Have you ever discovered a published post of an entire movie on TikTok or YouTube before? Alongside the uploaded scenes from certain movies and moments from cinema, there is much online discourse about movies. Those on social media will often discuss new movies coming out, or even sometimes movies that have already established their box office numbers. Regardless of the reason or specific movie being shared, people on social media and other platforms like to talk about these films. Whether they use video editing software to create content or upload theories to the internet, movies often become popular due to their popularity on social media. There are numerous examples of movie reviews on YouTube, and there is even an app dedicated to movie reviews! Letterboxd is a great tool for movie watchers who need a place to keep their favorite movies and curate their own watchlists. TikTok creators also may upload movie reviews and recommendations on their accounts. Despite the specific social media platforms, this creates exposure to many different kinds of movies with differing opinions. This encourages viewers to watch the movies for themselves!
Alongside uploaded movie scenes and memorable moments from cinema, there is an enormous amount of online discussion about films. Regardless of the movie or the reason it is being discussed, social media gives audiences a space to share their reactions and generate conversations about cinema. Platforms such as TikTok and YouTube have made it easier than ever for people to create movie-related content. Users can edit scenes together, create video essays, post reviews, share theories, or recommend movies to their followers. A single video can introduce a film to millions of people, sometimes years after its original release. This can give older movies a second life and introduce them to an entirely new audience.
YouTube, in particular, has become a major platform for movie reviews and analysis. Creators can provide detailed discussions about everything from a film’s plot and characters to its cinematography and cultural impact. TikTok has also become a popular space for quick and short movie recommendations and reviews. Because these videos are often quick and accessible, viewers may discover a movie simply because it appeared on their “For You” page.
Another platform that has become significant for movie audiences is Letterboxd. Unlike traditional social media platforms, Letterboxd is specifically designed around film discussion and reviewing. Users can rate movies, write reviews, create watchlists, and share their favorite films with others. The platform allows people to curate their own identities as movie watchers while also discovering films through other users’ opinions and recommendations.
The influence of social media becomes especially noticeable when looking at movies that have gained, regained, or maintained popularity through online discussion.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
One of the clearest examples of a movie receiving renewed attention through social media is Jennifer’s Body. Although the movie did not achieve the level of success expected at the time of its release, it gradually developed a larger following. Social media users began sharing clips, edits, and memes, and engaging in discussions about the movie’s characters and themes. Jennifer Check, played by Megan Fox, became particularly recognizable online. Discussions surrounding the movie have also encouraged audiences to reconsider its original reception and examine its themes of friendship, femininity, and sexuality. Social media has therefore helped introduce Jennifer’s Body to younger audiences who may not have watched it when it was first released.
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Alice in Wonderland is another film that has maintained a strong presence in online culture. Its colorful visuals, costumes, characters, and fantasy setting provide plenty of material for edits and other forms of social media content. The movie’s distinctive aesthetic has helped it remain recognizable online, particularly among users who create visual edits or discuss fantasy films. Even though the movie was released more than a decade ago, social media allows viewers to continually rediscover and reinterpret it.
Bird Box (2018)
Netflix’s Bird Box became a major online phenomenon when it was released in 2018. Social media played an important role in spreading discussion about the movie, with users sharing reactions, memes, and theories about its story. The film demonstrated how quickly a movie can become part of internet culture. Rather than relying only on traditional movie advertising, online conversations encouraged viewers to watch the film so they could participate in the larger discussion surrounding it.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch drew attention for its interactive format. Instead of simply watching the story unfold, viewers could make decisions that would affect the narrative’s direction. This created an ideal topic for social media because audiences could compare their experiences. People discussed the choices they made, the endings they discovered, and the different paths available within the movie. Social media therefore became an extension of the interactive experience itself.
After (2019)
After demonstrates how online communities can contribute to a movie franchise’s popularity. The film attracted particular attention among younger audiences, who discussed its characters, relationships, and storyline online. TikTok and other platforms allowed fans to create edits, share reactions, and recommend the movie to other users. These conversations helped keep the film visible online and contributed to a larger fan community around the franchise.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Bodies Bodies Bodies became another movie that benefited from online discussion. The combination of horror, comedy, and mystery gave viewers plenty to debate, particularly regarding the movie’s characters and ending. Social media encouraged audiences to share their theories and reactions while also creating humorous content based on the movie. This demonstrates how online discussion can make a film more appealing by turning the viewing experience into something audiences can discuss and debate with others.
Barbie (2023)
The release of Barbie demonstrated just how powerful social media can be in creating a cultural moment. Before the movie was even released, its marketing, fashion, visuals, and cast generated significant online attention. TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms were filled with Barbie-inspired outfits, makeup, memes, reviews, and theories. Audiences were not simply watching the movie; they were participating in an entire online culture surrounding its release. Social media helped turn Barbie into more than a movie—it became an event.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Released on the same day as Barbie, Oppenheimer became part of one of the biggest social media conversations surrounding movies in recent years. The simultaneous release of the two very different films created the viral phenomenon known as “Barbenheimer.” People shared memes, planned double features, compared the two movies, and posted their reactions online. While Oppenheimer dealt with a serious historical subject, social media helped make it part of a broader cultural conversation. The film’s popularity demonstrated that online discussion can connect movies with audiences in unexpected ways.
Anyone But You (2023)
Anyone But You is another example of a movie that gained considerable attention through social media. The romantic comedy generated online discussion about its characters, relationships, and the chemistry between its leads. Clips and edits circulated widely, introducing the movie to people who might not have been initially interested in seeing it. As more viewers watched the movie, they shared their reactions and recommendations, creating a cycle of online promotion largely driven by audiences themselves.
It Ends with Us (2024)
It Ends with Us demonstrates how social media can spark conversations about both the movie and the broader topics it addresses. Based on the popular novel by Colleen Hoover, the film already had an established audience interested in seeing the story adapted for the screen. Social media expanded that audience by allowing viewers to discuss the characters, relationships, adaptation, and themes. TikTok in particular has become an important space for readers and moviegoers to share their opinions about adaptations, making films like It Ends with Us part of a larger online conversation.
The Influence of Social Media on Movie Culture
These movies demonstrate that social media can significantly influence how audiences discover and interact with films. However, social media does not simply tell audiences what to watch. It also encourages viewers to develop their own opinions. While someone may discover a movie because of a viral TikTok or a popular review, they ultimately have the opportunity to decide whether they agree with the opinions they encounter online. This creates a cycle in which one person recommends a movie, another person watches it, and that viewer then creates their own review or reaction. This cycle is one of the most interesting aspects of modern movie culture. Audiences are no longer simply consuming movies; they are actively participating in the conversations surrounding them. A viewer can watch a film, post a review, create an edit, develop a theory, or recommend it to their followers. In turn, those followers may watch the movie and continue the conversation themselves.
Social media has changed the way movies gain exposure and maintain relevance. A film does not necessarily have to be a new release to become popular online. Older movies can receive renewed attention, while newer releases can become cultural events almost immediately. Ultimately, the popularity of movies on social media shows that the experience of watching a film does not necessarily end when the credits roll. For many viewers, the discussion that follows is just as important. Social media provides a space where audiences can discover movies, share their perspectives, and encourage others to watch them.
In an increasingly digital culture, social media has become an important part of modern moviegoing. Films can become viral years after their release, relatively unknown movies can reach huge audiences, and major releases can become cultural events beyond the theater. The relationship between movies and social media continues to evolve, but one thing remains clear: the internet has become one of the most powerful places for movies to be discovered, discussed, and popularized.
