“I Really Liked That Movie”

Abstract

The current study investigated the contributions of trait empathy and narrative transportation to audience members’ film enjoyment. Undergraduates (N = 199) evaluated two films they had seen recently and responded to items measuring different types of trait empathy, narrative transportation, film enjoyment, and perceived realism. Fantasy empathy, but not perspective taking, empathic concern, or personal distress, was found to be associated with narrative transportation. Transportation was found to be associated with enjoyment and perceived realism.