There is a popular narrative that big blockbuster movies are in decline. The main logic here is that people stay more at home watching Netflix and Tiktok instead of going to the theatre. And the money does certainly look that way. Not only hasn't box office revenue not recovered to 2019, it also isn't even obviously on the rise anymore. Even before adjusting for inflation
On the other hand there are so many good movies from this decade:
- Dune and Dune Part Two where the biggest blockbusters I can remember since before the dark ages of the superhero years, at least in subjective feeling of grandeur.
- Barbie & Oppenheimer was a phenomenon.
- We also have a golden age of artsy films like Kinds of Kindness, Poor Things, Everything everywhere...
- All the old guard of directors is still active. Nolan making the Odyssey on IMAX next year, Scorsese is still here, James Cameron makes these Avatar movies that nobody wants but push the boundaries of technology, Tim Burton made a second Beetlejuice, Spielberg is still doing something I guess (Twisters 2 sucked), Tarantino struggels but still wants to make his last movie...
- Movies seem to be getting bigger than ever. IMAX is massively coming.
I can't square these two facts: 1. Moneywise the movie industry is in a depression, subjectively we're in a golden age after the superhero dark ages. What gives? Are movies declining like Operas where back in the day to make room for Tiktok?
Movies golden age 📈20.0%
Movies in decline 📉80.0%
15 votes \ 11h left