We all love an underdog story, particularly those that suggest anyone can change their lives with the right routine and a few strokes of luck. When you look at the Bitcoin trading price value today, it’s easy to drift off and fantasize about becoming a millionaire overnight. Yes, the rags-to-riches genre has never been stronger, and one imagines that they will always endure, for we all love stories in which protagonists triumph against all odds. They inspire us and remind us that we’re capable of incredible feats.
Often, these stories focus on self-made individuals who rise from poverty to achieve fame and fortune. A success about the heir to an empire doesn’t strike the same chord with the common man. Self-made stories resonate deeply with viewers because they tap into universal dreams of success and the belief that we can overcome present hardships and achieve greatness.
Classics of the Genre
One of the undisputed classics of the genre, the film that dances triumphantly atop a set of steps, is “Rocky” (1976). Sylvester Stallone stars as a middling boxer who gets an unlikely shot at the world heavyweight championship. Aptly, the film catapulted Stallone to global fame, the star of the film thus embodying the rags-to-riches narratives. He wrote the script in a matter of days and refused to sell it unless he could play the lead role. A pair of Oscar nominations followed and an iconic franchise had started.
Not every genre piece needs to have the emotional impact of Rocky. “Trading Places” (1983) explores the idea of nature versus nurture with a story of a homeless man (Eddie Murphy) who gets the chance to run a major financial firm. That’s not exactly the type of underdog story that we can place our hopes and dreams in, but it does show that we’re all capable of succeeding in the right circumstances. The stock market setting of the film is quite similar to today’s world of cryptocurrency and volatile markets.
Modern Retellings
A more likely way for an average Joe to become rich overnight was explored in “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008), which told the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who becomes a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” The film was a huge success because of the feel-good factor it offers but also because it inspired audiences. In a way, the protagonist gets lucky because all of the questions he’s asked relate to an important memory of his; yet it could also be interpreted that knowledge is power and that if we’re attentive enough to the world around us, we can use that knowledge to better ourselves.
You might remember the 2008 film “The Pursuit of Happiness,” starring Will Smith. This movie differentiates from those already listed because it’s a true story, that of Chris Gardner, who was homeless before making it as a successful stockbroker. Smith’s emotional performance as a struggling father earned plaudits for its powerful portrayal of determination.
And that’s a key component of the rags-to-riches genre: Struggle. Their appeal isn’t in the end result alone, but the journey itself. Audiences want to see themselves on screen, to see a character that has to cope with setbacks and moments of doubt before ultimately triumphing. It makes characters more relatable and the story all the more satisfying.
Notable Genre Developments
There has been a shift in the way that these stories are told in recent years. For one, they’re becoming more diverse. Films like “Joy” (2015) showcase the achievements of women in what are often male-dominated industries. The tech industry has also become more prominent. “The Social Network” (2010) dramatized the founding of Facebook and showed us that not all protagonists in these stories are likable. Mark Zuckerberg (played here by Jesse Eisenberg) hardly started off poor (he was in Harvard when he created the idea), but The Social Network demonstrates the astronomical wealth the tech boom offered.
Why Audiences Go Back to These Movies
The enduring appeal of the genre shows that audiences have a fascination with social mobility and want to see characters go through dramatic life changes. We live in times of extreme wealth inequality, and these narratives suggest to us that we can change our fortunes if we’re good enough, if we work hard enough, if we’re smart enough. Viewers should remember that these dramatizations can promote unrealistic expectations. Works of fiction offer escapism, not fully-functional life plans.
The appeal of rags to riches movies lies in their ability to inspire and motivate. They remind us of the potential for transformation that exists within each person and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. No matter how the world changes over the next few decades, we’ll always need a pep talk every now and then. For those moments when our spirits need a lift, it’s comforting to know that there’s a genre of film that can convince us to keep going.
