RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

The key to financial success and happiness: Watch more movies

10th February 2012 Print

New research reveals that the more films people watch, the more financially successful and happier they are.
 
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, an expert in personality and psychological profiling at Goldsmiths College in London, monitored 1,000 adults over a 12 month period and discovered that avid film fans (those who watch over 100 movies a year, an average of two films a week) say they are 15 per cent happier than occasional film viewers (those who watch 50 films or less a year). Happiness was measured on a scale of well-being, levels of anxiety and general life satisfaction.
 
The ‘Movie Medicine’ academic report, commissioned by LOVEFiLM, discovered that the rate of happiness increased by one per cent for every additional 10 movies a person watched a year. It also revealed a correlation between the amount of movies a person watches and their professional success with an avid film fan (watching over 100 films a year) earning 26 per cent more – and being 40 per cent less anxious about their jobs – than those who were classed as occasional film viewers.
 
Amazon-owned LOVEFiLM has taken the findings of the report and requested a meeting with members of the Government, including Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley MP, as well as some of the biggest UK companies to discuss how better access to a wider selection of movies could have a positive impact on people’s health, well-being and professional productivity.
 
Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, from Goldsmiths College London, comments:
 “The benefit of watching more movies is that your social brain studies the events on the screen and begins to relate to, and learn from, the characters and their experiences – indeed 65 per cent of the people analysed claim to have dealt with real-life scenarios based on what they have seen in a film. The research suggests that the act of watching film enables people to disconnect from everyday life, but also opens up our imaginations to be better prepared to make real-life decisions – with the analysis pointing to an end result of increased financial success and happiness.”
 
The top ten films that are likely to boost levels of happiness are as follows:

1. Finding Nemo
2. The Da Vinci Code
3. Casino Royale
4. Bruce Almighty
5. The Shawshank Redemption
6. Lord of the Rings (series)
7. Indiana Jones (series)
8. The Pursuit of Happyness
9. Hairspray
10. When Harry Met Sally
 
Helen Cowley, Editor or LOVEFiLM, comments: “In the current gloomy economic climate, we’re confident that LOVEFiLM can go some way towards putting the joy and drive back into the daily lives of Britons.”

LOVEFiLM has a huge catalogue of films to watch instantly on a range of platforms for as little as £4.99 per month – providing an antidote to winter lethargy and an extra boost. This year film fans have exclusive access to favourites like Unknown, The Hangover, Submarine and Source Code.