Popular movies this year like "Superman", "Sinners" and "Wicked" had audiences thinking deeper about their political meanings.
With entertaining plots, world-building and complex characters, the movie lineup over the past year had a different purpose besides entertaining audiences: to spark conversation about the world's current social and political state.
Wylie Hawkes, a junior studying film and media production, said after seeing "Sinners" and "Superman," they left the theater in awe.
"I enjoyed it so much because the messaging was just so clear," Hawkes said. "Really good films with a powerful voice are where they take the extraordinary and they root it in the ordinary."
For Hawkes, "Superman" made a noticeable statement on immigration. James Gunn, the director of "Superman," said in an interview with The Times his movie is about both politics and morality.
Noah Singson, a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication, hosts a radio show for Blaze Radio called, "Cine-Snobs," where he reviews movies and discusses the film industry. He said "Superman" was able to master the entertainment factor, while also including a message on recent world events.
Singson said the movie was received so well by audiences because of its commentary on world conflict and its tone of hopefulness that's needed right now.
Singson said many audiences still prefer having their entertainment as a way to escape from the real world, instead of having it interwoven into their movies.
Justin Eckert, a senior studying film and media production and co-president of the Association of Filmmakers at ASU, found that both "Sinners" and "Superman" showed a lot about humanity.
"You can definitely tell that there's a stance being taken with where the protagonist goes and what the protagonist does and how they stand up for their own beliefs," Eckert said.
Movies allow the filmmakers to be more thorough when it comes to these stories, Hawkes said, hence politics being crucial within entertainment media.
"The best kind of films are the ones where you leave the theater thinking, and you learn something new or feel something different," Hawkes said.
Politics and global issues have historically had a purpose in movie and fictional entertainment, as it has prompted thinking and conversation.
"It's the job of the filmmakers in Hollywood today to give a voice to the people who are unheard," Singson said.
In 1973, Marlon Brando won Best Actor for "The Godfather," yet rescinded the award to shed light on the mistreatment of Indigenous communities in Hollywood.
"He put his career on the line to give a voice to the oppressed," Singson said.
Mitesh Patel, a filmmaker and president of the Chandler International Film Festival, said when they are watching submissions that are "not giving the right message to the world," they don't select them.
"I feel like it's really a responsibility to make something good, and I make sure that my movie has some message or at least have some positive side of it," Patel said. "If it's not making impact, then I think the movie is not right, or the filmmaker did not do his job."
Patel said he tells his filmmakers to be careful, especially when dealing with sensitive messages, as it's important to teach and entertain the audience at the same time.
Eckert said the importance of having current issues in movies lies with the filmmaker and how much passion they have for the story being told.
"The movies that at least affect me are the ones where you could tell they put so much into this, and they had such great passion for their vision," Eckert said.
Hawkes said they maintain the connection heavily when trying to get a point across in a story.
"Filmmakers have a duty to make people see things that they try to look away from," Hawkes said.
Edited by Sophia Braccio, George Headley and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at apruiz@asu.edu and follow @andiruiz2405 on X.
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Andi Ruiz is a politics reporter at the State Press dedicated to serving her community with truth and honesty in her reporting. She has been working in broadcast and news since high school and was recently an anchor at The Cut Network during her first year at Cronkite. She is going into her second year at ASU as a Barrett Honors student studying journalism and mass communication with a minor in political science.
