It’s definitely a drop in quality. Just look at what is out in movie theaters these days. 90% of the movies are either sequels, marvel movies, or live action remakes of films that were already made. The amount of original storytelling or unique content has dropped rapidly in the past 5 years. As someone who grew up loving going to the movie theater, it makes me so sad, and I rarely go anymore.
Whether you like or hate Barbie or Oppenheimer, they were pretty much some of the only completely brand new high production value movies that came out in the last year, which I believe is part of why they were so popular. People are craving originality, even if a lot of them don’t realize it
While I don’t disagree on the main points of your post, I’d like to counter by saying I think we are back on the rise. We see eastern movies more frequently make it to our cinemas (at least where I live), and a decline in interest when it comes to superhero stuff. We had a Norwegian movie outsell Aquaman the past weekend and that’s wild. (I know, Aquaman isn’t at the top of people’s hype-list).
I myself also decided to make the choice to go and see more indepent films, attend screenings/festivals in my city and stop going to the marvel shows. It’s been a blast and I’m loving going to the movies more than ever as a result!
It is possible we’re back on the rise. Schafrillas Productions made a great video on youtube discussing how Disney+ is basically shooting themselves in the foot by overextending their brand and fewer people are seeing Disney movies in theaters because you can just wait to see it at home anyways.
But I do think high budget films will never go back to the times of well-intentioned competition where every movie is trying to earn audiences’ hearts. From now on, they will always make movies with less risk and higher profit margins regardless of whether it could be a huge hit or not, because guaranteed money will always win over creative filmmaking
Yeah, no I think you are spot on in that last sentence. We, as viewers, enthusiasts and consumers can only vote with our wallets. I have spent a lot more effort trying to bring people to independent showing and movies that aren’t the highest grossing/budget films.
But while that may be true, I definitely also went and saw Oppenheimer, Barbie and across the spider-verse.
But I think the whale, tar, Banshees of Inisherin, everything everywhere all at once, triangle of Sadness - all did fairly well at the movies, and despite being far from low budget indiemovies, I think that gives me a lot of confidence that cinema is alive and thriving!
It’s definitely a drop in quality. Just look at what is out in movie theaters these days. 90% of the movies are either sequels, marvel movies, or live action remakes of films that were already made. The amount of original storytelling or unique content has dropped rapidly in the past 5 years. As someone who grew up loving going to the movie theater, it makes me so sad, and I rarely go anymore.
Whether you like or hate Barbie or Oppenheimer, they were pretty much some of the only completely brand new high production value movies that came out in the last year, which I believe is part of why they were so popular. People are craving originality, even if a lot of them don’t realize it
A24 is a shining beacon in these dark times. They are pumping out some really weird movies and I love them for it.
They also worked with the unions and were able to continue making films during the strikes.
Were they not acquired by some soul sucking entity this year?
A24 is truly a diamond in the rough, everything they make is so unique
While I don’t disagree on the main points of your post, I’d like to counter by saying I think we are back on the rise. We see eastern movies more frequently make it to our cinemas (at least where I live), and a decline in interest when it comes to superhero stuff. We had a Norwegian movie outsell Aquaman the past weekend and that’s wild. (I know, Aquaman isn’t at the top of people’s hype-list).
I myself also decided to make the choice to go and see more indepent films, attend screenings/festivals in my city and stop going to the marvel shows. It’s been a blast and I’m loving going to the movies more than ever as a result!
It is possible we’re back on the rise. Schafrillas Productions made a great video on youtube discussing how Disney+ is basically shooting themselves in the foot by overextending their brand and fewer people are seeing Disney movies in theaters because you can just wait to see it at home anyways.
But I do think high budget films will never go back to the times of well-intentioned competition where every movie is trying to earn audiences’ hearts. From now on, they will always make movies with less risk and higher profit margins regardless of whether it could be a huge hit or not, because guaranteed money will always win over creative filmmaking
Yeah, no I think you are spot on in that last sentence. We, as viewers, enthusiasts and consumers can only vote with our wallets. I have spent a lot more effort trying to bring people to independent showing and movies that aren’t the highest grossing/budget films.
But while that may be true, I definitely also went and saw Oppenheimer, Barbie and across the spider-verse.
But I think the whale, tar, Banshees of Inisherin, everything everywhere all at once, triangle of Sadness - all did fairly well at the movies, and despite being far from low budget indiemovies, I think that gives me a lot of confidence that cinema is alive and thriving!
And Barbie is propped up by a billion dollar toy, and Oppenheimer represents a only partially obscured portion of US history.