Hi Reader,

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about something I hear all the time from other movie fans, and honestly, I feel it too:

Why don’t movies feel as fun as they used to?

And I don't mean all of them, obviously. There are still good movies being made. But a lot of people - especially those of us who grew up on 80s and 90s action, horror, sci-fi, and big crowd-pleasing adventures - know exactly what I mean.

There was a feeling older movies used to leave you with. You’d walk out of the theater energized, you’d quote lines with your friends, you’d replay scenes in your head, and most of all, you’d want to tell people to go see it.

And even when those movies had flaws, they often still knew how to give audiences a good time. That feeling matters.

"Fun" in storytelling doesn't mean it's shallow - and it's time we brought it back!

What older movies often did better

In my latest YouTube video, I break down why older movies often felt more satisfying and entertaining, and how we can bring those same lessons into our own screenplays.

A few of the big things I talk about:

• they knew what they were selling
• they gave us heroes worth rooting for
• they understood the value of a great villain
• they moved with real momentum
• they had memorable dialogue
• they used set pieces to reveal character
• and they actually paid off the ride

That last one is a big one, because a lot of movies today - particularly the big-budget films - have scale, money, special effects, and spectacle… but they don’t always leave audiences feeling like the experience was truly worth it.

And that’s the difference. A movie can be huge and still feel empty - and on the flip side, it can be simple and still feel unforgettable.

This matters for writers

If you’re writing scripts right now, this is worth paying attention to. See, your job isn’t just to create a story that has meaning only to you - it’s to create an experience that has meaning to your audience as well.

One that feels clear, alive, and makes people want to follow the hero, fear the villain, remember the dialogue, hold their breath in the set pieces, and leave the story feeling satisfied.

That’s what audiences remember, and that’s also what makes them come back.

The deeper lesson

Now, this needs to be said because it seems like the "easy fix" many studios lean into these days - but I don’t think the answer is to just copy old movies.

Reboots, remakes and endless sequels that retread the same plots and characters are not the way forward - unless the goal is to further tire an already exhausted audience.

That’s not the point. Rather, the point is to understand what those old movies did well, when they gave us:

• films with confidence
• stories with clarity
• pace that suits the genre
• rich, flawed characters who feel human and relatable
• a payoff to the promise of a fun, entertaining, and thought-provoking film

Those things never go out of style. If anything, they matter even more now, because audiences are more selective than ever, and are voting with their wallets as to which stories are worth their time.

🎥 Watch the full video here: How to Bring FUN Back to Movies | Screenwriting Tips​

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And if you’ve got a screenplay that has a strong idea but you feel like it’s missing that spark, fun, clarity, or audience-first energy - I can help with that too:

👉 My one-hour coaching calls are great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!​

Book Your Coaching Call Here!

👉 My coverage packages are a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!​

Click Here for Coverage!

👉 Rewrite to Greenlight is my ongoing developmental editing program for taking a script from almost there to funding- or production-ready: Click here!​

Book a Free Strategy Call Today!

Write the kind of movie people are glad they saw, and they will return time and again!

Stay creative!

Neil

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P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!

Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel​

Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking:​ www.neilchasefilm.com.

Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.

Check out my Gothic horror-western novel, Iron Dogs, available in eBook, print, and audiobook.

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