# Why do women like long, drawn-out, depressing movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033 "2003-01-21T19:26:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThatGuyWithPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@ThatGuyWithPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatGuyWithPants)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/1 "2003-01-21T19:26:43Z")
Inspired somewhat from [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157539) and also a certain nameless chick flick I just watched…I really do want to know. Why do women enjoy depressing themselves over a 2 and a half hour movie only to have somebody die in the end! If you ask me, I think its masochistic. Seriously though…why do women enjoy depressing movies? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/2 "2003-01-21T19:30:33Z")
I had no idea _Full Metal Jacket_ was a chick flick. Huh. Does _Brazil_ count too? I love that film, but… He’s only “lobotomized” at the end, not dead. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/3 "2003-01-21T19:35:15Z")
Well is not Saving Private Ryan a long drawn out movie where almost everyone dies at the end? How about Platoon? Or Friday the 13th part XX. Usually even though someone dies there is someone who lives. The one character death makes the other characters pull their heads out of their hinders and value life more. ---
**Author:** ![Jessity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jessity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jessity)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/4 "2003-01-21T19:37:10Z")
Well, far be it from me to speak for every woman, but I like all kinds of movies. Sometimes I like to watch a tear-jerker. Maybe I just feel like crying? I don’t really know. Sometimes I like to watch a romantic flick, that could be the tiny part of me holding on to hope that someday I’ll fall in love? Or be fallen in love with? Sometimes I want to watch a movie so scary I don’t want to go to bed. I’ve been known to watch Indiana Jones or Star Wars. I love all of the Die Hard movies, too. In fact, any of my ‘favorite’ films are nowhere near ‘depressing’ or ‘chick flicks’. Everybody has different tastes. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/5 "2003-01-21T20:35:05Z")
Not to generalize, but the women I know tend to want to be in close touch with their emotions, whereas most of the men I know aren’t real keen on cozying up to that side of themselves. My son and my dad are exceptions to that rule. I don’t know why, but that’s my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/6 "2003-01-21T20:38:54Z")
\<----- woman And I detest emotionally manipulative movies aka chick flicks. ---
**Author:** ![ThatGuyWithPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@ThatGuyWithPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatGuyWithPants)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/7 "2003-01-21T21:14:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jessica2 \* > \*\*Well, far be it from me to speak for every woman, but I like all kinds of movies. > > Sometimes I like to watch a tear-jerker. Maybe I just feel like crying? I don’t really know. Sometimes I like to watch a romantic flick, that could be the tiny part of me holding on to hope that someday I’ll fall in love? Or be fallen in love with? Sometimes I want to watch a movie so scary I don’t want to go to bed. > > I’ve been known to watch Indiana Jones or Star Wars. I love all of the Die Hard movies, too. In fact, any of my ‘favorite’ films are nowhere near ‘depressing’ or ‘chick flicks’. > > Everybody has different tastes. \*\* Okay I can understand that…but I still dont get why you want to envy somebody who falls in love and then promply dies as soon as everything is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/8 "2003-01-21T21:36:52Z")
I don’t know; they’re just more interesting than movies where no one forms any sort of emotional bond and a lot of stuff goes boom. Why _do_ guys like short, herky-jerky, explosion movies, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/9 "2003-01-21T21:49:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Okay I can understand that…but I still dont get why you want to envy somebody who falls in love and then promply dies as soon as everything is perfect. Yes, I can’t understand what anyone could possibly see in “Romeo and Juliet.” Shakespeare was clearly writing for the crucial female demographic. :rolleyes: I hate depressing, slow-paced and long-winded movies, but they have their place. Saying that more women like them is ridiculous. You know why Vin Diesel’s movies make huge amounts of money? You know why the Lord of the Rings has 5000 fan sites devoted to hot elves? I’ll give you a hint: _It’s not because of gay men._ Women see action movies too. Oftentimes we like them, even when they’re as silly and contrived as XXX. I love movies where things blow up and beautiful men save the world. So does my sister, so does my mom, so do most of my female friends. I’m not somehow incredibly rare in this. