Nowadays, if you look at the box office list, you will see that most of the highest-grossing films are action films. Be it Pathaan, Jawan, RRR, Pushpa, KGF, Animal or Bahubali, all of them are very popular among the audience. The same pattern is seen in Hollywood as well – films like Avatar, Avengers, Star Wars, Spider-Man, and Jurassic World make record-breaking earnings every year. Now, big films like War 2 and Superman are going to be released, whose trailers garner millions of views even before their release.
But the question is, why is there so much demand for action films? Let’s understand this in simple language.
Childhood memories and the thrill of action
In the 90s and 2000s, while watching a movie on TV, we used to enjoy the fight scene at the end of the film the most. The face-off between the hero and the villain, the late arrival of the police and the fierce fighting in between – all this used to keep us glued to our seats. Movies of that time, like Deewaar, Tirangaa, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, not only gave action but also drama, comedy, and a social message.
But gradually, the makers saw that the audience waited for fight scenes, so they filled the entire movie with action. This trend was already there in Hollywood – movies like Die Hard, Terminator, Mission Impossible increased the craze for bodybuilder heroes and smart stunts.
Simple story, big characters
In most action movies, the story is not very complicated. The hero is good and the villain is bad. The audience knows from the beginning who to support. Because of this, characters with grey shades (where the difference between right and wrong is not clear) are rarely seen.
The hero is always shown in big sets, high-octane action and stylish fights. Like in YRF Spy Universe, Tiger, Kabir, Pathaan and now Vikram of War 2 – all go on the biggest missions. These films are based on themes like patriotism, terrorism and big danger.
Brain science is also behind it.
The fun of action films is not just in watching with the eyes; the brain also feels it. There are cells called “Mirror Neurons” in our brain, which make us feel the same as if we are doing it ourselves when we see someone doing an action. That is why when the hero defeats the villain, we also feel a sense of victory.
Loud music, camera angles, and fast cuts excite our brains more. This is the reason why action films take us away from everyday tension for 2 hours.
Family audience and comic-book violence
In most popular action films, the violence is of “comic-book style“. Meaning there is a lot of fighting, but not much bloodshed is shown. This is why these can also be watched with the family with a PG-13 or U/A rating.
But some films show excessively raw and disturbing violence, which makes the audience uncomfortable. Such films are often controversial and can have a negative impact on society.
Action with art
Action films can be made not only for earning money, but also in an artistic way. Films like Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and The Matrix have proved that action can also be accompanied by great story and cinematography.
Easy language, global appeal
The biggest strength of action films is that they do not require language to understand them. Even without dialogue, their scenes are understood everywhere. This is the reason why they can be a hit in any part of the world and give more profit than films of other genres.
In the coming time, the audience is going to get the same fast-paced action and thrill from films like War 2, Pathaan 2 and Superman. The hope is that the makers will focus not just on big sets and fights, but also on a good story and memorable characters, so that these films are not just “popcorn entertainment” but are remembered for a long time.
My name is Farhad Dawar and I am graduate of the Institute of Media and Communication Studies Bahaddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan. I’m passionate about journalism and media, and I believe in journalism of courage, uncovering the truth, and shaping the future.
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
