During quarantine, I have indulged in many TV shows and movies across these genres, new and old. Being home-bound gave me time to discover new shows and movies while re-watching the classics as well.

I noticed when talking to a few friends that they were watching shows or movies that either featured a pandemic or post-apocalyptic theme. I personally like to use my entertainment as a form of escape, not as a way to indulge in harsh realities. If I am living and breathing the COVID-19 pandemic on a daily basis, I engage in entertainment to get lost in a new reality. However, some people prefer to do the complete opposite, and I became intrigued to find out why.

I found a study that highlighted the most popular movie and T.V. shows at the beginning of quarantine, between late February to late April, and some of the results were shocking. Some of the most top-searched movies around the world had dystopian settings such as 28 Weeks Later, Bird Box, and The Matrix. When it came to shows, Greys Anatomy was the second-most popular series throughout the world.

People aren’t drawn to these shows and movies by chance, there is actually a psychological motivation behind it. In a recent study in London, a therapist revealed that by watching apocalyptic movies and T.V. shows, people are able to anticipate the worst-case scenarios in their heads, which is a coping mechanism that helps them deal with the fear factor relating to COVID-19.

Another common reason people are turning to this genre is because they want to experience escapism and empathy. This allows people to focus on the characters being affected by the world-changing disasters while being reassured that things normally work out in the end. Lastly, watching these types of movies and shows can give the viewer a greater sense of control. You are able to choose what to focus on and how it ultimately affects you. Overall, some psychologists believe that we are simply attempting to allow ourselves a glimpse into a better future.

It’s natural for people to find coping mechanisms in extremely stressful situations, such as COVID-19. It’s just that everyone has their own way of coping. I have general anxiety, so gathering multiple scenarios for how a situation can turn out is my specialty. In order to keep calm, I prefer to indulge in happier thoughts. But hey, to each his own!