Should you fast-forward through movies?

Fast-forwarding through movies is generally not advised if you want to fully experience the content as intended by the creators. It can detract from the narrative and emotional impacts that are paced through the film's runtime. For instance, in the past, when people attended movie theaters, the environment and the setting required viewers to be fully engaged without the ability to pause or fast-forward, leading to a more immersive experience. This is contrasted with current habits where the convenience of digital streaming allows for interrupting viewing, which can diminish the overall experience and influence content production to accommodate shorter attention spans 1.

However, fast-forwarding may be practical in specific contexts, such as skipping content you find uninteresting or inappropriate, or when reviewing content you are already familiar with. This method was even used during the VHS era where viewers, sometimes guided by parents, would fast-forward through scenes deemed unsuitable without fully stopping the movie, allowing a quick skip over the content while still understanding the context of the scene 2.