Some of the greatest life lessons come from the films and shows we love. Carpe diem, just keep swimming, never say die ... the examples of lessons learned from movies and TV are endless.
Let’s take a look at some of the lessons learned from TV and movies in 2022:
1. Teamwork makes the dream work (Top Gun: Maverick)
Top Gun: Maverick is one of the latest and greatest films to hit the big screen this year. The story picks up 30 years from where it left off, with Maverick still working as a top naval aviator. He leads the U.S. Navy’s most elite graduates on a mission and is reminded that his nickname is just that and not a philosophy by which to live his life.
Along with offering up a healthy dose of nostalgia, Top Gun: Maverick reminds us that we’re often much better together than we are alone. Having people in your corner is one of life’s greatest treasures and family can often be the one we choose and create for ourselves—not just the one we’re born into.
2. Changing course is hard, but rewarding (The Bear)
The Bear was undoubtedly one of the most popular and highly rated TV shows to hit streaming services in 2022. The series focuses on Carmen, a young chef from the fine-dining world, who returns to his hometown of Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop following the death of his brother.
The Bear teaches us that sometimes in life, we have to change course—whether planned or unplanned—and that while we can’t always control what happens in our lives, we always have a choice about how we react. Unexpectedly veering in a new direction can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding because, ultimately, life is what you make it.
3. Being different is cool (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story)
Written by the man himself, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story rewinds the clock to Weird Al’s early days and rapid rise to fame. From showcasing his love affairs and musical abilities to his mission to become the most famous accordion player, Weird takes us down a fun path with a soundtrack sure to make you tap your foot and probably sing along too.
The film’s tagline says it all: “The world belongs to the weird.” Weird Al’s biopic serves as the perfect reminder that being different is not only better than “normal,” it should be celebrated. Fly your freak flag!
4. Work-life balance is really important (Severance)
Severance, a new series on Apple TV+, hit our screens in spring 2022. The show follows Mark, who leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically split between their personal and professional lives.
As we watch the characters attempt to uncover what’s really going on, we’re taught lessons we’ve probably heard before: Work-life balance is essential to our well-being, and we should work to live instead of the other way around.
5. Hard work and perseverance really pay off (Hustle)
Adam Sandler stars in Hustle, a 2022 movie about a down-and-out professional basketball scout named Stanley who discovers a street ball player while visiting Spain. Stanley sees this chance meeting as an opportunity to recruit the newly discovered athlete to the NBA and teaches viewers a few things in the process.
Hustle leaves us with several takeaways, emphasizing the importance of ambition and tenacity—not to mention the fact that sometimes believing in yourself is enough to make your dreams come true. Even more, through Sandler’s character, we are reminded to trust ourselves when we operate in our zones of genius.
6. Life is short (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, we see Wakandans banding together as they grieve the loss of King T’Challa and look to protect their home from a new threat: another nation facing the potential devastation of their home. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tells the truth about the impact of colonization and gives us characters who are as multidimensional as we are.
The film teaches us in more ways than one that we only have so much time on this earth, urging us to love our people while we can (no spoilers here, though!) and to embrace all the facets that make us who we are: the good, the bad, and the ugly. It also underscores that life is meant for living.
7. Don't make promises you can't keep (The Dropout)
The Dropout is a wild ride—and a true story at that! The limited series on Hulu chronicles the backstory of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and her mission to revolutionize the healthcare industry with new technology she really believed she would get right eventually.
As we watch the tale unfold, one thing becomes very clear: No matter how confident we are in our endeavors, it’s important to be mindful of not biting off more than we can chew—especially when what we’re offering doesn’t really exist.
8. Circumstances don't define us (Where the Crawdads Sing)
Where the Crawdads Sing, a film adaptation of the novel by Delia Owens, also hit the big screen in 2022. The movie follows a young woman, Kya, who grows up in the southern marshlands in the 1950s after being abandoned by her family.
Kya trains herself as an artist who achieves great success, much to the chagrin of what passed for social services in the middle of the last century and her neighbors who view her with disdain. This coming-of-age story teaches us the impactful lesson that our past and present don’t have to define our future. After all, it’s not the hand you were dealt, but how you play it.
9. Age is truly nothing but a number (The Old Man)
In The Old Man, we meet a former CIA agent, Dan, who has been in hiding for nearly three decades since his retirement. When he begins being hunted by the agency he previously worked for, Dan must go on the run and get back to what he once did best.
As the title makes clear, The Old Man is a solid reminder that our age doesn’t define us either. Dan reinvents himself using the skills and experience that helped him survive as a spy, proving knowledge and wisdom can outweigh age.
10. People are our greatest asset (Minions: The Rise of Gru)
Last but certainly not least, we have Minions: The Rise of Gru. Serving as a prequel to 2010’s Despicable Me, The Rise of Gru follows a young Gru in the 1980s, who aspires to one day become a supervillain. Despite his best efforts, Gru realizes he can’t do it alone, relying on the Minions to help him carry out his dastardly deeds.
Minions: The Rise of Gru teaches us a valuable lesson as well: we’re more powerful together than we are alone, and sometimes even the bad guys need a little help from their friends.
Looking ahead to 2023
Some of the most anticipated films of 2023 include:
- The fourth chapter of the John Wick series starring Keanu Reeves
- The live-action version of The Little Mermaid (perhaps the lessons from this film have nothing to do with what we actually see on the screen)
- A new take on Willy Wonka
- Several chapters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
- A commentary about the role of AI in our lives with M3gan
- A new DC property with Black Canary
- New installments from Star Wars and Indiana Jones
What messages do you think we’ll leave the theaters with or absorb while we Netflix (or Apple+ or HBO Max or Hulu or Prime Video) and chill?
