going experience.

So what is a popcorn movie exactly?

For me personally, it's every movie. Just depends on how you're eating the popcorn and liking the movie.

"Popcorn movie" generally describes a movie with little to no plot, but a lot of great action sequences, where you can avoid thinking and put more brain power into eating delicious theater-corn.

The Borne Movies are great examples of these. I had no real idea what was going on, but damn if that didn't have some cool action scenes.

If you hear the term "popcorn movie" in the context of filth, then that person is extremely snide.

Popcorn movies are like what Shadowman said. All the Superhero movies that are coming out are popcorn movies. Popcorn movies are not serious, and if they are, it's a fun sort of serious.

Lord of the Rings is about as serious as a popcorn movie can be.


The most recent movie I watched was Videodrome. That is not a popcorn movie.

If that's the case then why do people call the work of James Cameron popcorn entertainment when T-2 and Aliens took themselves pretty seriously, and had alot of plot for them.

Keeperofthespark wrote:If that's the case then why do people call the work of James Cameron popcorn entertainment when T-2 and Aliens took themselves pretty seriously, and had alot of plot for them.

To be honest, I was watching Aliens more for the parts with Aliens killing people and being shot. Also for the Sigourney Weaver hotness.

Transformers was a popcorn movie according to Jefferey Lyons of NBC's Reel Talk
So popcorn movie to me, means that it is a fun time at the movie theater.

I think its been answered but lets try it in the way you think you didn't want it answered and see if that helps any now.

Popcorn Movie:
40 Year Old Virgin
Iron Man (insert any comic movie here)
Indiana Jones (insert clones here, Mummy or National Tresure)
Saw,Hostel - most horror or suspense flicks

Non-Popcorn Movie:
Lions for Lambs
Charlie Wilsons War
Departed
Michael Clayton

Does that help any now that upthread some explanations have been given to clarify the term?

Shadowman wrote:

Keeperofthespark wrote:If that's the case then why do people call the work of James Cameron popcorn entertainment when T-2 and Aliens took themselves pretty seriously, and had alot of plot for them.

To be honest, I was watching Aliens more for the parts with Aliens killing people and being shot. Also for the Sigourney Weaver hotness.

Yes.


T2 and Aliens did not take themselves pretty seriously. Schindler's List took itself pretty seriously. Amistad took itself pretty seriously. Good Will Hunting took itself pretty seriously.

Aliens and T2 are popcorn movies because even after all the serious stuff in them, they were still more about action, explosions, hot chicks, special effects, and cool monsters.

You have to put it in perspective.


Out of these five movies all with very serious plots and stories, two are popcorn movies, two are not, and one is a gray area:

Eraserhead
First Blood
Jacob's Ladder
Trainspotting
Punisher

It should be easy to tell which are which, even if you haven't seen all of them. Mostly because the popcorn movie will almost always also be famous, and even if it has a serious tone, it is still mostly about the action.


For instance, two of those movies (First Blood and Jacob's Ladder) are about troubled Vietnam veterans, but only one of them is about an ass-kicking troubled Vietnam veteran (First Blood). Which would be the popcorn movie?


Another example: A truly serious movie about a man who lost his family would not follow his path of revenge as he stalks and kills everyone responsible, unless he wasn't supposed to also be the hero. A serious drama about revenge would probably reflect on the irony and horror of the human condition, and make the vengeful man into just as terrible of a figure as the killers.

A popcorn movie about revenge (Punisher) would do all that, but at the same time it would also expect you to root for him and cheer for each killing. It would be an overall fun experience, whereas the truly serious one would be challenging you and making you reflect on the tragedy.


Yet another example: A movie (Eraserhead) about a man with a mutated baby might be silly or serious. It all depends on the tone. Is it shown as sad? Is it shown as funny? Is it shown as just plain strange and creepy? Some people get their thrills out of strange and creepy, so for them it's popcorn, but most people, if it's strange and creepy enough, will probably walk away in a more serious and reflective mood.


And the final example: A truly serious movie might also make you laugh, but I've yet to see a movie about the depths of heroin addiction (Trainspotting) that isn't meant to make you think and reflect on society.


So basically, a popcorn movie that is also serious would still contain more thrills than seriousness. I can't comment on horror movies because I don't watch them, but I would venture to say that the Saw movies are popcorn movies because the gory traps in them are supposed to be the "good parts", so it has more thrills and excitement than seriousness about the deaths onscreen.