No matter how the movie industry tries to paint the picture, the fact remains that crime-related movies have a strong and negative influence on society. While the industry presents these movies to entertain and also pass on vital messages, the phenomenon not only skews the ideology of criminality but also inspires many people to engage in real-life criminal activities.
Due to exposure, you will find little children, who are too young, talking about handling guns and strategizing on how to steal what they admire that doesn't belong to them and you wonder what lead to such, it is simple psychology: what we see and consume has a strong influence on our lifestyle. Social Learning Theory, propounded by Albert Bandura, which states that people learn behaviors, values, and attitudes through what they observe and copy from others they admire.
I have a close relative who is influenced by these violent movies. You can ask this little 12-year-old boy the names of all the crime-related movies, and he will not only mention them but also provide a narration and list the names of the actors if you care. This little boy started practicing theft and pickpocketing from a young age, and that habit has become part of him all because of what he has been watching in movies.
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He is the last person you would want in your house, as the moment you turn your back, something will go missing. His presence is terrifying, and his reputation has become a bad name for himself and his family. I can only imagine what his future will be like if he continues watching such movies into adulthood. This is a child who has grown beyond his parents' control, all as a result of what he has been seeing in movies.
When movies portray that success and wealth can be gained through notorious activities, it leaves viewers with the assumption that they can achieve success and wealth through these means, which is a negative effect of crime movies. We are always focused on the brighter side of everything, forgetting the consequences that come when one is caught.
I believe that a world where all movies are devoid of crime-related scenes would reduce the crime rate. These days, movies that emphasize positive values and respect for societal norms are no longer promoted like they were in the early 2000s. The industry believes that anything that is not crime-related or romantic doesn't sell anymore, leaving the younger generation learning nothing but seeing crime as a rational choice.
A little kid of 10 years old already knows everything about crime, and this is due to such a child's exposure to crime-related movies. So, if I am to answer the question "Would life be better without crime-related movies?" I would say to some extent, because it is not possible to completely wipe out crime scenes from movies, but reducing how it is glorified could help improve our society and groom more law-abiding citizens.
Having a good understanding that what we consume shapes our overall behaviors and lifestyle, promoting more crime-free movies might not solve and stop all societal problems, but it would bring about significant change.
