Narrative Transportation and the Persuasive Power of the Film Don't Look Up

IF 1.4 Q2 POLITICAL SCIENCE Politics & Policy Pub Date : 2025-02-11 DOI:10.1111/polp.70014

Melissa K. Merry, Rodger A. Payne

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Abstract

This study examines the impact of fiction and film on climate change beliefs. Using data from a nationally representative survey of 2045 individuals conducted in April–May 2022, we examine whether individuals who watched the satirical film Don't Look Up, which debuted on Netflix in December 2021, demonstrated greater climate change concern, motivation to act, and policy support than those who did not see the film. We also examine the impact of narrative transportation on persuasion, assessing whether being deeply immersed in the film predicted climate change attitudes. Our results indicate that viewers who were deeply engaged with the film held stronger proenvironmental attitudes. These associations occurred among both Democratic and Republican viewers, suggesting that transportation induced by entertainment media can shape public opinion on policy issues. Our results have implications for the micro and macro levels of the Narrative Policy Framework and for climate change communication, more generally.

Chalaya, T., C. Schlaufer, and A. Uldanov. 2024. “You Are a Hero! The Influence of Audience-as-hero Narratives on Policy Support.” Politics & Policy 52, no. 3: 479–499. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12609.

Merry, M. K. 2022. “Trump's Tweets as Policy Narratives: Constructing the Immigration Issue via Social Media.” Politics & Policy 50, no. 4: 752–772. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12487.

Shanahan, E. A., M. K. McBeth, and P. L. Hathaway. 2011. “Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Media Policy Narrative on Public Opinion.” Politics & Policy 39, no. 3: 373–400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x.

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