The Imprint

Over the last few years, as the number of TikTok users has grown, so have the niches! For a seemingly endless list of topics, each one has a community with dedicated users. I believe TikTok really thrives for this reason as there isn’t another platform doing it like them.

I would say that FilmTok is a fairly big part of TikTok, well it is on my For You Page. Endless movie recommendations, independent cinemas picks and edits of classics often fill my feed, so much so that I’ve created a collection to store all of them.

One of my favourite aspects of FilmTok has to be the fact that you can find specific recommendations based on the films you love! Often creators make videos that suggest other watches based on what you like, leading to further exploration of genres, actors, filming styles and cinematography. In a world of endless choices, most nights you can find yourself scrolling through each platform, trying to decide on a film and eventually returning back to your default selection. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like watching your comfort film, but TikTok allows you to discover new favourites!

With niche interests come smaller films that perhaps didn’t have much international marketing, but can still be brought to your attention. According to TikTok, 52% of users have discovered a new actor, movie or TV show on the app. ‘Unknown’ films don’t have to be disappointing cause they don’t have a stellar cast or a line of fabulous press interviews, they can be just as amazing… if only we knew about them!

I saw a TikTok edit of a movie called Stay The Night, the clip showed a significant moment in the film which immediately caught my attention. I searched up the film and found out it had come out in 2022, completely flying under my radar. As a romance movie addict, I was immediately drawn in and watched it that week.

It took me completely by surprise, and I felt so touched by the characters, acting and storyline. It stayed with me for weeks afterward so I would highly recommend! Whether it is a movie or TV show, TikTok definitely has its ways of revealing some gems.

TikTok often also sensationalises movies, places, restaurants, which plays a part in viewers’ opinions of them. Now, this may go one of two ways, either the movie becomes a beloved craze on the app, taking over the algorithm or sadly, is harshly criticised through silly trends, leaving a bad taste in the viewers’ mouth.

Netflix’s Wednesday and Disney’s Encanto benefited greatly from TikTok hype over their distinctive soundtracks. It’s true that a person can love Encanto, for its loveable protagonist, and Wednesday, for its beloved characters and curiosity for Addams Family world, without ever scrolling through TikTok. However, I believe the app heightened the exposure, introduced them to new people and cemented both the movie and TV’s commercial successes.

Conversely, TikTok can fan the flames of a mediocre film, spreading a bad impression to a wider base, discouraging people from watching. A very recent example of this is Netflix’s Nadaaniyan, a Bollywood film where two students engage in a risky fake relationship. There was lots of chatter before the film’s release as it was Ibrahim Ali Khan’s, famous actor Saif Ali Khan’s son, debut, leading to lots of hype and expectation. Which was met with disappointment and a surge of frustration against nepotism.

Whilst I haven’t seen the film, seeing people dissecting the scenes and the actor’s performance along with some harsh mocking has definitely influenced my opinion.

There is also another subtle consequence of sensationalising films and TV shows and that is false expectations. Often, seeing people’s overly emotional reaction to films also creates a standard in you before watching it.

In January, there was lots of anticipation for We Live In Time and when the film finally hit cinemas, my TikTok For You Page was often flooded with viewers sobbing into tissues. We Live In Time was being painted as a life-changing movie that wrecks you emotionally. I was eager to see the film, because of the cast, promised cinematography and of course to see what all the fuss was about. As a fan of emotional movies, I was prepared to cry and think about it for weeks to come.

Despite being humoured by Andrew Garfield’s awkward character, moved by Florence Pugh’s character’s determination to live and impressed by the subtle messages woven into the movie, I believe I was set up for some disappointment.

Seeing the movie create such an emotional reaction in other viewers made me believe I too would have the same reaction, but when I didn’t, I felt overwhelmed. Having this expectation took away from the film and distorted my experience. Since then, I have taken every TikTok raving about a movie with a pinch of salt, especially if I’m interested in watching it.

TikTok and the film industry are crossing over more than ever with TikTok becoming a major marketing platform for new releases. Whether this relationship is beneficial or harmful, I guess depends on every individual and how they interact with FilmTok. I personally really enjoy scrolling through film suggestions and seeing snippets of press interviews as it makes me feel even more connected with the cast. In the next few years, I expect that the interconnected relationship between TikTok and film will continue growing, with potential scouting opportunities (if that isn’t already happening)!

Comment down below a movie you found through TikTok 🙂

Thank you for reading and I hope my next piece brings you back to The Imprint!