Redemptive and family films remain on top in all movie sale categories around the world.
The box office is still dominated by movies suitable for families (depending on age), such as Ant-Man, Inside Out, and Shaun the Sheep. War Room is out in theaters Friday.
The best-selling DVD and Blu-Ray sales to date include redemptive and family movies such as Home (#2), Do You Believe (#4), and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (#6). Paul Blart also ranks among the year’s top DVD and Blu-Ray rentals.
The best-selling video on demand movies include Home (#2) and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (#6). Finally, the best-selling digital movies include Home (#1), Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (#8), Selma (#9), and McFarland, USA (#19).
‘Home’ has dominated in every category of film thanks to its family-friendly appeal; Photo Courtesy of DreamWorks.
All of these best-selling movies are good picks for families, but parents and guardians must see reviews by professional educators and family film experts to determine what is appropriate by age and quality for the youth in their care.
Many of these films are marked by good cinematography, skilled acting, and most importantly, captivating storytelling. Good stories have multi-dimensional characters who develop over time as they overcome conflicts within themselves, with other multi-dimensional characters, or with their environment. These stories start at a point of tension and build to climatic turning points before they are resolved without extraneous events. Effective stories on film are presented primarily by action and minimal dialogue. They also have engaging music and sound effects.
‘Inside Out’ knows how to tell a great story with complex characters; Photo Courtesy of Pixar.
A movie is “redemptive” when it makes something positive and worthy out of something or someone despite their former negative states. Redemptive films present realistic, naturalistic, and honest stories in which the characters go on edifying journeys that lead them towards positive results, toward reconciliation, and toward Truth. They reveal universal ideas and lift viewers from negativism, cynicism, and pessimism to what is positive, renewing, and hopeful. Although they present honest, difficult struggles, they turn what is paralyzing, degrading and debilitating to what is freeing, beautiful and eternal.
Redemptive artistic films feature universal Truth and appeal, use of the unexpected, thought-provoking content, rich use of language, human interest, and heart-felt scenes. Such movies can make constructive and positive imprints for lifetimes on the minds and hearts of viewers.
Therefore, the top picks for redemptive family films in theaters the last week of August are War Room, (for older children and adults), Ant-Man, (some crude elements but redemptive and generally suitable for teenagers and adults), Inside Out, (all ages), and Shaun the Sheep (some crude elements but redemptive and generally appropriate for all ages).
Written by Diane Howard, Ph.D. (Performance Studies), dianehoward.com
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