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/10 "2003-01-21T22:21:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tanaqui \* > \*\* I hate depressing, slow-paced and long-winded movies, but they have their place. Saying that more women like them is ridiculous. You know why Vin Diesel’s movies make huge amounts of money? You know why the Lord of the Rings has 5000 fan sites devoted to hot elves? > > I’ll give you a hint: _It’s not because of gay men._ Women see action movies too. Oftentimes we like them, even when they’re as silly and contrived as XXX. I love movies where things blow up and beautiful men save the world. So does my sister, so does my mom, so do most of my female friends. I’m not somehow incredibly rare in this. \*\* Me too, me too! I have such a _thing_ for swords and guns(and a certain blond elf). Three people shoulder to shoulder while they stand down the bad guys is just about as cool a visual effect in a movie that I can think of; movies about G-men are good, and hitmen are better(not mafia ones though); I liked **Resident Evil** and **Vertical Limit** better than **Shakespeare in Love** … OTOH, I tend to skip chick-flicks that aren’t funny. Will they revoke my chick membership? ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/11 "2003-01-21T22:37:31Z")
As I’ve often said leechy likes movies where things go ‘boom’! No boring chick flicks for me please. And I hate those movies where people just seem to stand around and talk alot. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/12 "2003-01-21T23:12:51Z")
Just yesterday I was thinking about posting a thread called “Do guys really decide to see a movie because there’s a cool explosion in the preview or T.V. ad?” I’ve noticed particularly on T.V. that almost every movie ad has to include some big explosion. While it’s possible, if unlikely, that I’ll go to see a movie that includes an explosion, there’s no way that I’ll go to see a movie _because_ there’s an explosion. Are the movie advertisers nuts, or do guys really say, “Ooh, explosion! I must see that movie”? To answer the OP – I like movies that are thoughtful and intelligent and draw me into the lives of the characters. Whether I want to see characters with fun, happy lives or characters with depressing lives depends mostly on my mood on that day. I generally dislike movies in which main characters die at the end, unless it’s something based on a work with which I am already familiar so I know it’s coming. There’s nothing worse than investing your emotions in a character and having her (or him) die at the end. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jessity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jessity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jessity)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/13 "2003-01-22T03:47:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThatGuyWithPants \* > \*\*Okay I can understand that…but I still dont get why you want to envy somebody who falls in love and then promply dies as soon as everything is perfect. \*\* I don’t envy anybody who falls in love and promptly dies. I said I sometimes like to watch tear-jerkers or romance movies. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/14 "2003-01-22T04:20:19Z")
Could somebody name of one of these Long, Drawn-out, depressing movies so I get a better idea what we’re talking about? The Godfather is long, and isn’t exactly life-affirming. (though in my opinion, it needed a grand total of one extra scene. The one in the book where the bodyguard who blew up micheal’s wife is killed along with the rest, but I digress…) Many men(including myself) rather like that film. How about Das Boot? Not exactly a happy ending, and it’s not short either. If the movie works better with the depressing ending, I’m all for it. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/15 "2003-01-22T05:26:54Z")
I’ll check out anything at all that looks interesting, from any genre. That said, I saw **The Hours** last night, and it was pretty depressing. And I didn’t like it all that much. I’m with HPL…Let’s have some more titles here so we can be more specific. ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/16 "2003-01-22T05:43:05Z")
Such as “The Fellowship of the Ring?” LOL not that it was boring by any means, but it fits the description of 1)long, and 2) someone dies at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/17 "2003-01-22T05:47:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThatGuyWithPants \* > \*\*Seriously though…why do women enjoy depressing movies? \*\* This is a big fat generalization, IMHO. Any cite? ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/18 "2003-01-22T06:09:33Z")
“Women” don’t enjoy depressing movies. The Hours got a B- Cinemascore rating from women, which is pretty low. By conrast, women rated Kangaroo Jack an A (as did men, so don’t start pat yourself on the back there, guys.) Thus proving that A) the general public prefers happy endings to sad, regardless of sex, and B) the masses are asses. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/19 "2003-01-22T11:33:00Z")
you’re right, i do. of course my favourite movie is “Full Metal Jacket”, followed closely by “Apocalypse Now” and " A Clockwork Orange" ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033/20 "2003-01-22T12:28:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Violet \* > \*\*This is a big fat generalization, IMHO. Any cite? \*\* Explain the success of _The English Patient_! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-like-long-drawn-out-depressing-movies/150033.md?page=2)