Fiction, by definition, requires the reader to be engaged in its narrative, thus requiring more mental engagement than watching a movie.

Individual preferences vary, and a person may experience great mental stimulation while reading or watching a film. I believe that watching a film provides more mental stimulation than reading a novel, because fiction, by definition, requires the reader or viewer to analyze the characters and their actions, whereas movies require less mental engagement.

While I agree that both mediums require some form of mental engagement, I would argue that watching a film requires a far greater level of contemplation. When watching movies, one has the choice of watching the film in a passive way, or actively engaging in the plot by asking questions, making predictions, or discussing the characters with friends or family. Even with a baseball game on in the background, the mind is still active, and one cannot help but be involved with the story. When reading fiction, one simply has to sit back and allow the action to unfold, and the mind is more passive, leaving it free to wander. While watching the action in a movie, one is constantly thinking of possible scenarios and outcomes. What would happen next? How would the character react in this situation? Do I like this character or that character? By constantly thinking through these questions, the mind is more active while watching the movie than while reading a novel.

When I read a novel, I like to think about what has happened and what may happen in the future. I can become immersed in the story and forget the mundane details of my day, such as the phone ringing, or my wife asking me to make dinner. Reading a novel with an active mind can transport me back to the time period in which the work was written, and I often spend hours upon hours lost in the story. Watching a movie, however, is much less engaging, and requires a more passive mind. Even when watching an action movie, the brain is not engaged. It is too busy thinking about how the movie was shot and what the director intended. During the movie, I can stop and think about the meaning of the plot, but the act of doing so causes me to lose focus on the movie itself.

While watching a film, one’s mind also wanders, and this can distract from the film itself. When I watch a movie, I often find myself thinking about other things, such as where I am going for lunch or what I have to do when I get home. The mind may be busy, but the act of focusing on the film itself tends to distract it from those secondary thoughts. When reading a novel, however, the mind is focused solely on the plot, and secondary thoughts are not a distraction.

Since both mediums require some level of mental engagement, I believe that watching a film requires more mental effort than reading a novel. The mind is more active while watching a film, and this causes a greater amount of mental stimulation. Reading a novel, on the other hand, involves less mental stimulation, because the reader is simply following the plot.