What is 'it' and is it contagious?

I've been watching a lot of movies lately during my graveyard shifts. My choice of films range from those found on Netflix, YouTube, and those in my feed on Facebook. When I wake up in the evening I have time to kill before going to work so I pop in one of the DVDs I've checked out from the library, sometimes watching two before heading off to work and then perhaps popping another before going to bed when I come home.

I've watched so many movies and films that I found myself completely baffled about the whole thing. What makes (certain) actors so successful? How do they develop a character well enough to bring in praise? What makes a good movie good? Why do people watch those little clips from social media sites that people post? Why do people watch certain types of movies over others?

I didn't have a definitive answer, but I knew that there was something they all had.

Errol Flynn

While watching the behind the scenes DVD edition of 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' the comparison was made between Errol Flynn and Patric Knowles. They both were charming and good looking but Flynn seemed to have something Knowles lacked: 'it'. During the "Up a Lazy River" number in the film 'Beyond the Sea' Bobby's mother tells a young Bobby Darin that in order "to be a big star you gotta be talented obviously... you've gotta have it!"

This lead me to ask, "So what is this 'it' that makes these performers click?"

With further investigation I can only say that I have identified other actors who have 'it' as well. Some of the films these actors are in may not have the best screenplay yet are enjoyable to watch. I have found myself puzzled by the whole 'it' aspect and I struggle to watch movies now with unknown actors in them or when the script itself doesn't have the 'it' to keep the audience interested.

I find that people enjoy an actor/film/movie/book/media clip if they can invest themselves in it. Take Star Wars for example. People who love Star Wars love it because of one or more aspects found in it that they love. Harry Potter is the same way, the appeal of a secret world for young children to take a part in is just desireable. It's a young child's wish. I don't read things I'm not invested in. I don't watch movies that don't catch my attention in the first couple of minutes. I don't like to do things that I don't enjoy doing.

So what makes these actors so universal in their skills? How do we get to know the real side of them? I've turned to interviews to see how they behave without the costume and make-up on. What can we measure from what we see? Perhaps it is the confidence they have, many of these successful men and women are so wonderfully honest and polite in interviews and know what to say (Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman). Perhaps it is their humor and liveliness (Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth). Or perhaps they're just extremely good at what they do even though in person they're actually very shy (Johnny Depp).

It's an on going debate. What do you think?