Feel Better Now With "Scrooged" (1988)
An Example Of The Health Benefits Of Feel-Good Movies
Image by L.E. Wilson from RedBubble
Researchers take seriously the idea that laughter is the best medicine:
Laughter therapy gives our body various physiological changes, and has an influence on the physical temperature, blood pressure, lung capacity, heart rate, muscles in the musculoskeletal system, and brain activity, so it can have an overall effect in promoting health (Hayashi et al. 2007; Bennett and Lengacher 2009). Mentally, laughter therapy helps reduce unpleasant feelings such as tension, anxiety, hatred, and anger, alleviates feelings of depression, aids better interpersonal relationships, and improves insomnia, memory failure, and dementia (Takeda et al. 2010; Bains et al. 2015).1
And one of the easiest ways to change a negative mood to a positive one is to watch a feel-good, funny movie. But even more rewarding is watching a feel-good, funny movie that can improve your life—if you take heed of the message embedded within.
This is the case of the 1988 movie Scrooged, which is a retelling of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. In essence what you get from this movie is a how-to manual for harnessing the powers of being human to access happiness.
Scrooged (1988) is a comedy directed by Richard Donner, adapted from Charles Dickens’ classic book, A Christmas Carol, about Frank Cross (Bill Murray), a cold-hearted TV executive who is given the chance to change his callous ways by three ghosts.
Life Lesson: “Put a little love in your heart, and the world will be a better place.”
🍿Movie Scene Link (movie quote)
Are you feeling lonely or frustrated? Do you have a sense of failure no matter how much you accomplish? Do you feel angry or irritated most of the time? Are you resentful or jealous of others? This bundle of negativity comprises Frank Cross’ (Bill Murray) life in the movie Scrooged. But, in the end, he shows us by example how to feel better because there actually is a remedy for all of above ailments, and that’s to get in a better mood by acting more human.
Do you think it’s healthy to work all the time as “Scrooge” Frank Cross does early in the movie at the expense of social connections? Do you think that focusing on one aspect of your life while neglecting everything else will produce long lasting satisfaction? Do you think that feeling chronically stressed or angry will lead to healthy outcomes? The same simple answer applies to all the above: of course not! Throughout the movie we are shown specifically how each of these behaviors leads to unhappiness as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future visit Frank. But there is an easier way to remember this lesson, which is to ask yourself, are you behaving like a human?
Do healthy humans cultivate social bonds with others? Yes. Do healthy humans have balance in their lives? Yes. Do healthy humans chronically experience positive emotions such as joy, curiosity, relaxation, gratitude, appreciation? Yes. Do healthy humans engage in play, in learning, finding meaning? Yes. And aren’t these behaviors really about being human, that is, about expressing yourself fully as a human? After all, isn’t it a more natural state for people to be compassionate and caring, to have interest in those around us, to crave social connection, and to want to feel love?
Hence, the movie Scrooged is a good reminder to establish healthy priorities in order to maximize health, wellness, and happiness, which are all within our capabilities as humans.
There are other benefits to watching a feel-good, funny movie like Scrooged. For one, these movies provide a form of relaxing entertainment that can provide a temporary escape from stress or anxiety. As shown above, these kinds of movies can also serve as sources of inspiration and motivation. Watching relatable characters overcome challenges and achieve personal satisfaction is empowering and helpful. Finally, watching movies and discussing movies with others, provide opportunities for the kind of shared social connection and bonding that can strengthen relationships.
So please don’t underestimate the health benefits of feel-good, funny movies. Find a movie to love, and it will reward you with hours of pure joy for many years to come.
Here is a list to get you started: Ready To Laugh: Humor Inspired By Movies, and remember the words of actor and comedian Milton Berle:
Laughter is an instant vacation.
Visit the moviewise catalogue—a searchable database of one sentence movie summaries, movie quotes, and movie wisdom—for movie recommendations.
Also visit the moviewise store. Get a t-shirt, bag, or pillow with your favorite #LifeLesson from a movie. Reply to this or leave a comment below to make a request.
Movie Lists! | Guides To Life | Movie Therapy | Ready To Laugh | + Guest Posts | Comic
Yim, JongEun. "Therapeutic benefits of laughter in mental health: a theoretical review." The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine 239.3 (2016): 243-249.
I love watching 'feel good' movies. They make me feel happy, and sometimes full of laughter. Did you know that kindergarteners laugh, on average, 300 times a day and adults, just 17 times a day! Somewhere along the way we lose that uninhibited ability to just laugh out loud. Research shows that there are tremendous benefits to laughter and just plain feeling good. Thanks for sharing such a good example with "Scrooged"!