I Binge-Watched '80s Movies Over Christmas — Here's What I Learnt About Their Implicit Messages About Work
Could Home Alone & The Goonies really impact on burnout culture?
The classics like Home Alone and Back to the Future are festive favourites of mine. They bring a warm sense of familiarity and nostalgia. But now I’m an adult, every time I watch these beloved films I come away with a clearer sense that they weren't just entertainment – they were quietly teaching us lessons about work and success that many of us are still trying to unlearn today.
As a clinical psychologist with a specialist interest in burnout, I couldn't help but notice how these films have added to our collective understanding of work, family, and responsibility. Beneath the adventure and madcap schemes lie profound messages about success and sacrifice – messages that still echo in my therapy room today.
The Chaotic House: When Work Becomes the Main Character
Many 1980s and early 1990s movies showcase the frenzied lives of working parents, normalising a level of chaos that we're still grappling with. In Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Wayne Szalinski is so consumed by his invention that he literally shrinks his children – a powerful metaphor for how work can diminish our family connections, don’t you think?!
In my practice, I often hear clients describe their childhood homes in ways that mirror these movie scenes. "I thought that's just how all families lived - always running, always stressed," is the essence of what someone recently told me. It isn’t until someone has burnt out that they take a moment to evaluate if this is the best (or only way) to live their lives.
Consider Home Alone's McCallister family: their hectic holiday preparations are so overwhelming that they forget Kevin entirely. While played for laughs, this scenario reflects a sobering reality many of us live with – when we're overbooked and overwhelmed, something (or someone) inevitably gets left behind…
Reflection Question: How does the chaos in these movie homes compare to your childhood memories? How does it compare to your home today?
Gender Roles: The Hidden Weight of Expectations
The gender dynamics in these films reveal much about the expectations we internalise too. Fathers like Wayne Szalinski and George McFly (Back to the Future) are portrayed as lovable but clueless, while mothers shoulder the invisible burden of keeping everything running. In E.T. The Extra-terrestrial, Mary, a single mother, exemplifies this perfectly – managing a household while her children literally harbour an alien in their midst.
These portrayals didn't just reflect society; they helped shape it. Many of my female clients describe feeling trapped in this same dynamic – expected to excel professionally while maintaining the emotional and logistical stability of their homes. Meanwhile, male clients often struggle to break free from the stereotype that their emotional needs are very simple and that they need to provide for their family at all costs.
Reflection Question: What messages about gender and responsibility did you internalise from these films? How do they impact your life today?
The Success Paradox: Achievement at What Cost?
These films often celebrated professional success while subtly critiquing its personal cost. Back to the Future’s core narrative isn't just about about changing George McFly's career trajectory– it's about creating a version of success that doesn't sacrifice family connection. This complex message reflects a struggle I see daily in my burnt out clients: the belief that success requires sacrificing relationships and wellbeing.
One client had a breakthrough when she realised her drive to "do it all herself" – just like young Kevin McCallister – wasn't independence, but a learned response to feeling unsupported in her childhood. These movies taught us that being capable meant being alone, a message that many high-achievers are now working to unlearn.
Reflection Question: Think about how success was portrayed in these films versus the reality of achieving it. This is a very tricky question to ponder but.. what price have you paid for success in your own life, and is it what you want in 2025?
The Children Who Raised Themselves: Independence vs. Isolation
From The Goonies to E.T., these films celebrated children who thrived despite minimal adult supervision. While this made for exciting adventures, it normalised a concerning message: that children should be able to handle adult-sized challenges alone.
In my practice, I see how this manifests in high-achieving adults who struggle to ask for help or acknowledge their limits. The "I'll do it myself" mentality that made Kevin McCallister a hero becomes a barrier to connection and support in adulthood.
Reflection Question: How comfortable are you asking for help? What childhood messages shaped this tendency?
Breaking Free from the Script: A Therapist's Perspective
As both a psychologist and someone who grew up with these films, I've learned that awareness is just the first step. Here's how we can start rewriting our stories:
Question the "chaos as normal" narrative in your life
Notice when you're glorifying busyness
Challenge the assumption that stress equals success
Examine your inherited beliefs about work and worth
Are you still playing by 1980s rules even though it’s 2025?
What would "success" look like if you defined it for yourself?
Create boundaries that prioritise connection
Schedule regular check-ins with family and friends (check out this Waffle Wednesday post for a super quick and easy example).
Make space for unstructured, agenda-free time
Model healthier patterns for the next generation
Show that it's okay to rest and recharge
Demonstrate that asking for help is a strength
Remember: those movie endings where everything magically resolves? They're fantasy. Real change comes from conscious choices and daily practices that prioritise wellbeing over productivity. The real adventure isn't saving the day alone – it's creating a support and a sense of community so we can all thrive together.
I’m curious, which 80s and 90s films did you love most as a kid? Do those films fit these themes too?
Hi, I’m Dr Claire Plumbly. A clinical psychologist bring a trauma-informed approach to burnout. I’m author of a book on this topic where I unpick more narratives like I’ve done above and give practical tools taken from the therapy room
Oooh some great reflections!! I see all of this. Fascinating!!