‘I love you 3000’: Elevation experiences in superhero media entertainment

Abstract Eudaimonic experiences such as elevation, where people feel touched and uplifted in response to witnessing good deeds and human connectedness, can be elicited by media entertainment. This study focuses on superhero entertainment, a popular narrative genre that often includes prosocial topics such as helping others and performing good deeds. While connecting elevation and superhero entertainment provides more insight into, for instance, superhero narratives’ potential for persuasive communication regarding donation behavior to charities and non-profits, research on both topics together is scarce. Through 20 in-depth interviews, this paper explores respondents’ elevating experiences from watching superhero movies and series. Respondents indicated experiencing elevation through superhero narratives, especially among lighter-themed narratives without moral ambiguity. Superhero entertainment soundtracks, special effects, and storylines were mentioned as important elicitors of elevation. Finally, respondents connected specific narrative themes (sacrifice, saving people) and character traits (altruism, helpfulness) to their elevating experiences, also emphasizing the importance of character development, identification, and affinity. Limitations and implications are further discussed.