What do You Consider a 'Popcorn' movie?

[bluearth]

I was at another forum and a guy said any movie where you have to wear 3D glasses is a popcorn movie.

For me its not that simple.

In short, for me a popcorn movie is a film that is extremely formulaic, that never tries to excel past basic tropes, a film with poorly fleshed out characters, motives, and mythology if its part of the movie. Doesnt necessarily make it a bad film, but it does reduce it to 'popcorn' movie status in my view.

A good example of a popcorn movie for me is Independence Day. What makes it a popcorn movie to me? For starters the enemies are just bad guys with a simple motive, they arent fleshed out at all. There is minimal investment into the mythology of the Independence Day aliens. Theres throwaway 'emotional' moments like the sacrifice at the end, but you dont really care that much because of how formulaic everything was. Still a good movie, but its a 'popcorn' movie to me.

[Scottie]

While I never really understood the term, I always interpreted a "popcorn" film as like an insanely fun summer blockbuster hit.

I never really eat popcorn when watching movies, so I technically don't have one. The last time that I watched a film and ate popcorn at the same time was during Hitman on Blu-ray a few months ago. It was the first time I had popcorn in a good couple years.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by bluearth

I was at another forum and a guy said any movie where you have to wear 3D glasses is a popcorn movie.

For me its not that simple.

In short, for me a popcorn movie is a film that is extremely formulaic, that never tries to excel past basic tropes, a film with poorly fleshed out characters, motives, and mythology if its part of the movie. Doesnt necessarily make it a bad film, but it does reduce it to 'popcorn' movie status in my view.

A good example of a popcorn movie for me is Independence Day. What makes it a popcorn movie to me? For starters the enemies are just bad guys with a simple motive, they arent fleshed out at all. There is minimal investment into the mythology of the Independence Day aliens. Theres throwaway 'emotional' moments like the sacrifice at the end, but you dont really care that much because of how formulaic everything was. Still a good movie, but its a 'popcorn' movie to me.

That's actually a pretty apt description. Things like 'White House Down' were nothing more than a popcorn film, 'Independence Day', 'Transformers', etc. These are the films that know they're ridiculous, so instead of trying to be serious, it just goes for being fun. Even if it is over the top and ridiculous, the movie knows it, and accepts that. Sometimes, popcorn films and a thinking man's film can crossover into each other, and you get smarter popcorn films, but in the end, I just see them as the ones that aren't bashful about being fun for the sake of fun.

[jamesdevil]

It doesn't have a negative connotation for me.

Usually a large, summer, tentpole type film that isn't dense or deep but is still super palatable and overall enjoyable.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

That's actually a pretty apt description. Things like 'White House Down' was nothing more than a popcorn film, 'Independence Day', 'Transformers', etc. These are the films that know they're ridiculous, so instead of trying to be serious, it just goes for being fun. Even if it is over the top and ridiculous, the movie knows it, and accepts that. Sometimes, popcorn films and a thinking man's film can crossover into each other, and you get smarter popcorn films, but in the end, I just see them as the ones that aren't bashful about being fun for the sake of fun.

This.

[Infernal King]

I hate the term 'popcorn movie' and therefore never use it.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by jamesdevil

It doesn't have a negative connotation for me.

Usually a large, summer, tentpole type film that isn't dense or deep but is still super palatable and overall enjoyable.

THIS exactly. I hate that people automatically think "popcorn" flick is a negative thing. The majority of my all-time favorite films would probably be considered "popcorn".

[Abdrewes]

My Popcorn Flick radar is all loopy. For me, "slow", plotless headscratchers are the pinnacle of popcorn munching glory

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Gate

I hate the term 'popcorn movie' and therefore never use it.

Why? It's an apt description of a fun summer blockbuster, I think. There's nothing negative or bad about it, at least in my mind.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Why? It's an apt description of a fun summer blockbuster, I think. There's nothing negative or bad about it, at least in my mind.

I can't put my finger on it exactly but the main reason is because I dislike how people use it to defend crappy movies.

Also I don't eat popcorn.

[cinemaphile]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0DeqGDuSoE

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Gate

I can't put my finger on it exactly but the main reason is because I dislike how people use it to defend crappy movies.

Also I don't eat popcorn.

I don't see it as defending crappy movies. I see it as taking a movie at face value, that's just trying to be fun. There's a difference between a crappy movie (The Hangover 3, A Good Day to Die Hard), lazy movies (The Lone Ranger), and popcorn movies (White House Down). Of course, that's my opinion.

[Captain Kirk]

Brit vs. U.S. Movies - Eddie Izzard - YouTube

That sums it up for me.

...and cinemaphile beat me to it.

[King Troll]

Lone ranger

[JavaJulien]

I'd define a popcorn movie a that lacks any real depth. At the risk of pissing some people off, I'd say Raiders of the Lost Arc is a popcorn film. It has awesome set pieces, memorable characters, and actors with some nice chemistry, but it also isn't trying to be a "deep" movie.

That said, I think too many times people use the phrase as either a catch all term to defend a movie from criticism ("it wasn't trying to win awards") or as a go to term to bash a film they feel is overly shallow.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

I don't see it as defending crappy movies. I see it as taking a movie at face value, that's just trying to be fun. There's a difference between a crappy movie (The Hangover 3, A Good Day to Die Hard), lazy movies (The Lone Ranger), and popcorn movies (White House Down). Of course, that's my opinion.

I find it hard to differentiate and despite good people like you knowing when to properly call a spade a spade, the term 'popcorn movie' is mostly just thrown around haphazardly.

[GreenGaijin]

To build on to what everyone else is saying, it also has to be a film that delivers high amount of spectacle, and deserves to be watched on a big screen in the theatre. Hence, the popcorn term, or any other snacks you would get at the concession.

[JavaJulien]

Originally Posted by GreenGaijin

To build on to what everyone else is saying, it also has to be a film that delivers high amount of spectacle, and deserves to be watched on a big screen in the theatre. Hence, the popcorn term, or any other snacks you would get at the concession.

Nachos are better than Popcorn though. It's high time people accept that.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by JavaJulien

I'd define a popcorn movie a that lacks any real depth. At the risk of pissing some people off, I'd say Raiders of the Lost Arc is a popcorn film. It has awesome set pieces and interesting characters, and actors with some nice chemistry, but it also isn't trying to be a "deep" movie.

That said, I think too many times people use the phrase as either a catch all term to defend a movie from criticism ("it wasn't trying to win awards") or as a go to term to bash a film they feel is overly shallow.

I would TOTALLY consider Raiders of the Lost ARK () a popcorn film. The greatest popcorn film of all time. But again, that's not a bad ting to me. For me, that popcorn flick is the great film of all time, PERIOD.

[JavaJulien]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

I would TOTALLY consider Raiders of the Lost ARK () a popcorn film. The greatest popcorn film of all time. But again, that's not a bad ting to me. For me, that popcorn flick is the great film of all time, PERIOD.

The K gets me every time lol.

And yeah, I love Raiders as well. "Popcorn film" really shouldn't be a negative term